Kitchen Business Center Project Reveal

So I've been working on a Kitchen Business Center Project. What does this mean? Well basically, I was trying to accomplish other goals, like my pantry organization, spice jar organization, gift center and spring cleaning of closets. As I was doing this I kept getting frustrated. Where is the tape? Where are the scissors? I bought a label maker to help me get organized, but it didn't change the fact that we had bills in the kitchen, our bedroom nightstands, Austin's home office, etc. I finally just went around to these places and gathered clutter:

• Master bedroom nightstands and dresser
• Austin's office
• My office
• Desk in bonus room
• Desk in kitchen

We just had TOO many areas. I mean really, batteries shouldn't be in 3 different places. The resolution? ONE place for ALL items. A place to pay bills; file documents, cards, photos; store post-its, paper clips, clothespins; etc. Here's how it ended up...

on the outside...

and inside!!

Close up shot - all boxes were from Ikea (3 sets of 2 CD-sized boxes at $4 each so $12, 3 sets of DVD-sized boxes at $5 each so $15 ; 2 sets of large document-sized boxes at $8 each so $16; 2 sets of small document-sized boxes at $6 each so $12); labeled with my label maker. Boards were from Staples; $4 for a set of 4. Total cost: $59 pre-tax.
close up of boards
close up of boxes

For some context - the door in the back left is to the garage AKA where the mail comes in. The business center is in those left cabinets - away from the serve ware, cooking ware, etc.

Boxes include: Photos, Stationery (thank you cards, blank cards, etc.), Batteries, Clips (document clips, clothes pins, etc.), Bill Paying (envelopes, stamps, check books, address labels), Receipts, Documents, 'To Review' and 'To File', Manuals (for washer, TVs, etc.), Electronics (chargers, DS Lite, GPS, etc.), Cards (from family & friends after a few months of display), Staplers & Tacks, Extra Supplies (extra post its, high lighters, etc.), Stamps (stamp pads, personalized stamps, etc.), Ribbons, and Adhesives (tape, glue gun, glue stick, etc.).

Corkboard: Left side is for upcoming events; Right side is for upcoming bills, coupons, appointments, etc.

Drawers: One has dividers with a few of the items above for easy access (pens, post its, pads of paper, index cards, paper clips, clothes pins); one has large note pads and mealplans/recipes.

Now, when mail comes, we know exactly where to put it. No need to let it stack up in other parts of the house for filing - it can all live in this space. When the boxes get full (like the 'to file' box) we can just put the items in a manila envelope and store in the filing cabinets upstairs for later use. Also, some things like magazines don't belong in the kitchen - we don't read them down there! So we have the basket on the counter to collect items that need to go upstairs!

g it in place!

Spice Cabinet Redux

So I had purchaed my spice jars, labeled them and reorganized the kitchen. Oh happy day. However, I was still having a hard time finding what I needed. Especially because all of the jars were the same. It was like my organization had turned on me. Then I discovered that the height of the jars was PERFECT for the drawers- like made for them. Perhaps they were? Anywho, so I reorganized again taking large spoons/spatulas out of a drawer and getting a container on the counter for them, which freed up space in a drawer right next to the stove where I need the spices the most. However, they now needed labels on TOP, not just on the side. So me and my new best friend that truly brings out my OCD like no other label maker got to work - here are the results!

The magic is in the left drawer

See - love it. Have spice jars and small containers for packets at arm's reach

Close up

As a refresher, here is the before:

And the other AFTER:

I cooked 5 recipes with the new organization system - bliss! I made 4 casseroles: Burrito Casserole, Spicy Spaghetti Pie, Brushetta Bake and Taco Pasta Casserole.

Taco Pasta Casserole close up

spicy spaghetti pie close up

Spice Cabinet Before & After

Yesterday I made labels with the new label maker and reorganized the spice cabinet. I'm so excited - here is before and after.

Before

After

So many organized bottles - I plan to do like A-M on the left and N- Z on the right - nothing too formal just to make it easier to know where to go in for bottles! I also bought some extras in case I get in to more spices