Guest are coming! Wait – what? Guests are coming? Christmas is just over a month a way and I know that my house isn’t ready to host yet. Truthfully we moved in a few months ago, and the up stairs level is mostly unpacked, but our basement definitely isn’t yet. So I’ve been in high gear finishing the house and getting some great organization set into place before we host our first dinner for the holiday season. Thankfully Spectrum Diversified sent me some great tools to help in one of the biggest areas of difficulty – our kitchen!
I’m very happy to say that the kitchen in our new house is more than twice the size of our old one. It has twice the cabinet space, twice the counter space and *gasp* even a pantry. And when we moved in, I thought it would take me a while to run out of space – but the way I cook it didn’t take as long as I thought.
Although this house actually has a pantry, which is leaps and bounds over our last one – it definitely doesn’t fit everything. I love having fresh fruit and veggies all year round, and with the spices and packaged food there wouldn’t be space for much else. This is where the Large Ashley stackable baskets come in handy. Not only do they keep the fruits and veggies in a quickly accessible spot, they hold quite a bit – a whole half bushel of apples even! They’ve housed everything from apples, to squash and even cucumbers as I store them between recipes and juicing.
As their name says, the Ashley baskets are large. They sit next to each other on my counter, but would not be able to be stacked and stay under the cabinets. Right now they’re the perfect solution to my food storage needs, but in between they actually get moved into the office for sorting of products or mail. They’re extremely useful and are beginning to migrate around the house as we need a large basket to keep organized.
Another area that needed some help was my “drink station”. I’m lucky enough to have an area I’ve devoted to my coffee, soda maker and even tea. But once you open the cabinet it’s like chaos breaks out. There are boxes and bins everywhere, and nothing is easy to find. This is not ideal for the early morning rush.
The
Single Cup Caddy came to the rescue in this area! Specifically designed for kcups and other single cup options, the caddy is a light wire frame to hold every one of your cups until you are ready to use it. The best part, it has everything you need to mount it on the wall, inside a cabinet or a standard sized drawer, or even use the built in stand so you can display your coffee or tea choices for quick decisions.
The Single Cup Caddy actually holds 35 different cups, so you can have a large variety at your finger tips. When it is standing it is slightly taller than a Keurig brewer, but still fits under your cabinet without any problem. It is light weight and easy to move out of the way when you need more counter space. But my favorite thing is how lightweight the wire grid is. The grid will not squeeze your kcups too tightly, or fight with you to get them in or out. The only kind of single brew cups that we found did not fit inside were the soft, mesh type cups sold by Trader Joes. With the caddy in place, the cabinet had less boxes and bins of kcups, and we could quickly grab our flavor of choice and be out the door in no time.
One of my favorite things about moving – that short period of time after the fact that you’re still organized. That day, ladies and gentleman, has passed. And while I love our new kitchen, inside the cabinets I have a love hate relationship with. Yes, we have twice the cabinets as our old home, but the upper shelf is only half of the depth of the cabinet. This leaves it to small items and creates new storage issues I’ve never had to deal with in the past. So, the past few months of making dinner, baking, doing dishes etc has created what we shall call – the pan avalanche. It’s an artful balance of pots, pans, baking sheets and even cooling racks. And even harder is the game of Jenga as you try to get out what you need without letting the stack fall. It is sad for me to say that this photo reflects my cabinet on any given day, it is not staged in any way. I knew there had to be a better solution, because with newer cabinets – I’m not the only one having this organization problem!
Spectrum Diversified actually sent me TWO solutions for this area. The first is the
Bloom Kitchen Organizer – made to hold lids and pans in place. I hate always looking and digging for lids in the cabinet. But with the Bloom organizer lids are held safely in place, and it’s easy to find them when I’m rushing to make dinner. Another benefit of the Bloom Organizer, you don’t have to worry about glass lids jumping out at you and breaking!
The second organization tool they send is the Euro Kitchen Organizer. The Euro is similar to the Bloom, except it doesn’t have the dip in the center for knobs of lids. Instead it’s perfect for sliding in those flat pans, baking sheets, cooling racks etc. I found the spacing of the Euro was quite large, and this is probably to allow you to use it for skillets etc. For me, it was perfect for stacking similar pans together and sliding them into the same slot. Now, not everything fit in these systems due to that half shelf. But just putting them in has made it extremely easy to find everything, without the fear of the avalanche.
