I don’t know about you, but I think it’s a good idea to clean out your freezer a few times a year to see what’s in there so you don’t end up buying a bunch of stuff you don’t need. But of course I couldn’t stop there, so I went ahead and cleaned out the fridge too. 😉
Luckily the cleaning process went pretty quick {although I do need to defrost the freezer} I was relieved to find we still had plenty of freezer meals, frozen fruit, meat and a few vegetables in there.
The HH smuggled a box of frozen taquitos into the freezer the last time I was out of town, but if you look real close… you’ll notice they have not been opened yet. Can you guess why? Because that would have required him to:
1. Open the package
2. Turn on the oven
3. Wait for the food to cook
Which of course just takes waaaaay to long. Some things are better left to the little woman I guess.
Just for the record, I hate my double door fridge, but it came with the house so we’re keeping it. Do you have one of these? Do you actually like it? Note the filtered water feature on the left side {by the apples} is that just dumb or what? My husband loves it, but opening the door and having to stand there with it open for 10 seconds just so you can have some cold, filtered water is such an waste of energy in my opinion.
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I haven’t quite figured out how to store everything in my kitchen cupboards yet. And that probably sounds weird. But here’s the thing… I don’t care. Or rather, I choose not to care about it at this point.
I bought a set of 24 drinking glasses {12 short, 12 tall} at Ikea right before the kitchen was finished. When I put them all in the cupboard I realized having 24 drinking glasses was just stupid. Because hello, we maybe go through 3 or 4 drinking glasses in a day. So why have all of them there taking up space, right? So I boxed up the extra drinking glasses and shoved then into a closet for when we have company over or when the other glasses break.
Fun fact: Monkey Boy received 3 giant Costco sized bags of Doritos for Christmas.
Moving on to the awkward corner cabinet.
Most people put all their dishes and glasses in the same cupboard. Right? Well, I tried that but it didn’t work. Scroll back up to the previous picture, do you see how the second shelf is sort of sagging in the center? I had my dishes on that shelf and realized a few weeks later that they were too heavy and it was causing the shelf to sag. So I moved them all a tiny cupboard for now. I’ll have Chino shore it up the next time he’s here and then maybe move them back. We’ll see.
When the kitchen cabinets were first installed, I really thought about how food would be accessed in our home. Meaning: put all “grab and go” food in one place for Monkey Boy and the HH to find. Because basically, if they can’t grab it and open it in 3 seconds, it is not considered food. I thought this was a genius idea and the “we have no FOOD” comments have been reduced significantly.
Opening a can of chili or pouring cereal into a bowl and adding milk is about as far as they will go in “preparing food.” Right now I have their “grab and go” food in two spots: above the oven, and above the drinking glasses. {How long do you think all that yummy Christmas chocolate and cookies we were gifted will last? I can’t believe it’s still sitting there unopened!} Maybe they haven’t spied it yet.
Everybody has a goodie drawer… right? The trick to having one is not putting all the treats in it at once. For instance, I bought a giant box of granola bars and a box of 48 peanut butter crackers last week for my son’s lunches, but I only threw a few in there so they wouldn’t get gobbled up too quick. Other snacks include Christmas candy, Clif and Kind bars {thank you Swagbucks!}, and nuts from a gift basket we received.
One of two under the counter lazy Susan’s. I use one for small appliances and the other for small baking supplies. It’s not the ideal set up but it works.
And then there’s my pantry. I think Cameron the cutest carpenter on the planet did a smashing job. I had him build the shelves to fit my {love affair with} Anchor Hocking canisters and Weck canning jars. The HH wanted to know why I didn’t fill this cupboard with “food.” I just rolled my eyes at him. FYI: beans, rice, sugar, flour, pasta, oats and applesauce are not food according to the HH.
Silly husband… he has no idea I plan to pack this sucker full of home canned goodness this summer.
