Moving In Inspiration: 5 Ideas for Setting Up the Kitchen

This month is all about "Setting Up Home" - the process of building a home from scratch. You bring in the boxes of belongings and invest your heart and mind into creating a space that is both useful and beautiful. At least that's the goal - the reality is sometimes a bit rushed. We're taking this month to slow down and look...

...for inspiration - we're finding photos and ideas to help those moving in to new spaces this fall. Perhaps even get those of us who have been ensconced in our places for a long time can take at look at or homes with fresh eyes and tackle an organizing project or two - it's never too late!

Kitchen ideas shown above, from left to right:

1. Glassware, mugs, cups and saucers on open Ikea shelving, canisters of coffee and sugar and an espresso machine make for a great looking (and potentially money saving) at-home coffee bar. Add a toaster, and voila - an instant cafe in your kitchen! Via Living Etc.

2. Dana from the Kitchn shares this excellent advice in her "Ikea Shelf Epiphany" post - open shelves are for things used daily or weekly, cupboards and closets are for things used monthly, and everything else should be in storage (basement, garage, attic).

3. Consider using the often wasted open space above cabinets for displaying a collection like this one in Shannon & Emmett's From Factory to Family

4. Cooking supplies such as oils, spices and utensils are great to keep right at hand near the cooktop - Living Etc.

5. A potrack saves so much room, keeps things easy to reach AND creates lots of visual interest. We always like the way they look - and it's nice to see one that is wall hung like this example from Emily and Damon's Color-Infused Nest, rather than the usual ceiling-suspended installation.

Images: 1 & 4 - Living Etc., 2 - The Kitchn, 3 & 5 - Apartment Therapy

Love the configuration of this IKEA kitchen which allows for both open shelving and enclosed cabinets.

http://www.modernests.com/2009/07/ikea-2010-fave-picks-so-far.html

posted by MODERnestS on August 10th 2009 at 9:02pm
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Also love the chartreuse color with the stainless steel and a big fan of all white pottery...hmmm...take me to your leader ...so I can start my own collection...one day. :)

posted by MODERnestS on August 10th 2009 at 9:04pm
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Unless you do not live in an urban or country environment where there is grit and dust than yes open shelving with all of your positions looks good. I am all about keeping dishes, pots and pans behind closed doors..even with that I still clean the inside of my cabinets every 4-6 months.

posted by LoriSF on August 10th 2009 at 9:38pm
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where do you find a potrack like the one in Emily & Damon's kitchen?

posted by pontefract on August 10th 2009 at 11:55pm
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I agree with LoriSF on the dust problem... I also think it's worth pointing out that those spices, oils, etc. may look pretty sitting out on open shelves, but light isn't good for them. Neither is sitting close to the heat of the stove.

posted by iphigenia on August 11th 2009 at 6:52am
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Love number 3. It's so hard to know what to put in that awkward nook next to the ceiling. I'd rather the cabinets just went all the way up. But they've really made it look beautiful.

posted by FrontPorchPirate on August 11th 2009 at 8:58am
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yes, where DOES one find a potrack like that? i saw one at williams sonoma, but it cost, like, an arm and a kidney, anyone know a cheaper alternative?

posted by Kpaige13 on August 11th 2009 at 10:23am
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Keep these posts coming! I'm moving into an apartment with the smallest kitchen (OK, smallest everything) I've ever had in my life so this creative inspiration is fantastic. I feel so lucky that it's "Setting up Home" month on AT :-).

posted by michpc on August 11th 2009 at 10:30am
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Wall mounted potracks galore (kidneys not accepted as payment):

http://www.allpotracks.com/Wall-Pot-Racks-C14930.html

posted by iota on August 11th 2009 at 11:29am
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oh my gosh, is that someone's home? Are they running a coffee shop out of their kitchen? Who needs that many espresso cups? Not to mention the serious stacks of plates and bowls on the right.

posted by st@cy on August 11th 2009 at 12:10pm
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