Last week when Katie was over, I opened the pantry to offer her some tea and found a giant sausage sitting on the bottom shelf. Now, considering I haven't eaten meat in about twelve years or so, I don't think I placed the sausage there. Perhaps one of my cheeky friends? I'm sure no one is going to own up to this little prank, but if you would like to anonymously comment to this post and let me know how long the sausage has been there, I'd be very happy. That was the test right? How long will it take for Brian to notice the giant sausage in the pantry? I just want to know how I did...
So, after the shaman left from the cleansing ritual I had to enact because of the presence of meat in my pantry (The shamanic cleansing cost $500, so if you ever own up to the sausage, expect an invoice.), and after I had done a personal smudging of the space, and after I had cleaned it from top to bottom with a mixture of Kaballah water and sea salt....I decided it was time for a reorganization! I mean, if someone can sneak a giant sausage through my front door and into my pantry right under my nose, I'm clearly not as organized as I should be.
This reorganization resulted in a complete paradigm shift. In the past, I had grouped together like foods by storage method and usage. In the spare spaces, I had stashed overflow utensils and other kitchen instruments. On top of these, odds and ends were crammed into nooks and crannies. While this was useful and worked for the most part, I thought a higher level of organization was possible. I decided to try and include aesthetic choices as part of the overall construction of the space. Pleased with the results, I thought some of the ideas might be useful to you, dear reader.
The first thing I did was group all of my wonderful pickled vegetables together on a single shelf for some strong visual impact. These are all tomatoes and okra that my dad put up from things grown in his garden. I actually didn't realize I had so much okra, so I am officially not rationing it any longer. On the shelf above, I arranged an array of colorful mugs more intentionally. I even weeded out three mugs that I have been moving around for about twenty years. Advice: do not becoming emotionally involved with coffee mugs. I also placed the coffee making tools very close and balanced three lovely, orange egg cups on the edge to add depth of field. The colors are bright, cheerful and the entire arrangement says 'I'm ready for breakfast at any time.' In front of the pickly things, I placed a plastic Kachina and an engraved Hindu goddess who had both been living in the pantry. Now that they are front and center, I officially charged them with oversight of the space in the future.
As I mention, some kitchen odds and ends are also grouped in the space. This vintage ice crusher had been crammed into the corner, but I placed it between the canned goods and the array of jams and jellies. (I have strawberry now, for those of you who have been following the jelly saga.) It's a fun object I don't use often, but do enjoy seeing.
Honestly, I was trying to weed out a little as I went through everything and came across two small platters I hadn't used in a coon's age. I was going to put them in the Goodwill pile, but then realized they would be perfect for storing vinegars, oils, honey, molasses and other items which have a tendency to drip onto the shelves. They not only add color, but make clean up simple.
I had my sugar and baking supplies in bags piled on the shelves to the side, while these three canisters my mother received as wedding gifts languished in the bottom of a cabinet. They're in use again and bring a strong metallic element to the palette of the pantry. Notice reader, I said palette. Think about color and texture as you decide what goes into your space.
Boxes and canisters of tea seem to multiply in the pantry. Where did all it come from? Likewise, packages of napkins from parties past and future grow and spill off the shelf. The solution?
Container Store. They always have your back. I bought
two baskets made from thinly rolled Asian newspaper that are chic and keep tea and napkins neatly contained. That way, next time someone wants tea (which was started this whole story in the first place), I can just grab the box and let them choose away. Simple.
Remember:
1. Organize not just for ease of use, but also for looks. You have to open the pantry a couple of times everyday, it might as well seem exciting.
2. Think color and texture. Eventually, I would like to paint the walls of the pantry a nice, soft orange and leave the shelves a clean, bright white. What is going on your shelves? What do your containers look like? Would some dark baskets spruce things up? What about some colorful pots that are in a closet? Could you put some rarely used utensils in them?
3. Decorate everything. Some vintage cookbooks, a small statue or a favorite item could easily add a little bit of life to your shelves. Magazines are always reminding you that bookshelves aren't just for books and I am saying that pantry shelves are not just for cans of beans.
4. Use trays to organize items and keep the place clean. If it goes on something, it's much less likely to wander.
5. Watch out for sausage!
The new egg plate and some other collected kitchen art has finally been hung, right above the sink. Now all I need to do is find a place for my 'Good Morning Brian' plate and all will be right.
Last week when Katie was over, I opened the pantry to offer her some tea and found a giant sausage sitting on the bottom shelf. Now, considering I haven't eaten meat in about twelve years or so, I don't think I placed the sausage there. Perhaps one of my cheeky friends? I'm sure no one is going to own up to this little prank, but if you would like to anonymously comment to this post and let me know how long the sausage has been there, I'd be very happy. That was the test right? How long will it take for Brian to notice the giant sausage in the pantry? I just want to know how I did...
