Showing posts with label Kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kitchen. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
IHeart Kitchen Reno: Four Weeks Later!
Wow! Another month has come and gone since our previous kitchen update. I was really hoping that we would be able to wrangle both kitchen and living room projects and updates all at once, but the living room sort of took over at the end, both on the blog and in our lives. After the last update, I had a few questions I will be chatting through today, and I will also be sharing a few big things that have happened over the past few weeks. Although we were so focused on the living room side, there are quite a few changes here as well. It is finally starting to look and act more like the space we have been working for!
Based on the photo above, I am guessing there are a few differences that stand out from the last update.
We installed and set the island as soon as we could, which allowed us to finish installing our flooring. That was a major game changer. Like wow. It really unified our entire kitchen and living area and added so much more warmth in contrast to all of the white. And it is so clean! Looking back at the last post, my photos seemed to have a blue hue which was throwing some you off. I totally get it, I just revisited the photos and they are pretty bad. My guess is that much of it had to do with the cloudy day paired with reflections bouncing off of all of the white. Not really sure. The picture above is a much truer photo of how our kitchen really reads, especially now that the floors ground things a bit more (floor installation post coming soon).
Some of you asked about measurements... We currently have about 3 1/2 feet between the outer cabinets and island. We always read that between three and four feet is best, and we have been really happy with the amount of room and flow that the 3 1/2' provides. We are able to easily navigate around the dishwasher when it is completely pulled out for unloading, and the refrigerator has plenty of room to open and get around without any crowding (more on that in a minute).
I can't wait for layering in finishing touches to really start warming up the space. Things like rugs and new dining chairs and window panels, oh my. And cutting boards. We still have a lot of items to pick-out that we haven't landed on yet like backsplash (although my heart is set on one) and also have to troubleshoot a moulding issue we may run into with the beams and cabinets. But everything left is really just a lot of finishing touches at this point! And after next week, it should at least be 100% functional (fingers crossed). With that big list lingering above, I think you know where you will be able to find us when we aren't at the baseball fields. Happy weekend everyone!
You can follow all of the kitchen progress here.
Read more »
Based on the photo above, I am guessing there are a few differences that stand out from the last update.
We installed and set the island as soon as we could, which allowed us to finish installing our flooring. That was a major game changer. Like wow. It really unified our entire kitchen and living area and added so much more warmth in contrast to all of the white. And it is so clean! Looking back at the last post, my photos seemed to have a blue hue which was throwing some you off. I totally get it, I just revisited the photos and they are pretty bad. My guess is that much of it had to do with the cloudy day paired with reflections bouncing off of all of the white. Not really sure. The picture above is a much truer photo of how our kitchen really reads, especially now that the floors ground things a bit more (floor installation post coming soon).
Some of you asked about measurements... We currently have about 3 1/2 feet between the outer cabinets and island. We always read that between three and four feet is best, and we have been really happy with the amount of room and flow that the 3 1/2' provides. We are able to easily navigate around the dishwasher when it is completely pulled out for unloading, and the refrigerator has plenty of room to open and get around without any crowding (more on that in a minute).
When coming up with a kitchen design, we were extremely limited with where we could place our oven and stove. Our fridge and pantry had to go on the outer walls, and with the window and plumbing on the outer walls as well, we had no other choice than to place our cooking pieces in the island. In the end, I am happy it worked out this way as we will be able to face the living area while we cook (great for watching the fam and television). We also had to go with a larger island to accommodate the oven, cooktop and downdraft without compromising countertop work surface space and to provide enough distance between the cooktop and stools on the opposite side. This allowed us to add a lot more storage in the island, so it all worked out in the end. Plus, I got the oven I was lusting after for a couple of years! It is a beautiful white glass option which was originally purchased from IKEA (and was discontinued when they released their new kitchen line).
As you can see, we also installed the remainder of the hardware on the island cabinets to match the rest of the kitchen.
I also received a couple questions and emails regarding the island details. The doors are full overlay, meaning that there is very little cabinet frame showing around each door and drawer front. It creates more of a seamless appearance and is also quite similar to our IKEA white cabinets across the way. The color is an option offered by the cabinet company that built the pieces, so I don't have a specific name or number (other than a generic Slate), but I did have it color matched at Sherwin Williams and you can see the code here. It is a beautiful color in person, just extremely challenging to photograph because it reads a bit differently depending on how the light hits it (as illustrated between the photos above and below).