And last but not least, my woven vegetable baskets. I currently have potatoes, onions and some miscellaneous bagged mixes in them. But come late fall I hope to have them filled with winter squash and spuds from our garden.
Food, it’s everywhere, you just have to look for it. Okay, and maybe prepare it too. 😉
How’s your pantry looking these days?
Is your husband as visually impaired as mine?
~Mavis
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Kari A. says
In my house, the husband and the kids are all visually impaired! Even after I go to the grocery store, they still think we have no food!
PattyB says
My husband was a bachelor for many years before I married him. He did learn to cook some impressive dishes and he sometimes cooks for me. My issue his is “organization.” He puts things anywhere and makes a big pile of junk mail that needs to be shredded (shredder is upstairs). When I organize things he says he doesn’t know where to put anything away. Hint hubby… if you can find it to use it, you put it back where you got it.
PattyB says
Oh dear god! I thought I had the ONLY husband on the planet like that! I moved into his house in 2011 (he bought it in 2002) so it was a dyed-in-the-wool bachelor pad. I had a very difficult time moving my stuff in, even after I got rid of 2/3 of it. His junk mail on the kitchen counter was piled up about 10″ x 5′. Yikes! He also had gun cleaning stuff and bike tools all over the breakfast area. He took out the table so that he could put his bike rack (the kind he uses when he works on bikes) there instead. OY!!!! And he doesn’t like change. To this day I’m still battling clutter in the house. But, bikes are in the basement, mail is down to a small pile (still working on getting it out completely), and the breakfast table set is back in the breakfast area. Thank God he doesn’t like gardening! His idea of gardening is mowing and edging. Period. The education process continues, but painfully slow. AND, your statement about hubby doesn’t know where to put things…. YES. IF YOU GOT IT OUT THEN YOU KNOW WHERE IT GOES!!!
Kari says
Despise my French door fridge. Even though it is supposedly bigger, I swear I get less in it than my old side by side. I thought I’d get used to it, but after two years i still feel the same. Not to mention, it’s hard to keep the freezer drawer organized. They look nice i guess…☺️
Margie says
Kari,
I totally agree with you. We had a HUGE side by side that I cursed the entire time we had it. (9 years) But, now I have a 3 door “French” refrigerator, and mourn the loss of my side by side. I don’t know why I hated it so much. Maybe I had “fridge” envy and just wanted something different. Live & learn.
Margie
Melissa says
Looks great! Where did you get those freezer dividers?
Mavis Butterfield says
They came with the freezer. 🙁
Jenn says
I have a fridge like your’s and I love it. The only exception is the ice and water are on the outside of the door. So you don’t have to open them to get water or ice. We have lived it our house for over a year now, and I’m still trying to get things put where I want them.
Kathy says
My second fridge which is in the garage is just like yours. It was given to me, so I won’t complain too much. But I definitely like my side by side fridge in the kitchen better. The bottom drawer in your fridge, does the lid/top part keep popping off? Mine does, and I’ve finally just pulled it off for good. Your pantry looks lovely! My husband is so very clueless in the kitchen…my teenage boys probably know better where things are then he does! 🙂
Mona says
I use stacking plastic baskets with collapsible handles in my chest freezer. They are rectangular in shape and do not sacrifice room. I can easily separate foods (chicken breasts in one, frozen berries in another…..) and with the handles, I can easily get to the bottom to retrieve items. I found my baskets at Fred Meyer for about $5 each. They are similar to the basket shown in this link but are more rectangular. http://www.displaysense.co.uk/media/catalog/product/s/b/sb1ra.jpg
Krista says
Thanks so much for the basket idea! My chest freezer is a disaster even though I have it “organized” with reusable cloth shopping bags. I’ve never seen a freezer with dividers like Mavis had, but boy they look handy.