The first thing I did was group all of my wonderful pickled vegetables together on a single shelf for some strong visual impact. These are all tomatoes and okra that my dad put up from things grown in his garden. I actually didn't realize I had so much okra, so I am officially not rationing it any longer. On the shelf above, I arranged an array of colorful mugs more intentionally. I even weeded out three mugs that I have been moving around for about twenty years. Advice: do not becoming emotionally involved with coffee mugs. I also placed the coffee making tools very close and balanced three lovely, orange egg cups on the edge to add depth of field. The colors are bright, cheerful and the entire arrangement says 'I'm ready for breakfast at any time.' In front of the pickly things, I placed a plastic Kachina and an engraved Hindu goddess who had both been living in the pantry. Now that they are front and center, I officially charged them with oversight of the space in the future.
As I mention, some kitchen odds and ends are also grouped in the space. This vintage ice crusher had been crammed into the corner, but I placed it between the canned goods and the array of jams and jellies. (I have strawberry now, for those of you who have been following the jelly saga.) It's a fun object I don't use often, but do enjoy seeing.
Honestly, I was trying to weed out a little as I went through everything and came across two small platters I hadn't used in a coon's age. I was going to put them in the Goodwill pile, but then realized they would be perfect for storing vinegars, oils, honey, molasses and other items which have a tendency to drip onto the shelves. They not only add color, but make clean up simple.
I had my sugar and baking supplies in bags piled on the shelves to the side, while these three canisters my mother received as wedding gifts languished in the bottom of a cabinet. They're in use again and bring a strong metallic element to the palette of the pantry. Notice reader, I said palette. Think about color and texture as you decide what goes into your space.
Boxes and canisters of tea seem to multiply in the pantry. Where did all it come from? Likewise, packages of napkins from parties past and future grow and spill off the shelf. The solution? Container Store. They always have your back. I bought two baskets made from thinly rolled Asian newspaper that are chic and keep tea and napkins neatly contained. That way, next time someone wants tea (which was started this whole story in the first place), I can just grab the box and let them choose away. Simple.
Remember:
This bunny service, adorned with roses, could really mix in with any china or silver service easily. Traditional, modern, simple, or ornate. It would convey to your guests (or reiterate to yourself, if you're using it for toast and tea at a solitary repast) that you are a positive person, with a bright outlook on the world. Likewise, the adorable guys definitely assert confidence in a design aesthetic on the part of the owner. They really SAY something...
This wonderful design by Russel Wright is ingenious, with the creamer acting as the lid of the sugar bowl, nesting neatly on top.
A similar design and thrift store find, this piece is a silver-plated deco set by Napier.
Temporama by Canonsburg. My favorite pattern. The dishes I use in all of my dreams. The accent pieces in this set are that wonderful robin's egg blue that I love, but the under plate shown here is actually something new from Crate and Barrel. Perfect Match!
The 'good' china, some of what I own was a thrifted gift from the playwright and actress Helena Hale, who is no longer with us. The pattern is Shoreline by Metlox and all of the colors were named for the California coast. The color I collect is called wet sand. So dramatic.
This set sat at the thrift store forever, so I finally picked them up for a song along with a matching bowl and platter. They are by Studio Nova from the very 80s Color Threads line. I would consider this to be my 'everyday' creamer and sugar, the one that is on the kitchen table.
Finally, a mismatched ménage à trois. From the left, a rustic creamer that was a gift from Danette who has no use for creamers as she doesn't drink coffee and rarely entertains (never on a grand scale); the adored Rosenthal, with odd wings on the lid that make it very sculptural; and lastly, a petite creamer by Frankoma, pottery of the promised land--Oklahoma.
...is definitely through my book shelf, specifically my cookbook shelf. My friend Heather came to visit last month for ACL and brought me a lovely little stack of cookbooks for my collection. (Thank you!) Of course, Heather and I go way, WAY back (We were babes in the nursery together and our grandmother's played basketball in high school. Basically, we knew each other before we even knew each other.) and she is a fellow cookbookaholic, so doesn't have to gift her way into my life. But you, dear reader, are you trying to get closer to me but just can't? Are you looking for that special something that will endear me to your forever or for at least two weeks? Vintage cookbooks are the way to go.
Also, Japan's Muji (a super-stylish and affordable store featuring a wide array of items) is opening two branches in New York. While this isn't necessarily convenient for me, I'm hoping this means there will be a branch of the web store for the States. That way, we can all get some of their wonderful stuff for our kitchen.
My kitchen altar is all decked out with goodies from the farm. From the left: garlic that arrived fresh and is now nice and dried, ready to eat; big, juicy, sweet tomatoes; Ganesha, the Indian god invoked to overcome obstacles and therefore perfect in the kitchen; sweet, little purple-y tomatoes; little red tomatoes; basil and more basil. Delish.