You may also have noticed that we only have about half of our counters installed. They always say to prepare for the worse when it comes to major home renovations, and we have experienced a few different hiccups along the way. I think it is just important to know that a few things will go wrong at some point, and do your best not to turn into a Kitchenzilla when they do. You have heard about our dishwasher saga and maybe also read about our first refrigerator being delivered damaged. Both were no big deal in my eyes. Truly nothing to get upset about and maybe they simply prepared us for the next uh-oh. The day the beautiful counters arrived to be installed, we went to place our oven into the oven cavity of the custom cabinets. Guess what guys! It didn't fit. Um, what? The cabinet was built to the dimension of the appliances we had already purchased. They were able to install the outer counters and sink while they were here, and now that we have since been able to figure out the cabinet situation and set our oven, will be coming back next week to finish things up (counters can typically be set without the oven installed, but we didn't know if our island would need to be taken apart or changed so we opted to wait it out). As frustrating as the cabinet situation was (it caused a three week delay in the island counter install), the counters are about the most beautiful moment this entire renovation has seen yet.
When we first built our home, I selected green faux marble laminate counters because I was 19 years old and thought they were so cool and grown up (ha). It only took me about four months to no longer like them. For the next 13+ years, I was left trying to work with something that I didn't love. I am pretty positive that experience has scarred me, and may be why a lot of our newer kitchen finishes and selections are a bit more neutral and classic. Being this is such an investment, we don't want to change things each time a trend comes and goes. And we don't want to have regrets four months from now (although, I am sure there will still be a few lessons learned). Just like a lot of the other decisions we have made in the space, we did a lot of reading online when selecting the types of countertops to install. Ultimately, quartz won out. Both durability and the fact that it is non-porous (which means it won't harbor bacteria), were the main reasons we selected quartz.
I don't think we will regret these counters four months or even ten years from now. They are Cambria in Torquay finish and another thing I am smitten with is that they are manufactured right in Minnesota. (For local readers, we shopped around and ultimately decided to purchase from Selective Countertops and we couldn't be happier with the results). The veining and colors are a mix of beiges and grays and are quite subtle, almost a marble-like result but in a much more kitchen friendly finish.
We also ordered our sink with the counters, and once again, a major difference has been made in how we use the kitchen.
The sink is a total of 30" x 17" and 10" deep. We went with a stainless split sink, about 2/3 is the main bowl and the side bowl is the remaining 1/3. And it is all seamless. I knew I wanted a deeper sink for washing large pots and pans and filling my mop bucket...
But little did I know it would also be amazing for hiding a pile of dirty dishes when the dishwasher is full/being ran. Definitely a jumbo sized bonus in an open concept layout. Another new-to-us feature is a pull out faucet. The kids and I have been having fun with this! It reaches all corners of the sink which is great for cleaning, and offers two spray options.
We purchased a model that complimented the cabinet hardware, not super modern but not overly ornate either; it was juuuuust right.
But wait, there is more! I had no idea how much really has changed in the last month. Big post today folks.
One thing I have been challenged with throughout the entire process, is knowing that we have a garage door to work around. And it was a previously very unsightly door with about eight different layers of paint and dings and dents. Although not an ideal setup, moving the door really wasn't an option as there is other place to move it to. Keep in mind that we really only use the garage for projects, and even when we start parking in there again, we will most likely be carrying in a handbag and groceries. The boys always come off of the bus and enter through our front door, which is why their belongings are all located there. So fortunately, we don't need much of a system for more than a pair or two of shoes, maybe keys and some hooks. But visually, oy!
Our solution was to build the fireplace built-ins in the living room, to mimic the cabinets in the kitchen. Once the moulding is installed on the kitchen cabinets, they will be the same height and color as the built-ins, as well as the same distance on either side of the door. Our very lovely new paneled door!
See how we only trimmed the living room side? Haha, darn One Room Challenge. And no, we weren't really that lazy, we only purchased enough to do the living room side and that is exactly where we ran out. Hoping to get the rest finished up in the next week or two. Just sort of funny how that worked out.
Anyway, still not the most amazing setup, but I love how it worked out to create more of a nook or alcove for the door, making it almost look like intentional placement. And the paneled look on the door is much more polished and matches the remainder of our interior doors. Definitely happy with how it all is turning out.
Last but not least, we finally have a fridge! It is counter depth, and also finally framed out. Or in? Whichever way, it is so much cleaner.
When we began the kitchen planning process, we realized quickly that to maximize our space and to accommodate the island with cooking appliances, that our fridge would be best at a countertop depth. First, I ordered a white side-by-side option. There are not a lot of white countertop depth refrigerators on the market, especially with great reviews and decorative bar pulls. And the ones that did have good reviews, were about a few thousand dollars over our budget. But I found one and ordered it and when it arrived, it was completely dinged and dented and the pulls were nothing like they were pictured online. The company took back the refrigerator at no charge, and we were left starting over with our search. We thought that a side by side was the way to go since that was what we were use to, but after quite a few recommendations to try out the french door option, that is what we ultimately landed on. I have to say, I love how much more space there is in this style and that the doors can swing wide open and leave us a ton of room to navigate, even with the island directly behind us (we purchased this model).
