I live in a historic neighborhood in a bungalow-style building built somewhere between 1917 and 1921. The building was partitioned into a collection of units, and my little oasis, which is high up in the trees, is wrapped in 16 windows and lots of historic charm: original wood floors, skeleton keyholes, ultra-high ceilings, built-in storage and a bunch of cutesy details long gone from modern home-building. (I use the old ironing closet as a spice cabinet. There’s even a hardline for a telephone in the pantry!)
My pantry re-organization project all started with ANTS. Well-organized, well-resourced little pests, marching, searching and informing their troops whenever they find even just a crumb of something good or sweet. It also truly didn’t help that my pantry was full of improperly stored and items—but that’s neither here nor there.
Most of my projects begin with comprehensive storage: getting things off the ground or shelf and into their own compartments not only makes things easily accessible, but the solutions help leave less trails or spills that attract little beasts and bugs.
So off to Pinterest I went!
I’ll be honest, this is not a cheap project. Transitioning to glass storage was the most expensive part of the process. But inventorying the food, items and objects and finding unique ways to store them was fun!
A few helpful tips before getting started:
Make sure you get containers (baskets, storage containers) that can accommodate for more items down the road, not just the items you have on hand when you start your project.
Measuring is boring, I know, but it saves you so much time when searching online or in stores! If you know the layout of your space, you’ll know what fits. Personally, I like to draw diagrams.
Before putting all your food in containers, match up your containers to the pantry items. Make sure you account for what that item may look like when you have a full package. For example, don’t purchase for the 1 cup of flour you have left, but for the 10 cups of flour that come in the packet.
Note the expiration dates of your bags and boxes before throwing things away, and write them on the underside of your containers. I like to use peel-and-stick tabs.
Buy a few extra containers for future items!
Some goods and vegetables may have specific storage requirements. Take a moment to look up the types of storage you’ll need for things like onion, bread etc. You want to make sure you’re still storing safely while making things pretty.
Storage Containers and Labels
Following in Hayet Rida’s footsteps, I started with her Amazon recommendation. When I needed more storage, I turned to Target and ended up preferring Target’s size range, glass durability and the quality of their lids much better!
The labels were made with Paper & Pear. Just purchase your labels and email your list to their customer service! Easy peasy. As for the containers, I bought multiples of a few of these!
Amazon:
Target:
Pot Hooks
Cast iron pan display had been on my mind for a while. If you follow me on @hiaj.eats you know my love for cast iron knows no bounds. The bottom level of pantry was a great place to store and display things since there was a big expanse of space and no shelving there. Even with the pots, the bottom shelf is still functional. Etsy, the handmade haven came through with these iron hooks from Echo Hill Forge. The hooks also came with the hardware to put them in the wall and that was wonderful.
Other Accents:
18” round lazy Susan – Amazon
12” round lazy Susan – Home Goods
Black candlesticks – Ikea
Marble round “bookend” – Home Goods
Speckled bowl – Home Goods
Stoneware Citrus Juicer – Hearth & Hand with Magnolia – now sold out.
Tall glass storage container with lid – Burlington Coat Factory
Water Hyacinth Place Mat – Ikea
Antique chipped vase – Lost in Time Antique Mall
7-piece teak cooking spoons – Amazon
3-piece Olive wood shovels/scoops – Amazon
Glass water bottles - Amazon
Clear pitcher – I purchased mine at Burlington a long time ago, but found one here.
Cork-topped tall glass carafe – Thrifted
I moved the lids and plastic wrap to the wire basket above the door! I’m tall so I can reach easily but I do keep a step stool in the pantry—it’s very helpful.
Cookbooks on the shelf and truly so good:
Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone
Skinny Taste by Gina Homolka
The Whole30 Cookbook by Melissa Hartwig Urban
Mississippi Vegan by Timothy Pakron
