So guys, are you ready for a kitchen drawer? Or should I say another one since technically the trash/recycling I showed last week is also in a drawer. Anyway, this drawer is actually my favorite one because of how I organized it. See, I'm not used to these wide drawers that pull out fully and because they don't have proper sides to them I was a bit annoyed with them in the beginning as I feared everything would fall out. Also the depth was an odd one considering what I needed to store. I know I should could have gotten a five drawer unit instead but silly me, I wanted them to match the trash side of things and sometimes when pretty comes before practical you regret it. Luckily I came up with a solution that really works. Yay!
Here it is! The things I'm storing in this drawer are usually the things that I would place lying down in several more shallow drawers but because of my quest for beauty I had to get it all to fit into this quite deep one which I suspect works really well for bigger things like pots and pans but not so well for what I actually needed.
What I'm using are these little recycling bins, the same ones I use in the trash recycling drawer. I popped as many as I could into the drawer and in them I sort like things together such as measuring tools in one (including a small scale, a spaghetti portion thingy and several measuring spoons), food packaging in another (freezer and sandwich bags, freezer tape, pen), etc.
In one I do a double layer using a divided take-out container in which i store batteries and under there are some seldom used things like potato scrubber gloves and cat food lids.
Since there's a little gap at the back where I couldn't fit in another row of bins I used a drawer divider to hold the bins in place and popped my rolling pins and wooden skewers behind. It's great because for one I have a good spot for those long items but I also use every bit of the space in the drawer AND the bins stay put and don't slide around.
La-la-love my drawer which started out being I-hate-you-stupid-drawer-why-the-heck-did-I-choose-you-?.
We are facing the same problem in a few weeks (that's when our kitchen will be done) and I've been wondering if it would be possible to buy one or two extra inside drawers and just not attach front panels in them... That way we would get 4-5 drawer unit with 3 front panels. Not sure if it would work - need to do an Ikea trip to investigate. The basic cupboards are the same so it should work though.
Posted by: Kaisa | October 13, 2011 at 07:25 AM
Oh my goodness, I have so much to learn until I´m as organized as you. If that will ever happen..! :-D
Posted by: tinajo | October 13, 2011 at 07:52 AM
I think the bins look great. Are they sorted in such a way that they are single-purpose (eg, just the tools you need to fix ___) so you could pull the bin out onto the counter, do that project, and then put the whole bin back? That sounds nicer than the rummaging through a shallow drawer that I do.
Posted by: Lori in OR | October 13, 2011 at 07:56 AM
I don't take them out. The kitchen is so small so I just grab whatever tools I need, so no need to get the whole thing out. They are somewhat sorted though, more baking related in one etc.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 13, 2011 at 07:58 AM
great solution. my aesthetics get me into trouble occasionally too! this old kitchen is mostly baskets on shelves, not drawers, so i've had to think carefully about what each basket's purpose is - or it is a jumble. now little dishwasher-emptying girls know to sort by 'tools' and 'eating stuff' and it works out well! xx
Posted by: elisa | October 13, 2011 at 08:33 AM
oh - that, funnily enough, makes so much more sense than laying those things down in a shallow drawer! what a great idea that turned out to be!
Posted by: kim | October 13, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Hi!
You inspire me so much. I just want to shut down my computer and rush to IKEA and buy organizing stuff (couldn't find the right container for my daughters beads at IKEA this past sunday. hrmmf...) and get going.
Do you have and good tips for organizing beads? My daughter of 4 have plenty i several containers. I want one to hold them all, but still organized.
Posted by: Helen F | October 13, 2011 at 10:20 AM
How about something like this: http://bit.ly/qznNxr. I just did aquick google but I'm sure there are nicer looking ones, like clear plastic or white?
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 13, 2011 at 10:36 AM
I have very similar kitchen and one "drawer" from outside, but inside as your one I have 3 - 4 flat pull out drawers with cutlery divider for small things...you just have to put them manually after you opened a big door but this way I use whole hight of that unit without double layering...I like your solution too!
http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2010_03_12-CureSnapshot.jpg
http://agoodhouseisneverdone.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Organize-IKEA-kitchen-utensil-drawer.jpg
Posted by: jja | October 13, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Like an arranged marriage where partners are brought together for reasons other than love, but with time learn to respect each other, adjust to each other's needs and end up loving each other :-D. It's to Benita and her drawer!
Posted by: Zosia | October 13, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Haha!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 13, 2011 at 11:44 AM
I really enjoy your posts like this.
(But yes, those wide drawers are GREAT for big pots and pans--even for those of us without your organizational skills.)
Posted by: celia | October 13, 2011 at 01:20 PM
Love it! It seems like you can fit more "stuff" in this set up than if you had several shallow drawers to work with.
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | October 13, 2011 at 04:49 PM
The flexibility of these taller drawers is excellent. The potential to store chunky items is a real positive. I think your idea, Bonita, is yet another dimension of utility, so Thanks! I am planning on using what appears to be these tall-ish drawers (the fronts look like this) with varying inner features. The full depth pull-outs are the salient feature. NO MORE rutting around in the cavernous cabinet interiors to find stuff or to clean. We live in marvelous times.
Posted by: Pat in NH, USA | October 13, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Would you like to work for Ikea? I think they could use you!!!
Posted by: Vicki K | October 13, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Looks great! Gotta love it when you can turn something you didn't like at first, into something super functional! :)
Posted by: Monica @ Home in the Tropics | October 13, 2011 at 05:59 PM
I have been struggling for 13 years with two tall drawers, that never seem to work right. I love this solution. I think it will work perfectly in my kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing your organizing ideas.
Posted by: Brenda | October 13, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Haha, I used to work there many, MANY moons ago :).
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 13, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Wow, vilken ordning. Snyggt.
Tack snälla för sekretären, den är jättefin och helt perfekt hos oss! När vi fått lite ordning kring den ska jag ta en bild :-)
Posted by: Jenny | October 13, 2011 at 08:33 PM
i had Ikea drawer too... also trying to match, so full of 3 drawer in my kitchen.. i think the shallow drawer is a bit too shallow... actually you can add one more shallow drawer on top of this drawer.. become 2 shallow drawer instead of one deep drawer if you like (i done this under my stove)
Posted by: Sandra | October 13, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Great strategy, working with what you have! I'm trying my best to do the same with my apartment, since I'm forced to accept the space as it is. On the positive side it definitely brings out your creativity...
Posted by: Marjorie | October 14, 2011 at 01:51 AM
Eller så kan jag se den live när jag äter min bulle? :) I vilket fall som helst så är jag så nöjd att den fått ett så bra nytt hem. Den är ju jättefin men passade bara inte hos mig.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 14, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Great tip! But it might be mixed up whith my husbands fishing gear and fly tying equipment. Can't they make those in clear or white or more fun colors than green and off white? I have to continue my search. Today half of the beads is stored in a toolbox, and the other in diffent containers, spread all over the house.
Posted by: Helen Fröderberg | October 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Superb I can say here its the best way to keep home and kitchen clean and hygienic..
Posted by: Alias | October 17, 2011 at 11:01 AM