Krista says
I browsed around and found these. Thanks again, Mona for the great idea. http://www.clevercrates.com/products/clever-crates-16-liter-collapsible-basket?variant=725750147
Kevin Wilson says
We did a big pantry-building project a couple of years ago, and are very happy with how it turned out. It’s an odd shape because it’s over top of the basement stairs. And the shelves inside are bright red, just for fun 🙂
Here’s the whole story:
Anna says
I have the same fridge (sans the water filter -I know two people who had them fail resulting in water damage in their homes so I went with a filter at the sink instead)! The thing that most annoys me is the shelves with the brackets coming down (preventing lateral move in back). Also, I would forget about items shoved to the back because I couldn’t see them very easily. I put two of the shelves 3 notches down from the top, removed the middle two altogether, and (BAM!) now I can see and get to everything much more easily! I store the condiments in the door shelves and store all the tall stuff on the bottom two shelves. Man, talk about a urban housewife’s first world problems. 😉
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree. First world problems. 🙂
sindy says
I have that fridge too. HATE, HATE IT! Would get a different one if I could. Your closet pantry is beautiful. I bet you open it sometimes just to look at it. I know I would.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, yes I do. Hahahaha. 🙂
Heidi P says
Love your custom pantry. I may have drooled when I saw it 🙂 I had one built when we remodeled our home and I have never regretted having it done. Cleaning out the pantries was already on my list of to do’s for next week. Thanks for the inspiration!
Cheryl says
I am very surprised that the new shelves are bending like that. I store all my everyday dishes, glassware, and mugs in the same cubboard over the dishwasher. My plates are very heavy, Fiesta ware so they go on the bottom with small salad plates, and bowls.
All glassware and mugs go on the next top shelves. Never a problem in seven years. I would be mad. Cheryl
Rachel Averett says
I love how narrow your pantry is sometimes shelves are too deep and food just gets lost and looks messy. And the baskets in the pantry are a great idea. I do not have a goody drawer but now that my kids are getting older I might look into it.
Madam Chow says
Wow, Mavis, this stuff is good to know for my future kitchen remodel. I used to cook professionally, and I have a ton of unusual baking items that need to be stored in an accessible manner (a box in the basement is not a solution, as I’ve learned from experience), and I have about 12 different types of flour that are crammed in a freezer. I’ve been looking for baskets like those, so I’m glad you posted them! And, yes, my HH misses stuff. His nickname is “Ole Eagle Eye.”
peggy K says
Love Love Loved my French Door fridge. It tanked (stopped being cold) so I panicked and bought a freezer on the top fridge because the store I bought it at DOES NOT SERVICE THAT BRAND. They sell it but don’t service it. . We are moving in a few months and I knew that I would not want to spend the fortune on a new fridge so I tool a floor model and I HATE HATE HATE it. Can’t wait until I get my French Door back. Note to anyone reading this: if you buy an appliance be sure to ask about the servicing. If I had known when I bought my French door (Which I loved – did I already say that) I would not have bought it. Can you imagine selling a brand that they will not service. Some brands from overseas do not stock replacement parts in the states – or easily to get at parts – and the wait time is weeks not hours or a few days when made in the states. And they don’t tell you unless you askl. It took a while to get used to the freezer on the bottom but once I did I think it’s the best. Nothing falling out and hitting you on your head. Keep an open mind – you might get to really like it! And just for the record my new fridge will be a US brand with four doors/drawers and water on the door. Can’t wait!!!!!
Lace Faerie says
I, too, love my French door fridge with water and ice on the door. At first I thought it was unnecessary as I always had two filter pitchers going, but what a time and effort savor. Now no more going to the fridge for filtered water only to find someone left only an inch in the pitcher!
Love the freezer on the bottom! We had that when I was growing up, guess I just organized freezer into baskets like Mama did but she used gallon sized milk cartons, washed and reused. She went to the bread store twice a month and filled up one half of the freezer with inexpensive yellow egg bread for the seven of us!
