Creating Space In Our Little Kitchen

We keep upgrading kitchen sizes every time we move but things are still pretty tight up in this place. The space against this wall used to be empty because the door to the studio opens against it and there is an oddly placed floor vent that keeps things from scooting clear of the door. What do they call that...a First World problem?

Yes. That.

Introducing the vintage industrial cart purchased at a country garage sale for $7.00. It adds some vertical space without adding too much bulk. It brings the dog food and water bowls up off the floor nicely (easier to sweep around) and disguises them a bit. I now have a place to stash pretty dish towels and vintage cloth napkins in a vintage metal container just like my MIL has done. Aprons on the side soften things up a bit and it all fits nicely under the wall hanging.

I'm most excited about a place to sort mail and packages going out. I've got scissors and tape stored in a safe spot away from curious toddler fingers but this is the perfect spot for large and small packages to be contained until we can deal with them. I can keep smaller items in the black wire basket such as thank you cards and photos to include in letters and larger things such as magazines we want to keep or documents that need attention in the larget basket.

Attaching our stamp stash to the side of the basket came out of a need to remember where they are! Brett keeps them in one spot and I usually move them to another. We are always running out of them when we need them most, too. This way they are front and center.

I had those baskets on hand and they happened to work together so that the round one nested on top of the rectangular one. If you ever run across a wire basket you like that fits your budget, pick it up! They are SO handy.

The best part about this sturdy little cart is that it's yellow! I brought it home only because it went well with the rest of the colors in my home. I'll probably use it in my studio whenever we move.

Having a strong understanding of your taste and style can help you pick up pieces that you'll not only want to keep for a long time but that are versatile in your space. It allows things to stay fresh without having to start over every few years. It's also easier to pull things together from odd corners of your home when they all fit within your aesthetic.

How do you save/make space in your home? Do you like things out in the open or behind closed doors? Do you have any tricks to share with us?

xo,

Rachel