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  1. #1
    Mamma2004 is offline Platinum level (1000+ posts)
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    Default Closet and Pantry Porn, Please?

    After searching the archives, Pinterest, etc., I am hoping my BBB community will have some photos and suggestions to share. I am pressed for time and have a major dilemma re: walk-in closet. Our contractor now says he is NOT putting in the shelving and bars, so we are on our own, hoping to complete the project in the next few weeks. The area suitable for storage is really an L-shape, since the contractor placed the door to one side, essentially rendering the long, left-hand side of the closet a walking area. The short, far side of the closet and the long, right side will be ready for bars, shelves, etc. I am hoping for storage for long, maxi dresses, as well as "double storage" with an upper and a lower bar. I really favor solid materials but will consider anything of quality.

    DH and I have lots of opinions regarding closets, but I'd love to hear from you. I have hated wire shelving in the past and currently love the wood and composite shelves that our former contractor used. I do understand, though, that there are ways to make the wire shelving "better". Photos and/or thoughts?

    We have a closet in the bathroom that will hold linens, countless bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hair and face products, toothpaste, etc., as well as cleaning supplies down below. I have stalked Pinterest for two weeks and *think* I know what will work, but does anyone have suggestions?

    Finally, we now have a "pantry" that is more of a full wall of cabinets. We have pull-out shelves that I am hoping to render super useful for everything from my stand mixer to crackers. Any suggestions on how to maximize storage and organization?

    Thanks so much. I have countless questions and uncertainties but believe this community will have some great answers.
    Stephanie

    Mamma to James

  2. #2
    niccig is online now Clean Sweep forum moderator
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    Default Closet and Pantry Porn, Please?

    Image1539741558.714941.jpg Image1539742291.082257.jpg
    I have a walk in pantry. I used solid white containers from ikea, and white baskets from target. I’m short so it’s easier for me to pull a basket down to get something. I put all my baking goods, pasta etc into containers that can stack. Get good grips lazy Susan’s for oils and I have a stacked step thing for spices and cans so more will fit in the space. On right wall I have microwave, baking trays, kitchen aid and my heavy cast iron pans. Eek..excuse the mess, I need to clean it up!

    For our closet we have double bar and shelf along the long wall and the 2 short walls have full length hanging rods. We have a dresser for things we fold. We just used regular white melamine for shelves and standard rods.

    One day we’ll upgrade to fancier closet and pantry shelves, but it wasn’t in the budget. What we have is totally fine and functional and WAY better than what had before.

    Some online closet places let you put in measurements then play around with the set up. Maybe try that to figure out the most efficient set up for the closet.

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    Last edited by niccig; 10-16-2018 at 10:15 PM.

  3. #3
    marinkitty is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
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    We have a small walk-in pantry and built wooden shelves in an L shape all the way up to the ceiling (10 feet). I keep a step ladder in there for when I need to access the higher shelves, but those things are the least used, so I don't use it that often. I have some wooden crate bins from Container Store along one wall labeled with things like "Breakfast Foods," "Oils, Sauces," "Grains," "Baking Supplies," "Disposables," etc that hold a lot but keep it semi-organized. I keep things like nuts, seeds, sugars, flours, lentils, cereals in glass jars labeled with chalkboard labels that I can wipe off and change as needed. I have one shelf along the back with some of those stair-step things for canned goods, so that nothing gets lost behind something else. I have a few small wicker IKEA baskets up high that have other baking things in them - food coloring, sprinkles, icings, cookie cutters etc. Large, seldom used appliances like the bread maker, Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor are on a low shelf. I have grab jars and bins of snacky type foods on a couple of bottom shelves. Occasional use things like the panini press, mason jar drink dispensers, cake stands etc are up higher too. I've had it set up like this for about six years and it functions really well and keeps things totally front and center. I need to give it a good clean and reorg every six months or so, but that's it. It's actually amazing how much it holds given the relatively small footprint.


    Pantry.jpg

  4. #4
    niccig is online now Clean Sweep forum moderator
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    Now there’s a pretty pantry! I need to get in and reorganize mine. I have a frosted door on it, so I just close that to hide the mess.


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  5. #5
    marinkitty is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
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    For closets, we've done a couple of different things.

    Our guest bedroom and kids' bedroom closets we used California Closet. DD has a walk-in, the boys both have double door step-in and the guest bedroom is a single door step-in so they all ended up with pretty different set-ups. For DD we did all solid shelves, some display space, some hanging space. For the boys we did hanging space, shelves and wire pull-out bins (very handy). Here's DD's closet (a total mess, but you get the idea for shelf quality and configuration).

    DD's closet 2.jpgDD's closet.jpg

    Then for our linen closet, our bathroom wall storage and our master closet - we had a carpenter build in cabinetry. We just sketched out what we wanted and then he delivered it primed and installed and we had it painted on site. Very happy with all of it and how it functions.

