Monday, October 25, 2010

Tale of a Pantry

Wow, it's been awhile since I've done a post about my actual blog's purpose....living well in a small home! :)

Today I wanted to discuss my pantry!

Can you believe a house as small as mine has a large size pantry?

Ok, actually it doesn't. What it does have is a coat closet...inside the kitchen area!!

The previous owners turned the coat closet into a PANTRY by removing the bar and adding shelves! How ingenious is that??


And I had no intention of changing it back! :)

Sure, the builder built this closet to hang coats in when you come in from the garage. But, we need a pantry way more than we need a coat closet!

I bolded this sentence because I want you to think about this! Do you have a spot in your home that was built by the builder with a specific intended purpose but could be used by YOU in a better way for your family?

Don't be afraid to repurpose a closet or a room or a nook in your home if it will make your life easier!! I give you permission! :)

I always say, make your home work for YOU.

So, here's the second part of making your home work for you. Did you notice I'm not showing you a fancy pantry?


Nope. No fancy holders. No fancy painting or wallpaper or shelves. I envy beautiful pantries...but they are not realistic for me.

I'm not going to empty my food into pretty containers when I get home from the grocery. Let's be honest...we're lucky when the food makes it INTO the pantry. ;)

I do keep certain things in Lock N Lock containers (I LOVE Lock N Lock!!!) like cereal. That's because Doodle doesn't close the bags and they get stale. I keep my flour and sugar in large containers because it's easier to measure out...but that's about it.

Ok, and yes my food is grouped and all labels must always be facing out because I am that anal retentive (my step-mother actually calls me "A.R." as a nickname because I am THAT BAD! Whatever.) :P

The white can is for my recycling. I keep it in my pantry so it's out of the way and I don't have to worry about smells because it's 'clean' trash.


Don't overlook 'free' storage space, like the inside of the door!

On the bottom shelf of the door, I keep plastic cups and small containers for snacks...within easy reach of Doodle and her friends...not that Doodle is really that small anymore...but she still uses them. :)

When I started taking pictures of the pantry on Sunday, I got a briliant idea!! I thought it would be awesome to use my Cricut to make a vinyl sticky for my pantry!!! Because I REALLY felt like I needed to add another project to my day...because you know...I don't have enough to do. LOL

Anywho...I downloaded a fancy font (using dafont.com...and my Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software) and made my own 'Pantry' sign (with Doodle's design assistance).


I used my level and painters tape so I made sure I put it on straight.


Then after I put it on, I grabbed a Doodle to rub it on real good.  Everyone needs a good Doodle! ;)


And walla! A fancy pantry door since the inside isn't!! :)


I had planned to add some squiggly things to either end of the word, but never found any I could download for free and get them to work. But Doodle and I justified it decided that since the "P" was so fancy it didn't need any squiggly scroll thingies. :)


Do you have any spaces in your home you are not using as the builder intended?  Do tell! :)

Until next time....

11 comments:

  1. "I'm not going to empty my food into pretty containers when I get home from the grocery. Let's be honest...we're lucky when the food makes it INTO the pantry. ;)"

    Thank you for your brutal honesty! :) Between working a full-time job, chasing after a 4-year-old and her dog, moving, bringing my hubby home from the hospital, and blogging - I am lucky to make it to the grocery store these days, and sadly my grocery bags often stay on the floor or counter just outside my beautiful new pantry. I, too, envy the stunning pantry makeovers in blogland these days - and maybe someday I'll have time to make mine over too. But for now, I am just happy to have one, and to (sometimes) put food into it instead of hurriedly leaving it in the grocery bags! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really like the sign that you've added to the pantry door. It makes it look official somehow!

    And who wants to keep their coats in the kitchen? I think this is a far better idea.

    A really great use of space.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome, awesome awesome! Do you think you would have turned it into a pantry if the previous owners hadn't? Either way it's a terrific use of the space my friend!

    Many Blessings,
    M.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I did a double-take when I saw this, as your pantry looks so much like mine (and wall color!) -- except yours is much more organized. Maybe mine was a coat closet too???

    Greta

    ReplyDelete
  5. first, i am an official follower now. so sorry-i guess i thought i was!

    second, we turned a hall closet into a pantry. it had shelves, but also a rod for coats. not happening together, sorry.

    and third, after seeing that door storage on another blog we added one to our closet, and i absolutely love it! ours is the whole length of the door, but it was so simple and gives purpose to that wasted space. yay for "real" pantries.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is such a great idea! I think your pantry is perfect. We actually have turned one of the bedrooms into a storage room which serves as a pantry of sorts. It works for us ;) Love your font on the door as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Erin, When we moved in our current house, it had three bedrooms but no office. So we hired Create More Space and had them convert the room to an office complete with murphy bed!! It works for us and the next owner can remove our modifications if they want! G-Pat

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your pantry may not be fancy but it looks very well organized! To me that's a BIG DEAL! The "pantry" painting on the door is a very cool idea. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, your pantry is so neat and organized! Mine is a disaster! I love your pantry sign too. You have inspired me to neaten mine up!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, it's so tidy that it's making my heart pitter patter. Thanks so much for sharing! I have pantry envy!

    xoxo,
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the font! I totally used the same font for my pantry. I decided to paint it on the door and it turned out great!

    Thank you for the idea.

    ReplyDelete