What is scarier than a pan avalanche? A glass one! On the other side of the stove is the cabinet I’ve filled with all of the Pyrex dishes I’ve collected over the years. I probably have enough for a small village, but they all have their uses. But like the pans, I’ve just been grabbing the ones I’ve needed and sliding things back in. However, unlike the pan cabinet, these are much heavier and much more fragile. Stacking everything didn’t work when we moved in, but there had to be a better solution to making this cabinet functional.
Of course Spectrum had something in mind for this area too – their Ashley Cabinet Shelf. This shelf can fit inside upper cabinets or lower, or even in your pantry if you have space for it. I just needed a bit of a lift so I could take advantage of the cabinet space I have, even with that darned half shelf!
With the cabinet shelf in place I was able to organize the lids behind it, my ramekins and other small pieces on the half shelf, the casserole dishes by size to the side, slide other glassware under it and my smaller glass bowls on top and around it. Things are easy to find now, and that extra bit of organization space makes it easy to grab what I need and keep cooking. I love my glassware, so this is a great way to make sure I can use it and everything stays safe and organized.
So guests are still just a little over a month out, but at least my kitchen is ready to go! With the great tools Spectrum Diversified sent, I can make the meal without the worry of things falling or not knowing where everything is. Now – onto the rest of the house!
Spectrum Diversified would like you to be organized for the holidays as well. They’re giving one reader the same tools they sent me. Read how you can win below.
How Can You Win?
Enter to win with the form below. The mandatory entry is leaving a comment on this blog post telling me which of the biggest challenge you have staying organized in the kitchen, or which kitchen organization tool you like the most and why! If you do not do this entry – you will not win! So make sure you leave a comment and then enter using the form linked below!
Find Spectrum Diversified Online:
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I would love that cabinet shelf! I need help reorganizing my cupboards. 🙂
My biggest challenge is that my husband moves things, trying to make my kitchen more organized!
Shoes in a pile are my worst enemy.
My biggest organizational problem is the pantry. Between the kids and my husband, it is always a mess
My biggest challenge is our kitchen has narrow cabinets for storage. I have too many kitchen necessities for the space available.
My biggest problem is the pots, pans and food storage containers are complete unorganized.
We moved into this house this past summer, it was my Dad’s so we have a bunch of his stuff – plus our stuff and I just have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF but can’t seem to bring myself to get rid of it.
The tupperware cabinet and utensil drawer are always so messy for me.
My issue is my baking supply cupboard
My biggest problem is a figuring out where to store the extras when the man brings home 15 duplicates of things we already have because they were ‘on sale’.
I have issues with all my baking pans , and cookie sheets– that cupboard is a mess all the time
My spices are a mess I like the single cup caddy.
My kids go and undo my organization.
I like the Euro Kitchen Organzier
The kitchen cabinets
My biggest organization problem is my pots and pans stacked on top of each other. When it’s time to cook and I grab one pot all the the pans falls out the cabinet making a loud noise and a huge mess.
The biggest problem is the pots. We don’t have enough room to store them all and don’t like them all out on display on the stove.
My biggest problem is finding a good place for my pots, pans, and backing sheets.
I like the Bloom Kitchen Organizer.
My biggest organization problem is organizing my pots and pans.
I just throw everything into the cabinets. Issues.
My biggest problem is food storage containers! ugh the lids!!
My biggest mess besides the junk drawer lol is getting my spices organized!
The spices in my kitchen need some major organization.
My kitchen cabinets need some help
Right now I have way too much silverware in the dividers-
My biggest organizational problem is my pots and pans. No matter what I do it still ends up a cluttered mess.
My cupboards are the bane of my existence.
My biggest organization problem in the kitchen is there is NOT enough space!
I like the stackable bins that I could use for potatoes and onions.
Not enough cabinet space is a main issue for me.
My cabinets are a mess
I could really use the Bloom Kitchen Organizer.
Pots and lids are my biggest problem.
