My Kitchen Command Central

I know everyone's mind is on Thanksgiving, but I'm excited to finally share pictures of my 'little' kitchen command central.  This space has been a life saver and it functions perfectly.

When you enter from the garage, you directly walk into the kitchen (with no mudroom) and you might remember one of the first things I did was to create a mini mudroom by converting a hanging closet into a mini mudroom.  See original post here.

We lived with this for about a year, before I decided I need more function.  I basically needed places to put things - artwork, mail, magazines, etc.  I had to think vertically and use only wall space because there was no floor/desk or counter space to use.  You can see my original inspiration here.

First, I needed a large bulletin board to hang the kid's artwork, etc.

When they come home from school, I open up their backpacks and up goes their artwork.  Here is how I made the bulletin board.  The kids (mostly E) love seeing their artwork hung up.

I hung 3 simple hooks under the bulletin board to hang my purse (instead of plopping it on the floor or on the kitchen counter), her backpack (it's small and light) or the kids jackets, etc.

These three simple hooks have made things so much easier!  In the above picture, you can see the garage door to the right.

When you walk directly into the kitchen from the garage, this is your view!  I used this wall to put all my paper 'stuff' - think all the mail, catalogs, magazines, coupons, forms, flyers.......basically, EVERYTHING!!  Before, I was dumping it all in a basket that sat on the ktichen counter and it was so disorganized.

I bought Martha Stewart's magazine/file storage on sale in canary yellow for half off and spray painted it white.  Since the wall space could accommodate one more thing, I got Martha Stewart's cork board (perfect size) to sit next to the magazine/file storage.  It holds the important numbers, reminders and basically anything that mom wants to put on the board.   This wall works double duty!

Well, there you have it - my two wall kitchen command central!!  I absolutely LOVE it and it makes me so happy to walk into the kitchen and not to see a huge mess.  Now, there is a place for everything!  No excuses!

Kitchen Command Central Continues

Our kitchen has two external entry points - (one from our garage) and (one from the backyard) - which translates into high traffic areas with no room for a mud-room.  You might remember this project, where we converted a regular hanging closet to a mini-mudroom.

I am so happy we did this - it has helped with the clutter of jackets, coats, shoes and backpacks.  

Since now we are painting our kitchen, I can move to phase two, where I plan to use vertical wallspace to create a command central spot.  Unfortunately, there is no counter space in our kitchen for this so I have to think vertical and use wall space.  See inspiration below.

I desperately need a letter bin of sort to control the mail, school papers, magazines, bills, etc. I also need a bulletin board to hold important numbers, tickets, coupons, etc.  I need a couple of hooks for the kids backpacks and lastly, a tote or basket to hold random items.

I found both the cork board and the magazine holder (which I'll use for mail, papers, etc.) for an incredible price - both for $60.  They are part of the Marta Stewart Living collection from Home Decorators and I bought them when they had an additional 40% off their outlet prices (MLK weekend).  I actually bought them in the ugly cornflower color to get the outlet price plus the 40% off discount (I guess nobody wants that color).   I plan to paint both white.  See here and here.  And, let me just say, I am so impressed with this magazine holder - very heavy and the slats are removable!  Top notch!

Wish me luck!!  Can't wait to get this completed!  

From Hanging Closet to Itsy Bitsy Mudroom

Yeah!  We finally finished a home project.  So, on any given day, when you walk in from the garage (door pictured below) to our kitchen, you typically see this on our kitchen floor.

BTW, this is not staged….this was our everyday reality! The only place we had to store our stuff was a hanging rod closet (pictured below) (after my husband took out the hanging rod).

When you have children this is so impractical.  Kids can't reach the rod to hang up their coats, no place to store shoes and no hooks.  So, obviously, our kitchen floor became the dumping ground. 

I wanted a mudroom, but the only space we had was this hanging closet and given the limitations of our kitchen, I couldn't enlarge the closet.  So, I decided to work within my space limitations and create a design that is simple and practical.

In regards to design, my tiny mudroom needed to have shoe storage, hooks that both my 2 and 7 year olds could reach, a shelf for a basket or two, pretty corbels and a bench.  

My husband did ALL the physical labor and building of this project.  I designed and sketched out what I wanted and he built it.  Below you can see the progression.

Pictured above is the 2 x 4 base frame.  