What I don't love is the freezer drawer. This thing terrifies me. But I always love a good organizational challenge so I will let you know if I ever get this thing figured out. We also kept our previous fridge in our garage as a replacement to our freezer chest, which we will love for holding six packs of be... I mean soda. And for party throwing and entertaining and freezer overflow. Also, for some reason my regular stainless cleaning solution does not work on this fridge, so I would love recommendations on streak-free stainless cleaning.
So, a month later we have a fully functioning sink and fridge and even started unloading (but not organizing) our fridge and cabinets. After the counters are in next week, we can have our stovetop hooked up and start cooking on real appliances again! If anything, this process has given us a much deeper appreciation for everyday kitchen conveniences. Like making coffee.
And just when I am feeling like the end is near, it is time to get real and take a look at what is left before we call this renovation complete.
- Install
HVAC/Oven/Cooktop InstallcountersSet island cabinetsInstall hardware on island cabinetsReplace garage doorInstall flooringFrame in refrigeratorFinish installing cabinet side panels- Install cabinet toe-kick
- Install cabinet crown moulding
- Panel gap above fridge
- Trim floors, doors and windows
- Install backsplash
- DIY a coat closet door
- Add shelving and doors to nook above coat closet (?)
- Install legs to built-in side cabinet
- DIY message center
- Hang window panels and roman shade
I can't wait for layering in finishing touches to really start warming up the space. Things like rugs and new dining chairs and window panels, oh my. And cutting boards. We still have a lot of items to pick-out that we haven't landed on yet like backsplash (although my heart is set on one) and also have to troubleshoot a moulding issue we may run into with the beams and cabinets. But everything left is really just a lot of finishing touches at this point! And after next week, it should at least be 100% functional (fingers crossed). With that big list lingering above, I think you know where you will be able to find us when we aren't at the baseball fields. Happy weekend everyone!
You can follow all of the kitchen progress here.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Four Days & Four Drawers Mini Organizing Challenge: DIY Kitchen Utensil Drawer Dividers
Welcome to the end of Four Days & Four Drawers week. This week I was dedicated to accomplish four organized drawers within four days, and once again, I am sliding in just under the mini-challenge wire. The cool thing is I almost accomplished six drawers in four days. The not-so-cool thing is that when I was complete with the DIY portion of two of those drawers, I wasn't 100% satisfied with my work. So although I am not quite ready to share the final two drawers yet, fingers crossed I will get those finished up this weekend.
But today is not about what I didn't get done, and all about celebrating what I did accomplish. The final two drawers this week were both kitchen messes that I have been meaning to deal with for quite awhile now. Next to our range we have two drawers that are dedicated to our cooking utensils and kitchen gadgets. We have never been ones to keep an abundance of random kitchen tools on hand, but we do have a few favorites that we find quite beneficial to our daily cooking and meal preparation.
When we unpacked our kitchen boxes, we did it quickly to clear our guest room for visitors. Everything was tossed into the specific cabinets and drawers as planned, yet not in any organized fashion. Although the drawers and cabinets are not extremely messy, they definitely need a little love and attention.
The top drawer holds our spatulas, slotted spoons, pastry brush, can opener, masher and salad tongs, as well as our herb chopper and pizza slicer.
I had started trying to organize the next drawer down with some organizers I picked up at the Container Store awhile back, but I wasn't 100% happy with the result.
After looking for a few options that would fit our spatulas and drawer measurements, I found myself coming up short. And when I can't find exactly what I am looking for, I turn directly to DIY options.
We have created wooden drawer dividers in the past, but with all of the odd shapes and cuts for our kitchen tools, we decided that we needed an easier solution than the one we used previously.
For the dividers themselves, I picked up a five pieces of 3" oak hobby boards from Home Depot. After I added a few of our unused tools to our donate box, I arranged the remaining items in the drawer.
Then we just measured and cut each drawer piece one at a time (straight and simple cuts). We placed them into the drawer at the approximate location that fit our layout and worked our way from front to back.
While each of the divider pieces were in their planned location, we used a pencil to mark each board to keep track of our template/layout.
After everything was measured and temped out inside of the drawer, it was time to make them stick. We didn't want to do anything permanent to our new drawers, so we had to find a way to affix them together while keeping them removable as well. I considered using wood glue and small nails or staples, but I didn't want the visual messiness of those options. I found this tutorial and decided our best bet was to go with construction adhesive.
It is important to select an adhesive that will dry clear/transparent because the glue is placed along each divider seam.