I have a baking pan disaster area going on and would love the Euro Kitchen organizer.
My biggest organizational challenge in the kitchen is my storage container cabinet. It is a mess.
My biggest organizational challenge is the spices. It is such a mess
I like it all and Free is a good thing
Well I love all the organizers, but the big stackable basket is my favorite, and much needed for potatoes,onions, and apples, it would really help alot
Definitely under my cabinets is a problem. No method to my madness.
I Need To get rid Of Kitchen items I don’t use often.
I have too many disorganized junk drawers!
My biggest challenge is the pots, pans and lids. I grab one and 3 tumble onto the floor.
My utensil drawer needs help. The Grid Flatware Tray Large looks great!
Our biggest issue is organizing tupperware AND the covers!
The lid organizer would really help in my kitchen– that area is always a mess
The cabinet shelf
I love the large stackable Ashley baskets for fruit!
I need to purge kitchen items….
I think every cabinet and corner in my kitchen needs help big time! I never have time and when I do it instantly gets ruined by the 3 men I live with…boys really. I could use all of it!
Would dearly love to win this set. My kitchen needs are huge because the actual kitchen is so small. Would love to show a brand new organized space.
I struggle most with organizing my k-cups.
I love the Euro Kitchen Organzier because it would be perfect for my plates. They need some help
I could use the baskets to organize my different flavored chocolate chips. My worst area is my pantry.
I love the extra large basket for all the counter veggies instead of the counter
I really need to get rid of rarely used items.
I would love to have the Over the Cabinet Paper Towel Holder because I need to get it off of my countertop
Ugh, my spices are a mess and I have tons of the tiny containers one. I think the single serving coffee cup hold would do wonders as a spice rack organizer.
I have a lot of big items that I use a lot so I never seem to have enough room
The kcup holder is great! I like that
My cabinets especially my Tupperware cabinet
My pots and pans and the baking sheets along with the Tupperware trying to keep them organized is a maze. I need help.
my baking goods are always a mess– the pans and trays are everywhere
spices organizer is the biggest unorganized mess I have in my kitchen.
I like the Ashley Cabinet Shelf!
I have problems organizing the pot lids!!
I would love to have Ashley Tiered Shelf Organizer, because I need some help organizing my spices
I have a hard time keeping my pots, pans, and lids organized.
AS you pointed out, Pyrex & the other GLASS items are a dream when needed, but a NIGHTMARE to store safely~~ thus I end up losing precious COUNTER-space to try and avoid the dreaded PYREX AVALANCHE!!
a little elf told me Santa might bring a Keurig or other this year, so that kcup drawer/shelf sounds excellent. THANX!!
organizing spices. it is crazy in our pantry. and i keep buying more… i like variety i guess.
Pots and lids are my biggest problem
Everything i store in my cabinets is pretty much all over the place
Bowls, plates, fruit.. everything is so unorganized.
The Bloom Kitchen Organizer would be great, it’s hard to choose after looking at their site. I loved their prices are more than reasonable. This is no on my wish lists, some products are what I’ve already been looking for. Thanks for sharing this company.
I need help in the spice closet organization
I like the K cup holder
My baking pans are my biggest nemesis.
Keeping the darn closets straightened up-
My cabinets are a mess we have very old ones so the cabinet organizers would be fantastic.
these are wonderful but the large stackable would work well for my potatos
I have almost too many coffee cups, so their cup caddy would be useful for me.
Love the Europe kitchen organizer.
I have storage problems with everything lol! I like how the product is nicely made and looks durable!
i really need more space in my cabinets
My spices are a mess I think the cabinett organizer might help!
My biggest challenge is storing my pots/pans/bakeware so that Bloom organizer sounds great.
I have so many challeges in my kitchen who really knows where to start first– I guess the baking goods pans and such would be great to have organize sure would help alot
Can it work a miracle on my whole house?
My biggest mess in the kitchen is the tupperware drawer — it’s not organized and you can barely get the drawer open and closed.
i need more cabinet space
My biggest problem is finding a place for all of my seasonings and spices. Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
Well again– today I believe my worse cupboard area is the baking pans– I was trying to get the loaf pans out for bread and of course they are on the bottom, what a mess– I think anything that would organize them to be a blessing for me
My biggest issue is only having a couple of cabinets. My kitchen is tiny. I have no room. I like the basket the most for produce.
we have limited space so anything that can help organize what we have in hopes of decluttering would be helpful
My lids to all my containers are my problem.
my fruits are disorganized th basket would be handy.
