One Room Challenge - THE KITCHEN! - Come Join! - Page 5

[broodymama]

OK, here we go. I just moved to this house in December so not everything is organized yet, I'd like to get it under control early and hopefully keep it that way.

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR

C'mon, click me!

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN

I like the layout, it's convenient for preparation. It also has a pantry and more cabinet space than the house we just moved out of. Overall, the kitchen is one of my favorite rooms - it has a warm, homey feel to it and we spend a lot of time there.

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN

It needs to be painted, I'm still experimenting with colors. Anybody want 7 quarts of paint, all different colors? There is a drop down ceiling and horrible florescent lights over the main working area that I really don't like. We'll tear them out at some point but there are other improvements we want to do first.

MY PLAN OF ACTION

- unpack remaining kitchen items from the basement, decluttering as I go
- get rid of items already in the cabinets that we don't use
- clean out the fridge. Yes, this counts as decluttering because some of those leftovers have been in there almost as long as we've been in the house.
- organize/sort the pantry
- pick a paint color and finish painting
- hang decorations

[cece]

Originally Posted by Red Sonja

Overall, the kitchen is one of my favorite rooms - it has a warm, homey feel to it and we spend a lot of time there.

I agree! It looks very homey. PS I enjoy Godiva white chocolate liquor too not that I was studying your pics, I used to work in a bar and picked it out right away. White chocolate martinis? Yummmmm.

mommaof3boz "Cece-I know this is OT but your family is so beautiful!! Also have you considered a pot rack above the sink area?"

Thank you! You are so kind. I hadn't considered a pot rack...*off to consider pot rack*

I am so excited about this challenge. Tomorrow I plan to fix the contact paper on at least 3 drawers/cabinets.

[serenetabbie]

Ok, slow but sure start here...

I will be posting pictures on my blog, since some non-MDC moms asked about it... the befores and afters will be up by Sunday night at the latest. I have set aside the weekend for this and one other project I have GOT to finish by Monday. I wish I could sit and look at everyone's kitchens, but meh, dial up takes forever.

Starting with the easy stuff first;

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR (to be announced!)

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN- It is a big space, big enough to have all the leaves in the table and still room to move around. I like the color too.

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN- pretty much everything else. I hate my kitchen. It was last remodeled in 1973, and it looks like it. The cabinets are horrible pressboard, falling apart, hung crooked and missing shelves. The counter is ugly white with gold veins and is warped. The floor is those press down tiles fashioned to look like "bricks". I hate the dropped ceiling. It is oddly set up, has little counterspace and looks dirty to me no matter how much I clean it. The kitchen is the one thing that made me think twice about buying this house.

MY PLAN OF ACTION -
1- take everything out of cupboards, clean inside and out, organize.
2- take out everything from the drawers, clean, wash dividers, organize
3- pare down plastic storage containers, get rid of all little kid stuff
4- clean radiator, under & in 'fridge, in & behind stove/oven

Whew, that sounds like enough

[GenomicsGirl]

Originally Posted by TwinMom

Shannon, I like the cubbies for toys in your kitchen; they blend in with the background. I wish I had something similar for my playroom.

I love that they blend, too! I just wish that the whole kitchen wasn't white, white, white!

By the way everyone, I added shots this morning that showed the clutter behind all the innocent white : Woah.

[MrsTittlemouse]

I cleaned down counters today, looks like I can declutter little by little.


Is anyone here succesful at organizing sippy cups and tupperware? That cabinet is also our "play" cabinet, so it is ALWAYS a disaster. It wouldn't bug me if it stayed in the cabinet, but it never does.
Maybe I'll ditch 1/2 of it. DD might enjoy the emptiness. OK I just answered my question, but I still want to hear other's ideas!

Any NT'ers have an organized way of setting up their kombucha, kefir, krauts, etc????

[mightymoo]

Originally Posted by MrsTittlemouse

I cleaned down counters today, looks like I can declutter little by little.


Is anyone here succesful at organizing sippy cups and tupperware? That cabinet is also our "play" cabinet, so it is ALWAYS a disaster. It wouldn't bug me if it stayed in the cabinet, but it never does.
Maybe I'll ditch 1/2 of it. DD might enjoy the emptiness. OK I just answered my question, but I still want to hear other's ideas!

We only use two types of cups - a small open cup with no lid or the playtex ones. So that helps, because it means that all the lids fit all the cups. I put a small metal bowl in the cupboard with the cups and all the lids go in that. The little bladders get put on the lids when they come out of the dishwasher, I don't need to fish around in the cabinet for the bladder when going to use it.

Our only problem is that despite the fact that they are the same type some lids just don't fit some cups well, they leak. And we do have more than we need. I'm thinking of cutting it down significantly.

[serenetabbie]

Taking a break from cleaning the kitchen *whew* I am less than half way done, this is going slower than I thought it would. I am such a slob I ended up taking down a few of the terrible drop ceiling tiles and painting them white where they had water marks on them from a leak last year. They have been bugging me for so long, and now they look so much better!