Prior to gluing, we placed down a layer of parchment paper to protect our drawer.
We then put our drawer dividers back together based on our pencil markings, using the drawer as a guide to hold all of the pieces together while they dried.
We first placed glue on the edge of each board with our finger. When the board was pressed against another board, the glue would squirt out through the seams. I used a cotton swab to clean up any drips or chunks and occasionally also added in a bit more glue to be sure everything was going to dry solid. Above you can see the adhesive initially comes out white, but below you can see it clearing up as it dries.
Once the dividers were dry (I waited a couple of hours), I removed them from the drawer so that I could line the drawer with true drawer liner (the same liner I used for our pantry and our essential drawer).
Although I typically use anything from cardstock to gift wrap when it comes to lining drawers, this stuff is the "real deal" and has held up quite well in the other kitchen drawers. Plus, I appreciate keeping the lining consistent throughout the entire kitchen space.
Top drawer done and filled:
And the next drawer down also completed and filled:
Prior to this drawer project we had already purged the majority of our utensils and tools down to our very favorites, however, I did go ahead and purchase a new set of matching measuring spoons since we only had a few miscellaneous sizes of previous sets remaining (which also ended up in the donate box). Above you may have also noticed that we had a spatula that was slightly too long to be placed in our drawer sideways, but being that it is made of wood, we were able to easily take a small portion off of the handle to make it fit where we wanted. #victory
The entire cost of the project came down to the pieces of hobby wood and some glue. To achieve beautiful wooden dividers that fit our exact tools and needs, I think it was $20 and time well spent.
As much as I love (LOVE) acrylic dividers, I also appreciate trying something new. By mixing things up from our "go to" option, I was able to maximize how we utilize the drawers and create a clean look with wood that blends in seamlessly with the drawers. Double win.
Have a great weekend everyone and cheers organizing our homes one fabulous drawer at a time!
Read more »
But today is not about what I didn't get done, and all about celebrating what I did accomplish. The final two drawers this week were both kitchen messes that I have been meaning to deal with for quite awhile now. Next to our range we have two drawers that are dedicated to our cooking utensils and kitchen gadgets. We have never been ones to keep an abundance of random kitchen tools on hand, but we do have a few favorites that we find quite beneficial to our daily cooking and meal preparation.
When we unpacked our kitchen boxes, we did it quickly to clear our guest room for visitors. Everything was tossed into the specific cabinets and drawers as planned, yet not in any organized fashion. Although the drawers and cabinets are not extremely messy, they definitely need a little love and attention.
The top drawer holds our spatulas, slotted spoons, pastry brush, can opener, masher and salad tongs, as well as our herb chopper and pizza slicer.
I had started trying to organize the next drawer down with some organizers I picked up at the Container Store awhile back, but I wasn't 100% happy with the result.
After looking for a few options that would fit our spatulas and drawer measurements, I found myself coming up short. And when I can't find exactly what I am looking for, I turn directly to DIY options.
We have created wooden drawer dividers in the past, but with all of the odd shapes and cuts for our kitchen tools, we decided that we needed an easier solution than the one we used previously.
For the dividers themselves, I picked up a five pieces of 3" oak hobby boards from Home Depot. After I added a few of our unused tools to our donate box, I arranged the remaining items in the drawer.
Then we just measured and cut each drawer piece one at a time (straight and simple cuts). We placed them into the drawer at the approximate location that fit our layout and worked our way from front to back.
While each of the divider pieces were in their planned location, we used a pencil to mark each board to keep track of our template/layout.
After everything was measured and temped out inside of the drawer, it was time to make them stick. We didn't want to do anything permanent to our new drawers, so we had to find a way to affix them together while keeping them removable as well. I considered using wood glue and small nails or staples, but I didn't want the visual messiness of those options. I found this tutorial and decided our best bet was to go with construction adhesive.
It is important to select an adhesive that will dry clear/transparent because the glue is placed along each divider seam.
Prior to gluing, we placed down a layer of parchment paper to protect our drawer.
We then put our drawer dividers back together based on our pencil markings, using the drawer as a guide to hold all of the pieces together while they dried.
We first placed glue on the edge of each board with our finger. When the board was pressed against another board, the glue would squirt out through the seams. I used a cotton swab to clean up any drips or chunks and occasionally also added in a bit more glue to be sure everything was going to dry solid. Above you can see the adhesive initially comes out white, but below you can see it clearing up as it dries.
Once the dividers were dry (I waited a couple of hours), I removed them from the drawer so that I could line the drawer with true drawer liner (the same liner I used for our pantry and our essential drawer).