These are such wonderful organizing baskets 00 my kitchen is such a clutter it would be nice to have some way to take care of the baking pans and trays
My biggest problem is trying to stay away from things getting too cluttered.
I cannot keep my pots and pans organized.
Our biggest problem is space and drawer organization.
My pan lids are all over the place this would come in awfully handy to keep things organized.
This is such a great collection on organizers– I love the stackable big basket for the apples potato– etc
The tupperware is the worst.
too much stuff and not enough space!
The pantry. It is too deep and everything gets lost in there. I organize it, but it goes back to being chaotic within a week.
My cookie sheets and pizza sheets are a mess this would get them organized.
The eternal problem of organizing pans and most especially the LIDS that are always a drag to deal with and even just to find. And they do tend to slip and slide, fall and break. Help – we need a solution.
The Bloom Kitchen Organizer would be fabulous – In fact, think I could use several of them!
My biggest organizational problem in the kitchen is lids to bowls and lids to pots and pans.
I have a hard time keeping my pots and pans organized in the kitchen. I also struggle with little things like measuring cups.
Keeping the pantry organized is a huge hassle in my house.
My biggest kitchen organization problem involves all of my baking dishes and how to store them. I have odd sizes and they never fit in my bottle cabinets well enough.
I love the Bloom Kitchen Organizer. My lids seem to be all over the place and always disappearing.
definitely pots and pans- I would love the bloom kitchen organizer
My front closet could use a little organizational love.
Well, where do I start– the whole kitchen is disarray but the big stackable basket would really help
i like the single cup caddy most. i received a keurig for christmas last year and have been needing a good solution for storing my kcups.
My biggest organization problem in my kitchen is really that I don’t have enough storage space, but the next biggest problem is organizing leftover containers.
Keeping my spice shelves organized is a real challenge.
My biggest issue is lack of space to put away pots & pans
These look and sound awesome. My biggest organization problem in my kitchen is definitely my tupper ware cabinets. I can organize it daily and by night it is horrid. They can never stay neatly placed!
My kitchen cabinets could use a little help in the organization department lol
My biggest problem is lack of cabinet space.
I have issues organizing food in the pantry.
the pan lid hoder would solve the problem of not being able to fuind lids.
Way too many cups and glasses! Need to pare them down.
My cupboard with all of my plastic reuseable bowls/containers. I really need to get that under control!
My cabinets no organization I can never find anything
I hate the disorganized lids to my pots and pans!
My pots and pans cabinet is always a mess and I think the Bloom Kitchen Organizer would be great for that space. Thanks for having this contest!
My favorite item is the Large Ashley stackable baskets because it would help keep my counter’s organized and produce kept in place.
Everything is just tossed around in my kitchen
My biggest messes would be a tie between my tubberware and my spices. I try tons of tricks and use things to organize, but they tend to get a bit messed up from time to time
I am having a hard time organizing my spices and things like baking soda.
I like the single cup caddy because those little cups need to be organized when you have so many different ones.
My cabinet with all of my pots and pans is the biggest organizational problem.
My biggest problem is not finding the lids to my storage containers and organization of my kitchen junk drawer.
Our storage is always a mess. I would really put the cabinet shelves to good use.
Thanks for the giveaway… lids for various cookware at our place need some organization i.e. Euro Kitchen Organizer !
Lately my biggest problem is when I can’t open up the kitchen drawers, because somehow something too big is jamming up the drawer!
My biggest organizational challenge in the kitchen is the storage of my cookware. I have it stack and have to go through the ritual of unstackign to use then restacking to put away.
My storage containers are my biggest problem. No matter how many times I organize them I can never find a matching lid.
[…] had things stacked all over the kitchen. With two of the Large Ashley stacking baskets (from the Kitchen Organization Feature) I started to fill it back up at the bottom and made things a lot easier to get to the fresh […]