Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Furniture with storage in mind

This picture was taken last year but for new readers...
this is what the outside of the pantry looks like

Top two shelves...
(new picture)

Bottom two shelves
(new picture)

I inherited this old, yellow pantry from my mother-in-law. I love it even if it is more shabby than chic. :) Old things remind me of stability... and roots... things that stay the same in the midst of trials and tribulations. It has been in my husband's family since... forever.

I know it went through the Depression, WWII (perhaps WWI!)... up through today. As I've mentioned before, my brother-in-law has the "twin", which hubby restored to near perfection back in his college days. I prefer this one.

I don't know what I'd do without this old pantry. It holds most of my baking supplies (all of the small stuff), herbs and spices, my mild olive oil (I pour the oil into a smaller decanter on the area of the kitchen counter where I do most of my work), vinegars, etc.


I bought this at Goodwill last year for just a few dollars. It needed minor repairs, which took my husband only a few minutes to make and then it was "vintage perfect". It gives me a lot of storage space in my small kitchen. Oh, that red bookcase I showed yesterday (and you can catch a glimpse of here)... I've mentioned before that it was from my husband's childhood bedroom. I've always loved the color... you'd never guess, right?

Let's see if I remember some questions asked... The jars came from Target, using a a surprise gift card that I was given... what fun! I've stored my flour in food grade plastic containers and in the pretty (vintage reproduction) tins on the red bookcase. My whole wheat flour I've ground is stored in an old Tupperware container in the frig. Although it was brand new and in style when I bought it too many years ago to count. My Tupperware is harvest gold and orange... does that age it?

Right now I have five or six 5-lb. bags of flour in the garage, sitting in a large plastic tub but without a lid. I'm taking a bit of a gamble with mice by doing this but it is on a higher shelf (and I have mice poison on the shelves behind the food). I have a couple of pails of wheat left but I really do need to order more. That won't last long but wheat is now expensive (it used to be so cheap).

I'll chat more about finding places for "stocking up" later but I thought you'd like to see these pictures today. Perhaps they will spark some creative ideas for our own storage. :)

I'm still not feeling well but much better than I was a few days ago. Thank you for the prayers.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your kitchen is very sweet and I love everything. The artwork is very charming too.

Vee said...

Just finished reading both of the posts that I've missed. I love your red-lidded jars! I was at Target today and saw so many wonderful organizing items...I was shopping for my daughter-in-law's birthday.

One thing that I've done recently that I never have done before because I wasn't stocking up as much as I am now is to label each item like this: 1/4 or 2/4 or 3/4 which simply means the first of four, the second of four, the third of four. That way, I can rest assured that the "stock" is rotating. I'm even doing this with toothpaste and shampoo.

Thanks for all your tips and encouragements. It can get scary to see how steeply everything has jumped. I was just trying to figure out how to shut down part of the house over the winter and just live in a few rooms...wild!

Abounding Treasures said...

Thanks for the little glimpse of your kitchen ... looks well organized and cozy :o)

Anonymous said...

I love the vintage storage you have in your kitchen! It's so true, the older things do remind us of stability and where our roots originated.

Anita said...

Thanks for inviting us into your kitchen! It's so clean and homey. You're a very good hostess.

Lallee said...

Hello Brenda! I just finished reading your posts. I never miss any even if I have to play catch up. I think the 'stocking up' posts you are doing are of great value.

I am so sorry for the loss of your brother-in-law.

Christopher looks so handsome in his new suit. I'm glad to hear the graduation party went well and there were no storms that day!

I loved your comment on our nesting decorations being reflections of our artistic God. That's exactly how I have thought of my motivation in that area. And you know I love all the red in your charming kitchen!

I hope you are feeling better!

Hugs,
Lallee

flmom said...

Wheat has definitely skyrocketed in price. Last Oct. I paid $12.xx for a 25lb. bag of organic hard white wheat berries. In Dec. the price had gone to $17.xx and in May of this year it shot up to $30.xx So frustrating and discouraging.

Simply Heart And Home said...

I love "old" things as well and you know, generally they are made better than newer things. They last longer and they come with history!

Your shelves are so organized. My downstairs pantry is organized but my kitchen cupboards are bedlam. I need to work on them. Hopefully our new puppy will settle in and I can get things done! :)

Blessings to your day

Gina

~~Deby said...

Brenda,
I am loving seeing all of this and your creative ways. ALSO looking forward to seeing your scrapbook journal..hint hint....
Hope you get feeling better, will pray for you...
Deby

Queen Bee said...

Your kitchen is darling and very well organized. I love your red shelf. You have encouraged me to go and organize my pantry. Thank you.

Carrot Top said...

I've caught the organizing bug too! I recently helped a friend, so she's going to return the favor and come help me. Work becomes play when you do it with a friend!

Susan B said...

Thank you for sharing pictures of your cozy kitchen. It looks very organized.

Your comments about your Tupperware made me smile. My mother used to sell Tupperware in the 80's and I am still using some of those bowls! (It's good stuff!)