Although I typically use anything from cardstock to gift wrap when it comes to lining drawers, this stuff is the "real deal" and has held up quite well in the other kitchen drawers. Plus, I appreciate keeping the lining consistent throughout the entire kitchen space.
Top drawer done and filled:
And the next drawer down also completed and filled:
Prior to this drawer project we had already purged the majority of our utensils and tools down to our very favorites, however, I did go ahead and purchase a new set of matching measuring spoons since we only had a few miscellaneous sizes of previous sets remaining (which also ended up in the donate box). Above you may have also noticed that we had a spatula that was slightly too long to be placed in our drawer sideways, but being that it is made of wood, we were able to easily take a small portion off of the handle to make it fit where we wanted. #victory
The entire cost of the project came down to the pieces of hobby wood and some glue. To achieve beautiful wooden dividers that fit our exact tools and needs, I think it was $20 and time well spent.
As much as I love (LOVE) acrylic dividers, I also appreciate trying something new. By mixing things up from our "go to" option, I was able to maximize how we utilize the drawers and create a clean look with wood that blends in seamlessly with the drawers. Double win.
Have a great weekend everyone and cheers organizing our homes one fabulous drawer at a time!
** Catch up on the remainder of the mini series with our home office drawer here and our school supply drawer here. **
An Organized Happy Drawer with Chic Shelf Paper & a GIVEAWAY!
Happy surprises come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It could be the gift of coffee from the car ahead of you in the drive-thru. Or a friend randomly stopping by just to say hello. My personal favorite is when my kiddos pop up behind me and say, "Surprise hug!" while wrapping their arms around me. Random life surprises are amazing. But there are also ways you can create small happy surprises throughout your home. Those special little moments that make you smile day after day.
When I am picking up our home or even just grabbing for a pen, opening a drawer lined with decorative paper is sure to perk up my cheeks. Ditto for opening a painted or wallpapered closet. That instant pop of pattern and color in those common mundane spaces is always a win. I know it may not be that way for everyone, but on top of loving the prettiness of it, it really helps me maintain the spaces I organize.
I have lined our drawers with everything from gift wrap to contact paper to even wallpaper. When it comes to the kitchen and bathroom, nothing really compares to true shelf liner. In those spaces, it is ultra important to select papers that are durable and easy to wipe clean.
The folks at Chic Shelf Paper asked if I wanted to give their pretty patterned liners a try. Knowing we have an entire kitchen to organize, I started browsing their endless selection of colors and options.
You may have noticed when I recently organized our pantry, I added a dash of pretty navy greek key paper... Makes all the difference right?
Living in chaos of a renovation for months has been a little nerve wracking, so to bring a little normalcy back to life, I have been slowly unpacking and organizing our kitchen drawers. Today, I organized our "essential" drawer and thought I would walk through the lining process a little more thoroughly.
First, most would call this type of drawer a junk drawer. I decided it was more of an essential daily life drawer. Our home office is located in our lower level, yet there are just some things we reach for on a very frequent basis. Instead of running up and down the stairs every time we need a scissors, tape or a pencil, we toss office items into this drawer. Although other random items may be tossed into this drawer throughout the years, for the most part we prefer to have it contain the following daily items:
To get started, I always clean out the drawer with a vacuum and a rag. This prevents any bumps under the drawer liner.
I then lay out my tools; a large cutting mat, a straight edge (I just use a level), a slicer/craft knife and a tape measure.
Using the tape measure, I measure the bottom of the drawer for both length and width.
I then use the mat paired with my straight edge to slice the paper accordingly. Cutting papers can be really frustrating, and this has been by far the easiest and quickest way to get a nice, accurate cut.
The shelf paper I was using for this project is super nice and thick (twice as thick as typical contact paper). This also makes a world of difference in the ease of installation. The flimsier the paper, the more you will struggle with it sticking to itself and running the risk of bubbling.
The paper came with a squeegee for installation, but I haven't had to use it. It repositions beautifully so if I don't get it just right the first time, I can easily shift it and try again.
Then I just press it smooth and done!
Typically, I find the paper too pretty to cover all the way up. That is where the happy surprise comes in when I am grabbing for that ruler. It is also why I generally use acrylic organizers/dividers.
We still have a room of boxes to unpack, but the addition of this single drawer is sure to be handy as we keep trucking along.
Having worked with so many types of papers, I am pretty sure that the Chic Shelf Paper has been some of the easiest, most durable to work with. Plus, they have the largest selection I have seen. They have a new number one fan!
Below are a few of my favorite patterns... You can probably guess that I am scheming to find a place for those pink ones. At least a place where my boys won't give me the stink eye.
