Pantry Pride

Remember in the Kitchen Re-Do post I told you that I was going to build a pantry at the bottom of my basement steps….well guess what – I am a girl of my word – it is built! Well, I didn’t build it, Closet & Storage Concepts built it, I just had the idea and paid for it. Now, all I need to do is fill it up. Above is the after picture...this is the before picture.

This is proving to be more vexing than one would think.

Let me give you a tour of the yet-to-be-occupied organizational marvel.

I exaggerate.



First, there’s the slots for cookie sheets and other thin stuff like baking racks, muffin pans and pot lids, that are always annoying to store.


Then there’s the 24” shelf on which I will store TALL items like my FOOD PROCESSOR and ice cream maker.


There’s a drawer, and I don’t know exactly what to store in there yet but the very nice woman from Closet & Storage Concepts, Amy, told me I needed one and I said “ok.” I was feeling particularly agreeable, because I was very excited to finally get this storage unit built.


And what would a pantry be without a cabinet (with a lock) in which to store liquor. I have a good kid who has equally nice friends but best to be safe. I hope I remember where I put the key.

That would be unfortunate.

And inconvenient.

My strategy is to first plan where I want to put similar things. Then, as I put each item away, I think I will ask myself a few questions….Do I use this item? Does it have sentimental value? Is there a practical purpose for this item? Do I have more than one because, I kept buying the same item before my “I’m organized, damn it” existence? If the answers are NO, NO, NO, and YES, then off to Goodwill it goes, leaving more room for the useful things that matter…like a beehive cake pan.

I will post pictures once the shelves are full.