Organizing Frenzy

My goal for the new year is to organize the house and I'm starting with the kitchen. Although I think neatness is overrated, I do appreciate being able to function in my house. I was inspired after reading an article in Oprah's magazine about a woman who was much worse than I am. She hired professional help and had to have a dumpster brought in. If I ever get that bad, I hope somebody will just shoot me. I'm starting with the kitchen. It's very small. I bought a $159 butcher block rolly cart to add extra space while cooking and Jim put it together. I also ordered a shelving unit on wheels to put in the broom closet turned pantry so we can access everything in there.
Five years ago I redid the kitchen. It once had dark plywood cabinets, an old range, green and yellow wallpaper, and gold and brown linoleum. I really hated it. I had friends help me paint and build a stove cabinet, a drop in range top, and install a counter top. By professionals, I had a dishwasher and venthood installed and a pergo floor. I tiled the backsplash. On the opposite side of the room I had a garden window installed. I kept the old white double sink which I really love. The window over the sink once looked out over the backyard, but I added a family room.
I also bought a new refrigerator when the old one conked out. I went with white appliances, butter yellow paint, and dark gray countertops. I would have loved to have had stainless steel appliances, maple cabinets, and granite countertops, but I like the idea of not spending much money and reusing what is still good.
I used a towel rack made from iron above the sink to hang strainers and colanders, using S hooks from the hardware store. I made little tiles from mosaics (with all our names worked into a tile) to go in the backsplash. I know people worry a good deal about resale, but I plan to be here a very long time so I do what makes me happy. If the next owner doesn't like it, she can change it like I did. I also painted the basement door and broomcloset-turned-pantry door to match the cabinets and then hung framed pictures of the children and my pets on the outside.

I found this little shelf in the basement above the washing machine when I moved in. I painted it to match the cabinets and then hung it to display old salt and pepper shakers and a little Japanese teaset. I love the little whimsical animal figures from the 30's and 40's with their faded colors and simple smiles.

The refrigerator is always a mess and an everchanging display of Sam and Sadie's artwork. Right now there is a portrait Sadie drew of me (with something resembling a spring erupting from my head), a self-portrait by Sam (which he said was different from his other self-portraits!) and a picture of a striped bird by Sam. There is also a favorite photograph I took of Maggie and Sadie about 3 years ago.




That's one half of the kitchen tidy and organized. Now to the other half!