Because I want for you to be able to create those happy surprise moments around your home, I am partnering with Chic Shelf Paper to give you a $100 credit to their online store!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From now through May 31st, you can receive 10% off your Chic Shelf Paper order of $50 or more with code ChicOrganizers.
Good luck all! And I would love to know what is a must have for your "essential" drawer?
Must be 18 years old or older. Open to US and Canada residents only. No purchase necessary to win. All rules and entries must be followed to be eligible to win. Winner will be selected at random using rafflecopter.com and will be announced on original blog post upon drawing. IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
Read more »
When I am picking up our home or even just grabbing for a pen, opening a drawer lined with decorative paper is sure to perk up my cheeks. Ditto for opening a painted or wallpapered closet. That instant pop of pattern and color in those common mundane spaces is always a win. I know it may not be that way for everyone, but on top of loving the prettiness of it, it really helps me maintain the spaces I organize.
I have lined our drawers with everything from gift wrap to contact paper to even wallpaper. When it comes to the kitchen and bathroom, nothing really compares to true shelf liner. In those spaces, it is ultra important to select papers that are durable and easy to wipe clean.
The folks at Chic Shelf Paper asked if I wanted to give their pretty patterned liners a try. Knowing we have an entire kitchen to organize, I started browsing their endless selection of colors and options.
You may have noticed when I recently organized our pantry, I added a dash of pretty navy greek key paper... Makes all the difference right?
Living in chaos of a renovation for months has been a little nerve wracking, so to bring a little normalcy back to life, I have been slowly unpacking and organizing our kitchen drawers. Today, I organized our "essential" drawer and thought I would walk through the lining process a little more thoroughly.
First, most would call this type of drawer a junk drawer. I decided it was more of an essential daily life drawer. Our home office is located in our lower level, yet there are just some things we reach for on a very frequent basis. Instead of running up and down the stairs every time we need a scissors, tape or a pencil, we toss office items into this drawer. Although other random items may be tossed into this drawer throughout the years, for the most part we prefer to have it contain the following daily items:
- Screwdrivers in various sizes (as well as a temporary spot to toss extra hardware)
- Cutting tools; scissors and craft knife
- Paper clips, paper pad, highlighter, pens & pencils
- Sticky notes
- Tape
- Tape Measure
- Disinfecting spray
- Ruler
- Kleenex
- Shed key
To get started, I always clean out the drawer with a vacuum and a rag. This prevents any bumps under the drawer liner.
I then lay out my tools; a large cutting mat, a straight edge (I just use a level), a slicer/craft knife and a tape measure.
Using the tape measure, I measure the bottom of the drawer for both length and width.
I then use the mat paired with my straight edge to slice the paper accordingly. Cutting papers can be really frustrating, and this has been by far the easiest and quickest way to get a nice, accurate cut.
The shelf paper I was using for this project is super nice and thick (twice as thick as typical contact paper). This also makes a world of difference in the ease of installation. The flimsier the paper, the more you will struggle with it sticking to itself and running the risk of bubbling.
The paper came with a squeegee for installation, but I haven't had to use it. It repositions beautifully so if I don't get it just right the first time, I can easily shift it and try again.
Then I just press it smooth and done!
Typically, I find the paper too pretty to cover all the way up. That is where the happy surprise comes in when I am grabbing for that ruler. It is also why I generally use acrylic organizers/dividers.
We still have a room of boxes to unpack, but the addition of this single drawer is sure to be handy as we keep trucking along.
Having worked with so many types of papers, I am pretty sure that the Chic Shelf Paper has been some of the easiest, most durable to work with. Plus, they have the largest selection I have seen. They have a new number one fan!
Below are a few of my favorite patterns... You can probably guess that I am scheming to find a place for those pink ones. At least a place where my boys won't give me the stink eye.
 |
| pink fruit | ikat | scallops | greek key | aqua dot | black & white tile |
Because I want for you to be able to create those happy surprise moments around your home, I am partnering with Chic Shelf Paper to give you a $100 credit to their online store!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From now through May 31st, you can receive 10% off your Chic Shelf Paper order of $50 or more with code ChicOrganizers.
Good luck all! And I would love to know what is a must have for your "essential" drawer?
Must be 18 years old or older. Open to US and Canada residents only. No purchase necessary to win. All rules and entries must be followed to be eligible to win. Winner will be selected at random using rafflecopter.com and will be announced on original blog post upon drawing. IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Back To School Organization
I know we are a bit late to the Back to the School game, however, school doesn't start until next week here in good ol' Wisconsin. And I am in no rush to send my daily buddies back, so it has been a bit of a challenge switching gears around here.
But it had to be done. I like to prepare a week or two ahead of time with things, so when the first day of school finally does arrive, it isn't complete chaos.
