Friday, August 06, 2010

Pantry Pics -- show and tell

 Finding places everywhere to dry herbs!

We're finally having a nice day here and what do I decide to do... organize the "shower pantry".  I should have taken a "before" picture... then again it is a good thing I didn't.

 Behind this shower curtain is...

 ... storage!

 I stole borrowed this idea from Manuela, turning an unused shower into storage space.  I have gorilla shelves in the garage for canned goods and such but this puts my plastic and paper goods inside where I can grab them easily when needed.

Victoria's kibble is in the plastic storage bucket...and she knows it, too.

The two wire baskets were Goodwill finds.  The bottom basket is upside down (to hold the top basket) but it can still hold two large packages of paper plates and one large package of disposable cups (all left over from my son's summer break car trip).


I inherited this yellow "pantry" from my in-laws.  My mother-in-law had this in her basement (holding laundry and cleaning products) and its' twin (which had been nicely refinished) in her dining room.

The refinished pantry is in the home of my brother-in-law.  My husband offered to refinish this one, too... Stephanie and I were both appalled at the thought!  We love all of its' vintagy yellow and red chippy paint.



It provides the perfect storage for my collection of condiments, spices, and baking products.

Hmmm.... I just noticed that sugar cookie mix which I bought months ago to try in a new recipe.  That may be my next baking assignment!

I hope you liked the interior pantry tour.  Since we live in a small house with no basement, we utilize any extra space possible.

Note:  If you are snoopy like me, all pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.  :)

8 comments:

Mrs. V. said...

I love all your pictures that you share. ~ And that you speak of making things work in a rather small house. I too live in a tiny cottage of a house that we moved into last year. (Didn't I see you comment somewhere about having very low ceilings? We do as well.) The thing I'm learning about these small spaces is that one has to be very creative in their use of space to make things work ~ but that it can be done! We have one bath tub/ shower that is not in use because it needs a complete "re-do." So I am using it as storage for my vacuum cleaner and carpet steamer until we have that area renovated. Amazing what you can put in a tub or shower and just pull the pretty curtain closed and no one is the wiser.

I love your yellow pantry cabinet. I have a potting table in my pantry to use as a work space.

Becky K. said...

I used to use an extra shower for my candle storage and then our middle son needed it. So...out went my candles. Now, he may be leaving in January for a Two Year Gardening Program. I wonder if I dare to take it back! LOL

Becky K.

DarcyLee said...

I love your vintagey pantry, too. Thanks for the peek!

Anita said...

I love peeking in your house. I don't have a basement either and I never have enough space.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Thanks for sharing your pantry storage space. I love putting things to good use!

Love the colors of the cabinet!

Vee said...

I remember that storage idea and if I had a spare shower around here, it might well go that route. One thing I notice right off is that the Kibbles are in a plastic container. I must do this pronto. Our cats are guilty of helping themselves from time to time, tearing right into the bags. You'd think that they were starving!

I like cabinets like your yellow one. I have a similar one, but it isn't vintage, which I'd far prefer.

Rebecca said...

What a great pantry cupboard. You're right not to refinish it, in my opinion...

I noticed the package of cookie mix. I just mixed up some Saturday (the first time I've used them). I served them to guests who watched the parade from our front porch. They were delicious! I bought them on a terrific sale at our local grocery.

I think the shower idea is terrific. I wish I had an extra one!

StayAtHoMeBecKy said...

Oh I love that vintage pantry! I love things like that and you are smart to leave the paint. Obviously make sure it doesn't have lead in it, but if it's fine, it's exactly how it should be!
I love the shower idea also but for now we have the drain in our extra shower plugged up and the cat box is in the tub. It keeps it hidden, and it's easy cleanup. Just sweep and then if the cat misses for some reason (we had an old cat), you turn on the shower and scrub it clean. =)