Pictured below are the plywood shoe cubbies that he later added a hardwood face frame to.  

And, then finally, the AFTER…

Six spacious cubbies for shoes, a bench and high/low hooks, and a top shelf.  More pictures below.

Eventually, I will replace the brass hinges on the door hardware for oil bronzed.  I would say five years down the road, we plan on enlarging and renovating our kitchen.  In that design, I plan on creating a larger mudroom space, but for the time being, this will do just fine!!  I love it and my husband did an incredible job building it!  

Knee deep...

in paper!  This year I am trying to pick one to two home related goals each month and try my absolute hardest to get them done.  It's all about time management and that is why you'll probably see me less and less on pinterest.  Up this month is organization.  As you can see, I'm revamping our filing system...

I been using my trusty label maker the Brother P-touch to make our file folder labels.  Is it normal to love a label machine as much as I do??

I am hoping that by getting the paper clutter under control, I can then start focusing on creating my desk space.  I'm loving this office space lately by Kelly McGuill.  I love her sense of style - she is completely inspiring!

I am also working on organizing our kitchen.  There is small part of the kitchen where you come in from the outdoors that I need get organized....think key hooks, bulletin boards, baskets, indoor/outdoor rug, calendar, clock, etc.  I've downloaded this free printable calendar to use on our bulletin board.

Love it!  And, I've been taking advantage of the new year sales and ordering some things to make all my organization projects look pretty!

Got this awesome indoor/outdoor CountryLiving herringbone rug at KMart for $27!

This Landsend seagrass basket (after using 30% discount) for $34.00

This cute chalkboard (not on sale) online via Tracery Interiors. So, that is what I've been up to!  What organization projects have you been working on?  I hope by February I'll have some updates on these projects and pictures to show you!

A Passageway & A One Off Piece

The amount of space we have for our so called mudroom is what I would classify as a passageway. A small space that juts off the entry with a door to go down to our basement.  The space is no more than 2 feet deep and 4 feet wide.

This space will have to serve as the 'so-called' mudroom - a place to hang your coats and take off your shoes when you come in from the outside.  Luckily, we also have two hall closets by the powder room which can house coats and jackets not used on a daily basis.  This space is priority right now because currently everyone drops their jackets and shoes on the kitchen floor when they come in from the outside and it is driving me nuts!

Since this space is just a passageway, many of the below photos are my inspiration.

A passageway is just enough space for some type of coat/hat rack on the wall.

 

Hopefully, I can find a small bench to work in the space too! 

Have you noticed (in the above photos) that all the hooks used are some type of one of a kind coat/hat rack?  Mostly, vintage.  I love that!  I've been scouring ebay and etsy for some one-off pieces.  There is so much out there you guys!  It has been really fun.  I need to make a decision fast, though, because it won't be long until we also have hats, mittens and boots to add to the mix!  Wish me luck!  

It's happening....

This is a big week for us!  Yesterday, we received our loan approval and the sellers completed the final agreed to repair.  We are only days away from the final closing (on Friday) and the move (on Saturday).

This house purchase was a stressful one - unmotivated sellers, complicated property issues, living in a different state while purchasing a home, etc.  The list goes on; but despite all the difficulties, I am very excited that we will end up with this home because it just feels like it is meant to be (and I absolutely love it).

So, let the fun part begin!  The planning.  Honestly, I have had very little time to plan/visualize any of the design ideas for our new house.  I think on some level I didn't want to jinx it because there were many of moments when I didn't think we'd get this house.  On the other hand, I was completely soaking in the summer with my two children.  But, with only days to go until the closing, I'm letting myself relax a bit and engage in the part which I love best!

To start, I am going to tackle small projects - unpacking, organizing, moving furniture around, furniture layout/placement, etc.

via

For example, the kitchen - I know I will be craving organization since this is the one room we will be using daily from the get go.  I saw this image and loved it.  I love the simplicity and the monochromatic color scheme.

This is a baking pantry in a cabinet.  Such a clever idea!  I'd like to replicate the hooks on the inside of the cabinet door and use painted moldings (turned upside down) as shelf risers - so much better than those wire shelf risers.  And, I absolutely adore the clear jars and I know exactly which ones I'd purchase - weck canning jars.

I really can't wait to get started!  Okay, my friends, I plan on blogging more on a regular basis since we will soon be settled and the school season is about to begin!