Not too much has changed when it comes to our systems with organizing and back to school, however, there were a few things that we tweaked from last year, in hopes of an even smoother year this year.
First up, a lunch station.
Two years ago we created a lunch station for our fridge. It was a sammy makin' kit, and also had some sides, all in one place. We have loved this system like crazy since the day we implemented it.
The basket contains fresh fruit and veggies, sliced cheese, lunch meat and dips and spreads.
Since it was working so very well, this year I questioned why we didn't do something similar for the dry portion of the lunch packing and making. We had sammy cutters and apple slicers in the drawer, a basket for breads and a basket for snacks in the pantry, lunch boxes in the kid's cubbies.... everything was scattered and although the basket in the fridge rocked, the rest of the system still seemed a little silly.
So I analyzed our cabinets and there is one that is typically a thorn in my side and is where we keep the kid's containers for their lunch boxes... along with other random items that we use for entertaining....
I guess I should have offered up a bit of warning before opening and sharing this awful cabinet. So many items that are only used every once in awhile, and it all just gets stuffed where there is an opening. I always duck when I open the cabinet... just in case....
So I took everything out, and decided to reclaim the cabinet as our new kid's cabinet/lunch making station.
SO much better. And it seems simple enough to maintain now. All of the entertaining items, are now sitting on top of our sideboard in the dining room, waiting for a home. Don't you just love how one organizing project trickles to another?
But back to the lunch cabinet. I added washi tape and labels to the shelves to help the entire family stay on the same page, since we will all be using the cabinet.
The middle shelf holds all of the containers for the lunch boxes. Dividers and sandwich keepers and their thermoses. I also tossed napkins and sammy cutters there as well, instead of in the drawers below.
The bottom shelf holds a basket with breads, wraps, crackers and peanut butter. Those are the sammy making items.
And the containers next to the basket hold the dry side items. Although we also use some of those items for snacks, I divided them out to keep some in this cabinet as well. That way, it is all in one happy place.
The top shelf holds all of the lunch boxes now, and stackable bins for some of the smaller things like...
Blank note cards and pens for writing little love notes to stick in their lunches. Yeah, I am that mom....
Smaller utensils which fit nicely within their lunch boxes.
And reusable snack baggies, which are great for fruits, veggies and even dry snacks.
I also added some chalkboard vinyl on the inside of the cabinet {which is just a temporary option should I ever not want it there any longer}, so that we can write our lunch ideas and menu options there.
SO much better, and the cabinet actually has a purpose now! Wahoooooooo!
A few other things we did to get ready, is go through all of the boys clothing. This is the time of the year that I like to do an inventory, sort through hand-me-downs and see if the boys need any anything for school.
I counted every last item for each boy, did an inventory, and made a list for any items that needed to be purchased. That way, I am not going out shopping blindly and overspending on items we don't need.
We use the kid's closet to plan their weekly outfits during the school year, this worked pretty well last year so we are going to stick with it again this year.
We also dug out the morning and bedtime routine printables, and stuck them up in the boy's bedroom near their closet.
We started the routine a week before school starts, just to be sure, again, that we are all set for next Tuesday morning!
The final item we tweaked this year is the boy's study boxes, which live within their school cubbies.
The cubbies have also been working really really well for us. We clip all notes and papers that need attention for each boy, on the clipboard hanging from the door.
The baskets worked great for wet boots and winter items, and the backpacks are never lost in the morning when the bus drives up.
The idea with the study boxes, is that when it is homework time, each boy takes their personal box to the table to work from. It has all of the tools they need for homework, so there are no excuses or delays when it is time to get things done.
However, they very quickly became messy, and after I corralled all of the school supplies within a pencil pouch, they suddenly went missing and ended up in the car, and at grandma's and anywhere else the kiddos wanted to craft.... So when it was time to do homework, they still didn't have all of their items.
So this year, I found dollar silverware organizers at Target, and stuck them inside of the box.
The organizers keep the supplies nice and separate so they are not all mixed at the bottom of the box, yet not portable enough for them to go missing a week after use. Winner winner! I even managed to find supplies in three different colors, so each boy will always know which supplies belong to which boy.
The box is large enough that I also stick a notebook right on top, so there is scratch paper at homework time. Love it.
As far as storing papers I want to cherish and keep throughout the year, I am still loving our school paperwork system. For artwork, I have fallen in love with the Artkive iPhone app.
So there you have it. A round up of the few items we have been doing this past couple of days to prepare for the BIG day next week. And you can bet, I am savoring every last second with my boy's this week. I think I am empty nesting. The house is never the same when they are all gone throughout the day....
Psssst! You can find all school related posts here.
Read more »
But it had to be done. I like to prepare a week or two ahead of time with things, so when the first day of school finally does arrive, it isn't complete chaos.