Now I can sit down with a cup of tea before I start dinner and look at some of the kitchens

Dana, I LOVE your kitchen. What kind of linolium is it on your floor? It is one big sheet or is it those press on tiles? I hope you don't mind if I show it to DH... we have been disagreeing on what to do with our horrible floor for years now. Your DH did a great job on the cabinets, they look very nice.

[PeacefulSeams]

I finally got my kitchen pics up. Here they are.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen067.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen066.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen050.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen051.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen052.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen053.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen054.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen055.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen056.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen057.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen059.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen058.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen060.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen061.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen062.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen063.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen064.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...kitchen065.jpg

[nurturedbirth]

RedSonja - ha! I spotted that bottle of Godiva White Chocolate right off as well. Have you tried it in hot chocolate? Drool.

Originally Posted by serenetabbie

Dana, I LOVE your kitchen. What kind of linolium is it on your floor? It is one big sheet or is it those press on tiles? I hope you don't mind if I show it to DH... we have been disagreeing on what to do with our horrible floor for years now. Your DH did a great job on the cabinets, they look very nice.

That is so kind. The stuff on the floor is vinyl. They are the stick on tiles, not one solid sheet. We would have really loved cork but I think there may be a true kitchen renovation (i.e. tear out everything, change floor plan, etc.) down the line and we didn't want to put down the really nice stuff only to tear it out someday. The tiles are from Home Depot. Let me go check the details.

They are TrafficMaster Original in Beige Slate and Morocco Slate:
http://www.depot-tile.com/product/traffic.html

The colors look terrible on the website. Much warmer IRL. The plus of the stick on tiles is that it's definately a DIY. The downsides are 1) it's helps to have someone who's pretty anal putting them in so they stay snug against each other and the pattern doesn't get off. 2) there's quite a bit of trimming necessary to fit them against the walls, especially if you lay them on the diagonal like we did. But I think the look was worth it. 3) The vinyl stuff outgases nasty stuff when it's cut. DH was nauseous from doing it. I'd recommend doing it outside.

You're welcome to copy anything we have. Send pictures!

[MommyMichele]

small progress

I got to reorganize one of my cabinets today, and partly organize a couple of others. Here are all my photos.

[MyLittleWonders]

I bought a washcloth basket and pretty wooden bowl for fruit today. Ds#3 is teething though so I barely got the dishwasher emptied. Dh will be home tomorrow though.

[momaste]

I love this idea! My kitchen is drywall and a fridge right now, and the cabinets are being put in this week. I'm so excited to HAVE a kitchen!! At the end of the month, I'll post pictures of our new kitchen all organized. WHEE!

[Mooky]

Originally Posted by MommyMichele

I got to reorganize one of my cabinets today, and partly organize a couple of others. Here are all my photos.

Way to go!! That looks awesome!! Can you come do one of mine??

I did nothing in my kitchen today as dh was painting the bathroom and I was keeping the kiddos out of his hair. He will be finishing that up tomorrow so I hope to get back to the kitchen work on Monday. It is great fun for me to look at everyones pictures though.

Anyone have any ideas on shopping for a lazy susan for my corner cabinets??

[hellyaellen]

i haven't finished reading all the posts yet but if i don't put tonite's plan of action in writing i won't get around to doing it

tonite i am going to move the all the food into the pantry.
then i'll move some of the cookery and storage ware that are crowding one set of cabinets into the freed space.

i'm also going to move some stuff for the attic out to the garage. i can count this for the kitchen de-clutter but not for my overall declutter. :

i already got rid of the drumset that was wasting space. (sold for $200) unfortunatley the amp thats taker over the toy storage in the living room is moving there now but at least thjat wall will be sort of streamlined now.

[broodymama]

About that bottle of Godiva - ummm, yeah. It's empty.

Hot chocolate and coffee, it went to a better place.

[MyLittleWonders]

I'll have to post a picture tomorrow (assuming it stays clean ), but one of my "major problem" counters is all cleaned complete with pretty fruit bowl and nice basket for our washcloths. Of course, my other "major problem" counter adjacent to the now clean one is even messier than before ... : ... I have *NO* idea how that happened! But, I was cleaning with only one hand as ds#3 needed to be in arms and I didn't feel like getting out the sling. So, tomorrow I'm hoping they both are cleared and orderly. Oh, and I cleaned out a little hidden cupboard that is under the "major problem" counter/desk ... I have about 5 old phone books for the recycle bin now.

[mamasaurus]

Originally Posted by tsume

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR
Here's the kitchen from the living room. I'll post the cabinets and fridge later.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
It's not closed in

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
the wall color
disorganized cabinets
not a lot of counter space

MY PLAN OF ACTION
PAINT!! (not sure what color)
Purge and Organize Cabinets

I'd love to suggest a BIG island, if I may! With a lot of counter workspace and many cabinets underneath to store stuff.

[CDS]

I want to join. First of all, I thought my kitchen wasn't too bad even though I know there's few lazy areas where we're not really keeping things tidy with. After I took pictures of my kitchen and the drawers.. I am more committed to get things improved - can't get worse than the current condition.

