Isn’t this a timely post? When I was asked back in December to join this great group I was excited as I knew it would force me to organize in the new year. Nothing gets you to pull things together like others seeing your space, so I spent the last week thinking hard about how I use this -what I need it for and where I was just wasting space. I feel a lot more streamlined now and excited about this area.
I am sharing a utility room, not a pantry per se, but more a laundry, mud and all around place for everything we need to run the household. I feel fortunate to have this space and have tried to make good use of it on the remodel. It was one of my favorite parts that came with the original house. I did a previous post on the renovation of it here. Today I’ll show you what it holds and how I decided to organize it.
Previously this space was connected to the kitchen and held extra serving pieces and also dry goods. Now that the kitchen is moved to the center of the house, it freed up a lot of space. I wanted to use it wisely. My cute step stool is from Serena & Lily and we love it. Super sturdy and useful.
I have the usual laundry pullout which is the tall drawer, a cut out for our cat box and some deep drawers. I always wanted a designated wrapping spot and I love having counter (material is Vadara, a quartz,) to work on, so I stocked the deep drawer right below it with tape, pens, tags and all that. My house paper and some black wrap are all I really use and also plain bags. I did a little video about how everyone should have a house wrap on Instagram here before the holidays.
After the holidays, and a lot of wrapping, I reorganized and restocked. This drawer holds cords and ribbon, cards, tags, pens, tapes, hole punches and various scissors. A little shopping bag keeps all the ribbon I save and reuse. Everything I need is here. I love using cord and also making my own tags and this plain woven twine and black wrap is something you can get together here.
The lower deep drawer is for more house wrap and gifts. I keep a few on hand for impromptu girlfriend birthdays when I see something cute.
Above this I use the three shelves for entertaining. I do not have a china cabinet, and as I took out most of my upper cabinets in the kitchen, I needed this for things used occasionally. My holiday pieces are in the island and can be accessed behind the barstools, but these are things I use more often like tablecloths, votives and vases. I also keep extra bottles of hand soap and guest towels for when we have people over- to pretty up the bathrooms.
This basket is holding my extra textiles I use for runners and impromptu tablecloths, and also pillow covers. Some of the things are just fabric remnants I kept from my grandma’s home and others fabrics I just adore. My latest is a handmade Hawaiian sarong from my Big Island trip that I plan to use as a table covering come summer. Isn’t it cool?
I like having the vases, here not hidden under the sink and also the votives, and battery and beeswax tea lights. Everything I need to entertain is really in one place now and it simplifies it.
The laundry has some cool fabric baskets on the floating shelf, that just look great and is also where I keep some extra towel storage. Similar basket here. The little basket is for napkins and dish towels. We use cloth only, so I do a load of napkins once or twice a week. I scored with these Tommy Bahama grey baskets. They are sturdy and go with the tones in the house. I am unable to find them anywhere on the web for you all, but Homegoods has a few here and there. In the search for the cloth baskets I found a one-woman textile studio making beautiful woven basketscalled Woven Grey. Check out her Instagram too. Her things are beautiful. Her name is Kathleen and her studio is in Oakland! I think I have to order a few for the home. Made in California and I love supporting local artisans.
I am still loving my Electrolux washer and dryer two years on.
I keep this laundry basket on the counter when it’s not in use for clean, folded items.
The two drawers under the seat are for shoes. As my husband and I are the only one to use them, we have them for ourselves. The boys tend to come in the front door and their shoes go in a big basket when they can be bothered!! Baskets on the shelves hold baseball hats and gloves.
I just switched to one of my Trina Turk pillows that matched the floor tiles and the whole area. I still need hooks to hang coats and bags here.
My drawer has my most used shoes, my cross-body, umbrella, stocking cap, baseball hat and shopping bag. These are all the things I need to grab on the way out the door.
Lastly the two small drawers, above the cat box opening, hold extra keys, batteries, rubber bands, flashlights and other junk drawer usuals.
Thank you for letting me share my little space with you. I can’t wait to get some ideas on making my food pantry pretty too as it needs a reboot just about now! Pop over to these lovely blogs and see what they are doing in the new year in their pantries.
If you follow me on Instagram, I will link to all these lovely gal’s accounts there too!
Have you been tidying up in 2020? What tips do you have for keeping the clutter away ? Please share with everyone any insights below.
Thanks so much!
Kim
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Kim, I am inspired to organize ALL my cupboards now. I like how you have all the “entertaining” pieces organized. I need a “running out the door” basket too! And I’m going to stick to cloth napkins this year …we use a lot of dishtowels. but still the paper napkin on weeknights…going to cut that out. Beautiful job.
Mary Ann
GET TWO different napkin rings for HER and HIM and you can use for the week…….unless of course you EAT PIZZA!
THAT is what I DO………..SO EASY and DOABLE!