Not too much has changed when it comes to our systems with organizing and back to school, however, there were a few things that we tweaked from last year, in hopes of an even smoother year this year.
First up, a lunch station.
Two years ago we created a lunch station for our fridge. It was a sammy makin' kit, and also had some sides, all in one place. We have loved this system like crazy since the day we implemented it.
The basket contains fresh fruit and veggies, sliced cheese, lunch meat and dips and spreads.
Since it was working so very well, this year I questioned why we didn't do something similar for the dry portion of the lunch packing and making. We had sammy cutters and apple slicers in the drawer, a basket for breads and a basket for snacks in the pantry, lunch boxes in the kid's cubbies.... everything was scattered and although the basket in the fridge rocked, the rest of the system still seemed a little silly.
So I analyzed our cabinets and there is one that is typically a thorn in my side and is where we keep the kid's containers for their lunch boxes... along with other random items that we use for entertaining....
I guess I should have offered up a bit of warning before opening and sharing this awful cabinet. So many items that are only used every once in awhile, and it all just gets stuffed where there is an opening. I always duck when I open the cabinet... just in case....
So I took everything out, and decided to reclaim the cabinet as our new kid's cabinet/lunch making station.
SO much better. And it seems simple enough to maintain now. All of the entertaining items, are now sitting on top of our sideboard in the dining room, waiting for a home. Don't you just love how one organizing project trickles to another?
But back to the lunch cabinet. I added washi tape and labels to the shelves to help the entire family stay on the same page, since we will all be using the cabinet.
The middle shelf holds all of the containers for the lunch boxes. Dividers and sandwich keepers and their thermoses. I also tossed napkins and sammy cutters there as well, instead of in the drawers below.
The bottom shelf holds a basket with breads, wraps, crackers and peanut butter. Those are the sammy making items.
And the containers next to the basket hold the dry side items. Although we also use some of those items for snacks, I divided them out to keep some in this cabinet as well. That way, it is all in one happy place.
The top shelf holds all of the lunch boxes now, and stackable bins for some of the smaller things like...
Blank note cards and pens for writing little love notes to stick in their lunches. Yeah, I am that mom....
Smaller utensils which fit nicely within their lunch boxes.
And reusable snack baggies, which are great for fruits, veggies and even dry snacks.
I also added some chalkboard vinyl on the inside of the cabinet {which is just a temporary option should I ever not want it there any longer}, so that we can write our lunch ideas and menu options there.
SO much better, and the cabinet actually has a purpose now! Wahoooooooo!
A few other things we did to get ready, is go through all of the boys clothing. This is the time of the year that I like to do an inventory, sort through hand-me-downs and see if the boys need any anything for school.
I counted every last item for each boy, did an inventory, and made a list for any items that needed to be purchased. That way, I am not going out shopping blindly and overspending on items we don't need.
We use the kid's closet to plan their weekly outfits during the school year, this worked pretty well last year so we are going to stick with it again this year.
We also dug out the morning and bedtime routine printables, and stuck them up in the boy's bedroom near their closet.
We started the routine a week before school starts, just to be sure, again, that we are all set for next Tuesday morning!
The final item we tweaked this year is the boy's study boxes, which live within their school cubbies.
The cubbies have also been working really really well for us. We clip all notes and papers that need attention for each boy, on the clipboard hanging from the door.
The baskets worked great for wet boots and winter items, and the backpacks are never lost in the morning when the bus drives up.
The idea with the study boxes, is that when it is homework time, each boy takes their personal box to the table to work from. It has all of the tools they need for homework, so there are no excuses or delays when it is time to get things done.
However, they very quickly became messy, and after I corralled all of the school supplies within a pencil pouch, they suddenly went missing and ended up in the car, and at grandma's and anywhere else the kiddos wanted to craft.... So when it was time to do homework, they still didn't have all of their items.
So this year, I found dollar silverware organizers at Target, and stuck them inside of the box.
The organizers keep the supplies nice and separate so they are not all mixed at the bottom of the box, yet not portable enough for them to go missing a week after use. Winner winner! I even managed to find supplies in three different colors, so each boy will always know which supplies belong to which boy.
The box is large enough that I also stick a notebook right on top, so there is scratch paper at homework time. Love it.
As far as storing papers I want to cherish and keep throughout the year, I am still loving our school paperwork system. For artwork, I have fallen in love with the Artkive iPhone app.
So there you have it. A round up of the few items we have been doing this past couple of days to prepare for the BIG day next week. And you can bet, I am savoring every last second with my boy's this week. I think I am empty nesting. The house is never the same when they are all gone throughout the day....
Psssst! You can find all school related posts here.
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