Help me come to terms with my countertops..

[Mommabean]

I just have an issue with my kitchen. I feel like there is too much out there ...but does it seem cluttered??

Right now when it is clean this is what it looks like! But imagine baking, spreading flour out everywhere, and just maneuvering around. I am always moving something around.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/P6190063.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...a/P6190064.jpg

I do use my crockpot at least twice a week so it stays out.

So what is on your counter tops in your kitchen?

[nurturebaby]

beautiful kitchen!!!

Is there any other place for the home management/paper files to go? Possibly mount the whiteboard on a wall? It looks like that counterspace would be the perfect work area - to be free from just about everything and dedicated to food prep.

Is there room for a little table or something where the trash can is now? Like a little desk type thing to store paper stuff? It's hard to tell the lay-out of the kitchen on that side. Then you could maybe clear space for a trash can in a lower cabinet beneath the sink or something?

I'd also consider possibly putting the red apple/cookie jar (is that what it is?) on the counter by the crock pot to free up that space.

[Mommabean]

yeah that is my cookie jar that holds my secret candy stash

We haven't finished the walls all the way and the calendar sits on the counter UGH.

[Drummer's Wife]

These aren't current pics, but my counters pretty much look like this.

Here's the kitchen before we moved in. I'd love it to be that de-cluttered!

[hopefulfaith]

I think both of your kitchens look great.

[berry987]

I think your counters look great! I second that maybe the white board could be mounted on a wall or something somewhere. That looks like something that might slide down or get in the way when you're cooking.

Drummer's wife - your kitchen is beautiful too! I love that your laptop is out, too - that's exactly where mine is!

[phatchristy]

I think your countertops are fine, but then again I think my kitchen is like 1/4 the size. LOL

I am an avid baker and cook as a hobby too. Which is funny because I have the simplest kitchen out there. LOL

[annethcz]

I don't think your countertops are horribly cluttered, but I also think I would have a hard time working around everything you have on the counter.

My countertops are similarly cluttered, but I have an island that I keep clean, and that's where I do the majority of my food prep. I think that cleaning off even ONE of your counter areas would make it feel like you have more room to manuver.

[daytripper75]

I would try to mount as much as I could on the inside doors of the cupboards. Add some corkboard to the inside to hold papers, etc.
You've got a great looking kitchen!

[zoebird]

the only thing on my counter top is a bowl of fruit. of course, i don't have a lot of counter top or appliances, and everything has it's own place anyway.

i do not think it looks cluttered, but it's more stuff on the countertops than i prefer anyway. my husband prefers a look more like yours; i prefer to have everything off the countertops! LOL

on to check if these second-hand barcelona chairs are licensed repros or not.

[CeciMami]

I'd try to clear off just the one counter (on the right) off completely. Move the candy dish either into the corner (by the crockpot) or into a cupboard (since your candy stash is supposed to be a secret anyway...), move the calendar and inbox onto the wall over the trash can (get one of those wall mounted inboxes maybe?). Then move what I'm assuming are cereal dispensers over to the right of the stove by either rearranging the canisters or just moving them up into the cupboards...it looks like you have plenty of cupboard space. I'm unsure as to what the squarish item on the counter is...

This gives you one large open space in which you can spread out and do all of your work...post pics of what you end up doing!

[ArtsyMomma]

I think both kitchens look great!

[Misbehavedmeg]

I totally have this issue too. Where mine is actually cluttered, I don't think yours is. However, I will suggest just keep one counter top totally free of anything on top so that you can bake easier.

[SeekingJoy]

Your kitchen looks fine, but you would have more room if you stored your crockpot in the turning cabinet right below it since it would give you that much more room. It seriously isn't that much effort to pull it out just twice a week. We use ours that much and store it in a cabinet.

Your knives could be put up on a magnetic wall strip.

The wire organizer could be replaced with a wall-hanging one. You could put it on the side of the upper cabinet or on the wall under the cabinets. For extra similar storage, you can line one or more of your upper cabinet doors with cork to tack school calendars, permission slips, bills, etc.

Storing your candy out of sight might be good for multiple reasons.

Your recipe box can be put up. Even if you cook from it daily, it isn't that hard to grab it while you are in your pantry/cabinets gathering ingredients.

Do you have a pantry where the cereal dispensers can go that the kids can still reach?

Your kitchen looks great, but the same things that bug you would bug me. It is harder to prep and clean up when you constantly have to move stuff.

[The Amber Lily]

I think your kitchen looks lovely!!