XX
I am going to start doing that..I have to get the teen to do it too. Such a smart idea!!!xx
Mary Ann, Try the napkin ring thing like contessa does. That might be easy -one a day per person. Anyway your pantry was beautiful! I do think entertaining is going to be easy now. xo
NO TIDYING HERE!
THINKING ABOUT IT…………BUT I NEED A BIG CHUNK OF TIME!
GARDEN IS MY TO DO THESE NEXT TWO MONTHS!
I LOVE THOSE BASKETS YOU FOUND ON INSTAGRAM………..she is right over the hill from me!
DOES SHE MAKE THEM?
MUST!
YOUR LAUNDRY BASKET PHOTO IS A WINNER !!
YOU have some GREAT IDEAS…………..I would give ANYTHING for a MUDROOM or a SHE SHED!
XX
Yes she weaves them in her studio- a one woman operation!! Aren’t they gorgeous? We have to get one! You need a Sheshed and Banksy can hang there too.
What a great space. I love how you’ve organized it. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of how you live!
My big tip for deluttering and organizing is to get rid of stuff. It feels so good to give away or donate. I’m looking around and my shelves are pretty organized. I don’t have pretty tags like Cindy but I also organized when I redid my Kitchen and it’s stayed this way. So I’m pretty OK. I’m sure it could use a freshen up thing. But we’ll see.
Sandra, I agree getting rid of things is the number one way to declutter..and if you are already organized yay. I think it’s easy to stay that way when you try and keep it up and tidy weekly. Maybe you should be in this roundup Sandra!! xo
Hi Kim. Oh my, you have one of the prettiest mud rooms I’ve ever seen! I am such a fan of mud rooms. Too bad they are not a staple in every home because they make so much sense, especially when organized so perfectly like yours. I love all your baskets, what a great stash you have. I’m going to check out your source for them too. And, I’m happy to know you like your Electrolux washer and dryer, as I’m in the market for them right now.
Celia, You had the best pantry space ever! I wish I had all that for food. You are so fortunate. Yes the Electrolux have been awesome. I even stored them for a year during the remodel, so I guess I’ve had then 3 years. Still am crazy for them and I was skeptical about having front loaders again after a terrible experience with Bosch ones that fell apart and were moldy. These are designed to drain more water. You won’t be disappointed in these!
Thanks so much for the advice on the Electrolux!
Sure I think they’ve been amazing.
Kim
You gave me so many good ideas for my office. I REALLY need to utilize that space to use if more efficiently. I love the house wrap idea. I need to watch that video, and those woven baskets gaahhhh! Love them! You always have such great ideas. Thanks again for joining us pal!!
Cindy, I got lucky with the woven baskets- a good find. I just loved your baskets and everything in your pantry and redid mine today- trying to copy some of those ideas from you gals. xo
I loved this post! I love how you created a space that is super organized but also feels warm and informal. And you’ve used my favorite color scheme too!
Thanks so much Sheri Fun doing this together. LOVED the baking pantry idea!!
Kim, I love this space and how it’s designed. The floor is so beautiful! The bench and the work area. What a great space to have. It must help to keep the entire house more organized. I just re-watched your video on “house wrap” I love that! Leopard works for any holiday or birthday. It’s a great idea too.
Annie, thank so much. Love your pantry! You inspired me so much I redid the kitchen one today. That video was a little rough. You are sweet..I just wanted everyone to get a house wrap! Yes leopard is awesome. xoxo
I’m in love with your mud room! The flooring and bench seating are so beautiful. I have that same S& L stool and love it. Thanks for sharing all the organizing tips. I love your wrapping station and your basket of must-have items to grab on your way out the door. xo
Hi Ashley, Thanks so much. Love having that drawer to grab things on the way out..Fun finding your blog too and all your great ideas. xo
Kim, I love your renovated mud room. So pretty, and efficiently designed. Baskets are great for organizing. The woman you mention is just a hop, skip and a jump from me and I’ll check her out as I get ready to start organizing my new kitchen. I’m going to miss having an island for storage as you do … such a great place to keep holiday piece you don’t need to access frequently. My dad’s wife introduced me to the Contessa’s napkin ring system in my teens and its great. No paper napkins allowed in her house, and we had a napkin ring for each person in the family (we were all teens or older by the time family was blended) … worked great so long as no messy dinners were served. Pizza nights required a special load of laundry! Thanks for sharing your organizing system. I’m inspired! xo
Juliet, Thanks it’s taking time to get areas just as I want them. You know moving in and then seeing how you really use things and what is working or not. So here I am almost 9 months later, still trying to figure it all out. Yes the basket lady .. so cool! Let me know if you get there. I love the napkin ring idea and started it this week again!! I cannot wait to see all of your house. It’s going to be gorgeous! xo