Leslie says
As a “curious” person I loved seeing inside your fridge and cabinets : )
Cecily says
Well, my DH can and will cook if he is hungry, and not crappity crap either but using “ingredients”. Of course, he says I cook way better so he would rather I do it (hmmm I don’t know about that). My three sons also know how to cook but that’s because I’ve been teaching them since they were about six how to. I want them to be self sufficient and not have to rely on processed food or someone else to cook for them. I’m looking into getting a bottom freezer fridge (just single door) because I’m sick of having stuff fall out on my toes.
jean says
Hi Mavis. Love your post today. Feels like you were writing about my household. lol. I also have a refrig like that and not to fond of it either. I have been organizing my cabinets to make more room and made my kitchen closet into a pantry. Of course, now my family is more impaired. lol. They will get it. If they are hungry enough the radar will kick in, right? Love your blog.
Mavis Butterfield says
You would think… mine stil have not “gotten it” yet. LOL
Janine says
The pantry looks as if it were a gift from the gods…magazines don’t do it as well as you! Brava! Just a note about the fridge. I noticed you keep the milk on the door and the French doors are notorious for temperature differences. The recommendation is to not store milk on the doors as it will reduce the shelf life of the milk as much as 1/2. The coldest part of the fridge is the far back where dairy should be stored, although not very convenient the milk won’t sour.
Tracie H says
Love your pantry! I have the same fridge and I love the setup (fridge on top, freezer on bottom). The only thing I would do differently is to buy the same fridge with just one door on the top. I hate the French door style, but love everything else about it. Yes I actually went back and looked up the dimensions on my old side by side and this new one, and the side by side freezer did have more space. But, I can live without a small bit of space because I love having the freezer on the bottom! And I keep all of my excess in the chest freezer in the garage. By the way, my chest freezer didn’t come with the nifty baskets that yours did, so I started collecting plastic crates at my local thrift stores and use them inside of it. Very cheap alternative! Just be careful they do become brittle from the cold.
Lori N. says
I have had a french door style fridge for, gosh, 25 or 30 years. (Not the same one, mind you, after so many years we are on number 3). I LOVE that style! No bending over to get something from the fridgie part. And nice & wide for, oh, I don’t know, leftover extra large pizza boxes. Or veggie trays. Our first fridge, back in the late 70’s, was a used top freezer model. One summer evening I popped open the freezer to get some frozen pink lemonade concentrate and that darn minute maid thing fell on my pointer toe & broke it! I never cared for the narrowness of the freezer in a side by side so the French door style is my go to. Our current one has tons of space, a vertical slot on inside left door for pop cans, and I finally have water & ice on the outside door. Couldn’t be happier with it. Regarding the 2 doors vs 1 door question: I prefer the 2 doors because I pretty much know where everything is, so usually only have to open 1 door to get something, seems like it would keep the coolness in better than opening 1 wide door. But it is all individual preference. You may grow to really like it.
Athena says
I have a similar fridge with french doors but without the water feature and I LOVE it! I find it much easier to keep organized then our old side by side except for the freezer drawer, we pretty much just throw stuff in there! Most frozen stuff we keep in our upright freezer in the garage so we really only have some bread, frozen fruit and a few packages of meat that I froze before the one in the garage was up and running after our move. Love your pantry, wish mine looked that organized. It’s become such a jumble of things just thrown in over the last few months. I’ve been telling myself I need to organize it but I’d like to add another shelf in there and haven’t been in the mood to make the hubby go to the hardware store to make a shelf yet!
ilona says
Hi Mavis! yes, organizing one’s kitchen can often be taunting … we presently have a “small” pantry which we are attempting the triple in size … the last construction guy I spoke with is not keeping in touch; oh well … I have a lead on a couple of more and plan to pursue them now that the holidays are past us … the current pantry has wire shelving which is nice but not sturdy enough when it comes to serious storing; i.e.: canned goods, which tend to make the wire shelving bow … I am thinking wood or pressed board with brackets at regular intervals to insure adequate support … we are also entertaining a configuration change in our laundry room … space is a premium here and we are thinking a full-sized over/under washer dryer set up which will free-up floor space to accommodate a chest freezer … we will loose some cabinets, but only half of them … little enough of a sacrifice for a much-needed freezer.
