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This pantry had challenges many homeowners
face. Deep shelves offered a lot of space but made
retrieval of items difficult. As a result, this client
found themselves buying new groceries all the time simply
because she couldn't find the ones she knew she already had.
And when she did find what she wanted, it was often expired.
Not surprising considering the average pantry I have organized
has 25-30% expired products. The existing wire door rack
offered good space, but unstable items frequently fell over or
slipped through the cracks. |
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A few simple tools took this pantry from frightful to
functional! Along the top, containers were added for small
packaged items (100 calorie packs, fruit snacks, oatmeal
packets, etc.). This cuts down on the extra bulk of
cardboard packaging and allows you to see the volume more
easily. Think outside the box - these narrow, deep
containers were perfect for the space and were originally
designed to be desktop file boxes! If you have younger
children in the house, put similar containers at their level for
pre-approved, help-yourself snacks for after school! The
door rack was improved with the simple addition of cardboard in
the bottom of the shelves that needed a more stable surface.
Each layer was labeled for quick identification (Drink Mixes,
Baking Spices, Seasonings, Marinades). |
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| Canned and jarred items were organized on two
shelves using tiered organizers - think of them as stadium
seating for your groceries! Now items in the back are seen
and will finally be used before they expire. This photo
shows how items can be grouped and stored similar to how you
found them on the grocery store shelves (ex. Fruits/Vegetables,
Chili, Soup). The shelf below was divided into Cooking
Oils, Tuna & Packaged Chicken, Condiments and Tomato Products.
Now the homeowner can quickly see when she needs to restock and
other household members can help put away groceries easily and
accurately! |
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Homeowners with these deep pantries often
struggle with how to use the large bottom space. It's
usually not tall enough for a trash can, not that you really
want your trash in with your food. Some large food
packages can fit, but no one really wants food on the ground
where it's most susceptible to dirt and critters. Our
solution was two inexpensive plastic drawers. The top one
was filled with Boxed Dinners and the bottom with Baking Items.
This solution make the most of the vertical space.
Frequently replenished drinks still had space along side, while
overflow were easily located in an adjacent utility room. |
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