    Linen closet (hard to photograph) has two sides that are built out with drawers below (overflow bathroom supplies and light bulbs, mainly) and open shelves for linens.

    Linen closet.jpg

    For our bathroom, we had a great spot for some storage in the W.C. room so we did the same - drawers below and shelves above. I keep extra supplies and travel toiletries in the drawers and towels up above with some pretty stuff.

    Master bathroom.jpg

    And then our master closet which was a tricky thing because its long and narrow with a window up high and a radiator down low at the far end. To solve the radiator problem, we added a bench with a vented front and topped it with a cushion. Makes a nice place to pack a suitcase or sit to put on shoes. Then the whole right side is built out with drawers, hanging space and cubbies/shelves for folded clothes. The entire left side was left open but I found a narrow, extra long console table from Ballard Design that had a wood finish that tied in well with the paint color, so I put that along the other wall and keep shoes below it and stack clothes (mostly sweaters) on top. Up above on the wall I did some rustic open shelves and added some hooks - great for a bin of t-shirts and bag storage - dispersed with some art so it didn't feel as closety - more like a room. It's a total mess now- need to do the seasonal changeover and create some organization.

    Master Closet.jpg

  6. #6
    WatchingThemGrow is offline Blue Diamond level (20,000+ posts)
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    Have you visited the idea of elfa? We love ours!


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  7. #7
    Mommy_Mea is online now Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by WatchingThemGrow View Post
    Have you visited the idea of elfa? We love ours!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    we have elfa, and I like that as my wardrobe changes, I can move it around. In the kids closets, the hanging length/number of drawers changes as they get older, and elfa works with that too!
    DS1 June 2009
    DS2 June 2011

  8. #8
    Mamma2004 is offline Platinum level (1000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by WatchingThemGrow View Post
    Have you visited the idea of elfa? We love ours!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Yes, the Elfa looks fantastic. However, given the price, we would need to wait until 2019 for a sale. Sigh. It is so confusing and frustrating. Our other contractor would have built the closet as part of the project. This one won't touch it, so we are scrambling.

    I welcome photos and suggestions! One closet is in a bathroom, the other is a walk-in closet in the office/guest room/room that will hold many of our belongings!

    In the kitchen, we have lots of cabinets but need organization before we "move in". The pantry cabinets are tall, 18" deep, with pull-out shelves on the lower 2/3.

    Thanks to all!
    Stephanie

    Mamma to James

  9. #9
    smilequeen is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
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    Default

    2F86174E-3E59-4D90-8B14-5866BABFC165.jpg60307E3B-DCF8-4BC5-9B0C-9A97AEAB2070.jpg289E3998-5A01-427B-9F6D-4073F35BD255.jpgA5DE8EFA-0F45-4E89-81BC-D316878A5AE0.jpgWe used a local closet company when we were building. I have pics of mine before we moved in. It’s big but what I like is tall shelves so I can store off season or less used stuff up high. I like my folding area and my shoe shelves. DH’s closet and the kids are more basic. Still have shoe shelves and drawers and DH and I both have laundry baskets. I have a W/D and a pull out ironing board. My pantry is walk through and we have pull out shelves. I am not especially organized and no help there.
    Mama to my boys (04,07,11)

  10. #10
    essnce629's Avatar
    essnce629 is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by marinkitty View Post
    We have a small walk-in pantry and built wooden shelves in an L shape all the way up to the ceiling (10 feet). I keep a step ladder in there for when I need to access the higher shelves, but those things are the least used, so I don't use it that often. I have some wooden crate bins from Container Store along one wall labeled with things like "Breakfast Foods," "Oils, Sauces," "Grains," "Baking Supplies," "Disposables," etc that hold a lot but keep it semi-organized. I keep things like nuts, seeds, sugars, flours, lentils, cereals in glass jars labeled with chalkboard labels that I can wipe off and change as needed. I have one shelf along the back with some of those stair-step things for canned goods, so that nothing gets lost behind something else. I have a few small wicker IKEA baskets up high that have other baking things in them - food coloring, sprinkles, icings, cookie cutters etc. Large, seldom used appliances like the bread maker, Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor are on a low shelf. I have grab jars and bins of snacky type foods on a couple of bottom shelves. Occasional use things like the panini press, mason jar drink dispensers, cake stands etc are up higher too. I've had it set up like this for about six years and it functions really well and keeps things totally front and center. I need to give it a good clean and reorg every six months or so, but that's it. It's actually amazing how much it holds given the relatively small footprint.


    Pantry.jpg
    I love this!!! Our house is tiny so adding a walk in pantry would have to be small but yours is beautiful and looks like it holds a ton since it's so nicely organized. I like the wallpaper and wire baskets too!

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    Latia (Birth & Postpartum Doula and Infant Nanny)
    Conner 8/19/03 (My 1st home birthed water baby!)
    Parker 5/23/09 (My 2nd home birthed water baby!)

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