Nancy C. says
I have no cabinets above my dishwasher and sink. so I put my dishes in lower cabinets (they are in an island which obviously you don’t have). At first I didn’t like having my dishes below the counter, but now it seems normal. It’s really fast to unload the dishwasher because everything is at the same level with no extra steps. Maybe you could put your dishes where the lazy susan is??? Just an idea. On another note. I have the same refrigerator which I love. The water feature was poplar with my son for about 2 weeks. Lately he has decided not to drink “cold” water because it’s not as hydrating as room temp water. Works for me! 😉 It’s stupid to have this water feature on the inside of the fridge. The same son is also unwilling to “assemble” food. He will nuke or heat food, or occasionally boil water to heat pasta…..but make a sandwich…..not gonna happen!
Linda says
I love opening your email everyday. For freezer dividers I have the thing you put in the trunk to hold your groceries upright.
AARP Gave it away when I subscribed. It is in my upright freezer but would work for the chest freezer . Has 3 dividers. Also I
have used the grocery store cloth bags to separate stuff. Right now I need to go through the freezer and clean it out again.
I love the zaycon meats. No waste on the hamburger and chicken breasts.
Julie says
Is my husband visually impaired?? You mean Mr. Magoo? Why yes, he is, but it does have some advantages. It’s not hard to “hide” the good stuff from him, just put it in the pantry. I’d love to have that refrigerator! I have a 23 year old, side by side that has rust on one side. It works great though even if I hate struggling to put any kind of pan into it and the water/ice feature quit working a few years ago. Mr. Magoo refuses to consider a new one until it’s ready for the graveyard.
Karen says
We had a fridge like the one you had and I loved it. With a house full of little kiddos, we really liked the inside water feature. Much less temptation for them to play with the water! LOL!
Kathy says
I just love your blog!! Because of you hubby and I are doing a garden this year and will attempt canning. Can you tell me what is the size of the Weck jars you have in your pantry? Excellent idea for storing beans etc. Can’t wait for your new blog ideas this year!!
Mavis Butterfield says
18, 10 and 2.7 ounce.
janet says
What about your spices? You make DIY mixes and buy in bulk from Winco, how do you store it ? Great idea for a future post. Thanks for sharing your new kitchen.
I love your ideas and inspiration!
Donna in VA says
After 2 instances of hubby buying the wrong thing (1/2 gallon of whole milk he thought was skim, scented laundry detergent instead of unscented, which he hated and actually returned to the store) I explained to him the purpose of the writing on the outside of the package, which is to tell you what is instead the package. Instead of just guessing.
LaceFaerie says
Laughing till I’m crying!
jamir says
I have had all different styles of fridges, but currently have the french door, but my water and ice are on the outside and I love it! It is my all time favorite! The side by side doesn’t have wide enough shelves in the fridge or freezer, and things were always lost in the back of the tiny freezer baskets. I love pulling out the freezer drawer with sliding baskets on top. Everything is organized and I can actually see it without unloading the entire freezer. I find it holds more for me than I could get in my side by side model. Especially helpful after a big costco run. You just need to organize it differently.
Cori says
When we have leftovers, I try to always put them on the top shelf of the fridge. Any lower than that and my tall husband won’t see them and they won’t get eaten!
Connie says
Love your pantry photos. I store most of my food in glass jars, mostly gallon and quart and decorative ones collected over the years. They do not all match so nicely like yours, but they are so handy for food storage.
My daughter’s friend came over and saw the pantry and said we didn’t have food, we had ingredients !
Lastly, I have a single door bottom freezer refrigerator. Works fine as long as i knock out the block of ice that collects in bottom.
The manufactuers duck bill “fix” did not totally fix it and they have no other option. If I totally deforst it, it is better for awhile. But other than that, I do love the bottom freezer !