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...1atWkz&notag=1

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN (Include a picture!)
http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgser...138AYuWzlw1atf
Just installed 2 wall bar pot racks! I love it.. it adds up colors and gives us more storage.

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
the missing cabinet above fridge- the friend/handyman who did some minor remodel in the kitchen didn't finish the last one. He has made no attempt to come back and finish the project.

the kitchen is small! but since we got the pot rack for the wall-- things have IMPROVED

MY PLAN OF ACTION -
1. Get ahold of handyman to give back the new cabinet so I can instal it
2. Wash the cabinets- has too much stains and food stuck on the doors
3. re-organize the pantry shelves a bit
4. declutter the two main drawers with everything in there
5. declutter the cabinets behind the fridge ... too much stuff is laying around
6. wash windows
7. clean the fridge doors from all the magnets and paper junks
8. clean up the storage above cabinets-- looks ugly move all stuff to garage and create a bulk shelf in garage not in my small kitchen
9. paint hidden side of cabinet by microwave
10. DO SOMETHING about the spices- we use a lot.. and it's stacked by 3 rows so hard to find everything
11. scan all artwork DD made onto flash drive usb and discard -- like the idea someone else suggested in different thread
12. figure how to do the power cords mess like the other person have.
13. Go to the container store and look through better organization layouts for our current kitchen AFTER i declutter
14. Get rid of things/applications/dishware that we don't use
15. get more kid size plastic bowls
16. paint an old small leak area.. (showing stains)

This is a good start I think

[carolina~mom2be]

okay - i started mid january, so i've cheated a bit - but this is what my kitchen looked like right after Christmas. : i didnt take pics inside of the cabinets, but they are STUFFED with any and everything since there are only three! : At the end of the challenge, you'll see the insides! My husband is planning to completely gut the kitchen - but that isn't in our budget at this moment...but soon !!

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR
this is standing in the doorway, looking to the left. just beyond the stove is a microwave cart and then a doorway that leads to the dining room.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ristmas064.jpg
this is all of my cabinet/counter space! on the left side of this picture is the dining room doorway and to the right side of the sink, is the doorway to the laundry/mud room.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ristmas063.jpg
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
i like that my husband bought me a dishwasher - which is right in front of the sink in that picture. - i don't like the fact that it doesn't have a "home" but thats okay!

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
ummm....everything - but seriously

*I don't like that the former owner did away with the upper cabinet doors
*I don't like looking at the breaker box (above microwave)
*I don't like that there are 3 doors in the kitchen

MY PLAN OF ACTION

*I will completely organize all upper and lower cabinets and MAXIMIZE the space (our kitchen isn't too small, we just have too much stuff) *Repeat to self daily*
*I will make a home for the dishwasher
*I will cover the breaker box
*I will hang a mirror over the stove
*I will deep clean
*I will get rid of EVERYTHING we don't use
*I will replace the trash can (it's REALLY gross)

~*~I am open to any and all suggestions/ideas!!!~*~

[anthasam]

My kitchen!

MY KITCHEN PICTURE TOUR
View from Living Room
View from Corner/Entryway
Sliders to deck and eating area
Living Room/Entryway corner and baker's rack
Fridge, doorway to dining room and "problem corner" (Please ignore the vacuum/laundry basket being used as a dog barrier )
End of kitchen and doors (pantry, laundryroom, powder room)
sink and work area (dishwasher is broken, had to hand wash)
stove area (counter is almost totally clear )
baker's rack close-up
inside the corner hutch

I did not post pictures of the insides of my cabinets because they are mostly all decluttered at this point. We are still weeding out some items, but overall, I'm pretty happy with them.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
Well, it's large, airy and bright. I also like that it opens up to the living room. There is also lots of storage.

WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY KITCHEN
Lots of doorways, the cabinets are not really "us" (although we do like the antique pulls we recently installed on the drawers/doors!). There really isn't a lot of "usable" counter space. For example, the counter is less than 2 feet across between the sink and stove.

This corner annoys me. History: The fridge used to be here, that's why the upper cabinets are not the same. We had a hard-to-access pantry under the staircase that we really did not like. So, DH widened the doorway and we moved the fridge into that pantry area. We bought new lower cabinets (the white ones) for the corner and added the countertop. We love this change.

HOWEVER, I hate the tower of ovens in the corner. We use the microwave to reheat leftovers and the toaster oven gets used a lot too. We would like to keep these out. I would like to make room in the pantry for the coffeemaker (it used to live there, not sure what happened.)

Anyone have ideas? Some thoughts we had: 1) a shelf in the open space next to the cabinet; or 2) buying an over the stove microwave and mounting it into that space, leaving just the toaster oven on the counter.


MY PLAN OF ACTION
1) Figure out something to do with this corner (microwave, toaster oven, shelf for open space in cabinets, art for wall?)
2) Find a home for the Learning Tower DD is getting for her birthday next
month
3) Inspire DH to finish sheetrock around fridge
4) Remove decorative items (sell, store, give away) that take up space that
can be used for functional items. Here and Here
5) Add art to walls
6) De-clutter the pantry