We love it when our readers send us their DIY projects, and AT:LA reader found inspiration from her favourite Dean & Deluca spice organizer for her own collection of herbs and spices that will undoubtedly aid her with any Kitchn inspired recipes and is a great inspiration to get our own spices better organized. More lovely photos and instructions under the cut...
Inspiration comes from this spice rack from Dean & Deluca. Cost for the spice rack is about $145 for a small size spice rack.
I found these shelf inserts for only $3.99 at Ikea. and bought a bunch of metallic tins with a magnetic bottom from Bed Bath and Beyond for $1.99 each. The total for about 17 spices and shelf insert is a little under $40, not bad for how the results turned out!
I bought the spices from the Spice House in Evanston and I added clear labels to each metallic tin. 
And the final result:
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Comments (17)
Cool -- I did something similar, only with seemless tins from the Container Store (identical to the Dean & Deluca ones), and my label maker with plain old labels. Oh -- and spices from Penzey's.
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=12776567&itemIndex=1&CATID=262&PRODID=62104
A friend of mine also did something similar: she put the labels on the top of the can and used the magnetic bottoms to put them on her refrigerator door. It's a great way to save counter space in a small kitchen.
What is the name of the font used for the labels? It's pretty. Thanks.
Lovely lovely job LA reader. You could probably glue magnets in the bottom of the tins and do a nice wall collage in the kitchen with your spices :-) Space saver YOu would need clear round labels for the top - but I don't think they make them in clear and round... :-(
Oh wow. I've been wanting to do this for years!
Great idea.
Oh, this is lovely.
Thanks everyone! I originally stuck the magnetic spice tins to the fridge and I moved them over to the counter because we had some leftover space. The font type is called "fling" and it's the same one they use for Blueprint magazine.
If you don't have the time to make your own rack, or prefer to buy regular spices from the grocery, try SpiceStack! Its a new spice organizer that holds 27 bottles in your kitchen cabinet (away from heat and light) so it won't take up space on your countertop. SpiceStack's drop-down drawer design allows you to find your spices fast while cooking. $29.95 plus S&H - Check it out at www.SpiceStack.com.
Happy Organizing!
Thanks, Sugarpond, for the font info!
Lauren, I bought one of your SpiceStacks. It is great - really did organize my spices. Very clever idea.
I have been using the same spice tins from bed, bath, & beyond for about a year now on my refrigerator (yes I did the whole label w/ the label maker).... however, I am in the process of finding new spice containers because after a while, these containers start to stick and rust...I have the hardest time getting the lids off and when I do... half the time the spices in them go flying onto the floor. I love the idea, but they don't hold up, especially if you are a heavy cooker like I am.
OH and I have the hardest time keeping the plastic lids clean... ugh
Very, very nice!
The labels are stunning. Did you create them yourself, and, if so, what is the font? Thanks.
Count me in on the rusting, too. Trying to find some tins with a screw top - I've given up on the pull on-off ones. The good ones only seem to come with a rack!
DIY spice rack? I'm hoping to use the wooden slats of my retired computer table to build a set of shelves for my collection of recycled jars and second hand spice pots. It may fall apart but it's worth trying and it won't cost a bean! Because I want to make it myself, I was drawn to reading this blog. However, I don't mean to criticise but, WHAT DIY? That's like going out and buying a blouse and skirt, and calling them homemade because you chose to wear them together, isn't it?
You can buy very similar spice tins for 63 cents each http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=309