Rough Linen Don't need sticky notes Becky, everything is sticky already...

1younggma Love the ideas! I'm real close to a kitchen remodel. We are opening up the kitchen so I won't have any upper cabinets. Woke up at 3:00am panicked about where to put my glasses! My sink will be on my island. Any suggestions?

Sheila Schmitz 1younggma, I love that look, too. Check out some strategies for kitchens with few or no upper cabinets in this Houzz article:

Becky Harris 1 youngma, my cousin has these awesome racks within her island that hold all of her glasses. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture, but you'll be amazed at all the options out there for maximizing bottom cabinets these days - racks, tilt outs, pull-out shelves, etc. - they maximize the space so much more efficiently than we're all used to.

frenchdecor @1younggma check in Houzz article couple of posts earlier "Double Islands Put Pep in Kitchen Prep" comment "vbullin" she says her primary sink was on island and it was a big design mistake! I also read in designers suggestions if you can put sink and stove along the wall, do it. I personally prefer it too, examine your existing back splash area and range hood if you have them soiled than it makes perfect sense. Actually if you read designers suggestions they make sense more than all posted pictures which are pretty, but not necessary practical or efficient.
Excellent article Becky. Magazine rack for kitchen, very clever, in a very small kitchen as mine it's what I really can use. Blind corner cabinet solution with two way pull out drawers also great idea. I checked IKEA organizers for it and was disappointed, expensive and simply wasting space. Another DIY project for new year, though we did so many drawers for our standard bases that can open a "mass production" for fraction of store price and better quality.
Happy New Year Houzzers!

catroberts I have a wonderful corner cabinet "lazy susan" two story configuration. BUT the lids get in the way...constantly! What should I do?

jukesgrrl Every time I read an article on kitchen organization, I see a photo with something being stored in a way that is very counter-productive. In this one, it's racks of spices hung on the wall behind a built-in stove. Yes, it's convenient. But NOTHING ruins spices (which often cost $7per tiny bottle) faster than the heat and steam produced by a stove. Similarly, you can't ruin wine any quicker than putting a wine rack above or on top of a refrigerator. I learned that one the hard way and was rewarded with a very expensive collection of home-made vinegar. Finally, I don't care how well the manufacturer claims they're insulated. Situating a refrigerator and stove (or built-in ovens) next to each other is an energy waster. Why spend extra to buy Energy Star appliance then situate them in a way that causes the refrigerator to run more than it should need to?

mummyrita I love some of the ideas here. In my previous house we put up a rail and hooks to hang pots over the bench next to the stove. But now we are renting - and the kitchen seriously lacks storage space. I'm struggling to find ways to keep my kitchen organised that doesn't involve drilling holes or replacing cupboards with drawers (much as I'd love to do this). In the meantime, I'm saving lots of Houzz photos for the day I can build my dream kitchen.

Becky Harris mummyrita - have you checked with your landlord about drilling holes? Perhaps if you talk to him/her, and explain what you want to put up they will be excited about the improvement new pot rack rail, or maybe all you'll have to do when you move out is take it down and spackle?

Also check out this ideabook:




There are some portable shelf ideas in there that might help you make those cabinets more efficient.

mummyrita Thanks Becky. We have been allowed to put hooks in walls for pictures, so we might be able to. I could check with them. Part of the problem is the size of the kitchen. It's open plan, but one side has a stove with oven below flanked above and below by tiny narrow cupboards, then fridge on one side pantry on the other. The other side of the kitchen is an island bench. It's nice and long, but apart from the cupboard under the sink, there is a sum total of one other cupboard under the bench, and one pot drawer. No overhead cupboards. No power points near the island bench either, incidentally. It was clearly designed by someone who had never set foot in a kitchen. I would love to hang my pots above the island bench but they are heavy, so we would have to reinforce the plaster and I don't think the landlord would agree (or that it's worth the cost for us to do it properly). Oh well. As I said, I dream about one day. Thanks for the link to free standing storage - I'll check it out.

Becky Harris mummyrita, can you post some pictures, either here or better yet, on the Discussion Board - maybe if everyone can take a look they'll come up with some suggestions for you!

motpurple company Lids for plastic storage containers may be of more hassle than value. Dispose of those containers that you repeatedly must fuss with. Get some with lids that are all the same size. Store food on china plates covered by bowls. Reuse and recycle 'tinfoil' for covers if needed. Lids for pots fit better in drawers with more space made in those drawers by hanging pots and pans from wracks or pegboards. Magazine wracks or sliding shelves with upright slots are a great ideas for lid storage. Thanks Hozz!

ciderhillfarm We have open shelving for every-day (and some decorative) items. Lower cabinets all have either drawers or pull-outs behind doors. Works beautifully and helps keep a fairly small room from feeling closed in.

jacksonbeth I love organizing.. especially in the kitchen. I just bought this really cool product that Web Don provides. Its a wine rack that fits right into your drawer. Anyone else seen this? www.web-don.com/our-products/adhesives-tools-misc/wine-logic/ I'm installing it today and I can't wait!

sucker1234 New Kitchen? .See if you can create a glasses storage unit in between the studs. Open a long door and there they are at waist height and up all one row deep on glass shelves A friend had this - it looked like a simple panel but we needed one more glass and she said look in the cupboard. Voila. So neat.