By Susan M. Adams

We don't often think of having closets in the kitchen. We often settle for simply having kitchen cupboards which are essentially small closets affixed to the side walls of our kitchen. Although rarely noticed, the lack of kitchen closets is a nuisance. It hasn't always been like this. Our grandmother's had kitchen closets...large kitchen closets. They called them kitchen pantries.

Adding a kitchen pantry to your house plans is a great idea. You can incorporate a pantry into the additional plans of a new house or renovate an older house to add a pantry. The addition of a kitchen pantry to your house will pay dividends in the future. Kitchen pantries are often cited by real estate brokers as one of the more common kitchen renovations that add real monetary value to your home when it comes to resale prices.

Not only will the addition of a kitchen pantry add re-sale value to your home but they also add convenience to working in the kitchen. There are two main types of kitchen pantries: those for storage and those for function. Each has individual type of pantry has merits. The functional pantries tend to be bigger but that isn't always the case. Choosing the pantry that is right for you and your kitchen depends on your goals.

A pantry that will strictly be used for storage is fairly simple to plan. You will want a series of shelves and some bins for root vegetables such as potatoes. Think ahead about what you want to store in the pantry. Pantries are great places to stores seldom used appliances such as juicers and bread makers. People also use kitchen pantries to store mops and brooms. Make sure that the shelving can accommodate the height of whatever you want to store.

Functional pantries take a wee bit more planning time. A professional kitchen designer might be of help here. I have seen lots of small kitchen prep areas hidden away in small pantries. The pantry would be plumbed for a small sink and have a garbage disposal area. Food can be prepped for social gathering right up until the last minute. When the guests arrive, simply shut the pantry door and the kitchen appears spotless. Pantries are also great places to install baking areas. The flour. corn starch, baking powder etc can be on a shelf right above the area the dough is rolled and cut out. Everything you need can be within arm's length of the work area..

Think seriously about adding the benefits of a kitchen pantry to your house. Panties are an affordable way to boost the value of your home and the convenience of your kitchen. Think about what type of pantry would serve you and your family best. You can't go wrong with adding a closet or a pantry to your kitchen.

By Alex Hunt

Utensil storage is something that a lot of women tend to overlook in their kitchens, but I tell you it is every bit as important as the food itself. This is due to the fact that when foods are not properly protected, the homeowners and their entire household stand the risk of infection. When you remodel your kitchen, you want to ensure that you don't forget these little details. Whether you like it or not, they are the little details that will make or break your entire effort.

Some foods you keep at the pantry, some in a walk-in storeroom, and others in the kitchen itself. Storing foods or items in this manner suggests the lack of a sense of order. This may not be your fault since your kitchen has much space to store them; however, now that you are considering remaking the kitchen, and if I were you I would truly love to redesign my kitchen so that I have space for all of these and never have to scramble about to find stuff from one place to the other. If nothing else, that alone is worth all the time and effort that you are about to put into remodeling your kitchen.

When it comes to designing your kitchen space, understand that you need a special area in your kitchen that is simply for cooking and preparing food. I like to think of them as specialized food preparation areas. In redesigning your kitchen, there has got to be some arrangements made such that those parts are clearly distinguished from every other area.

By Guru Bhakt

It doesn't require the skills of a gourmet chef to appreciate the fact that a well-organized pantry closet has more than a token import on the quantum of work in the kitchen. With all necessary ingredients within one's reach, cooking is a snap. You can find things, sort them out and even stock them within minutes.

No Olympian Effort Required

The presence of more things calls for more order in the way they are arranged. Contrary to popular perception, this is certainly not a Herculean task. Here are eight effective steps that'll answer your how to organize a pantry closet dilemma perfectly:

* The task begins with a clearing exercise. Take out all the items from the closet and lay them on the table or the countertop. And please do not hesitate to get rid of all the foodstuffs that have outlived their utility.
* Ensure that the shelves are squeaky clean.
* Make a quick assessment of the stuff that has been laid out. It's about time that you enlightened yourself about the stuff you owned, and their precise quantities.
* Now we are ready to sort out the items into different groups. Like, all snacks are grouped together, all breakfast cereals are categorized into one cluster, and so on. The number of groups depends, quite naturally, on the number of items that the closet is peopled with.
* Creating sub-groups is sure to put your organizing abilities to test, but it's worth the effort. Here, all items with some similarities are put together. Canned fruits, canned soups and vegetables can be the various sub-groups.
* It's time to eschew your affinity for those unsightly food packets. Investment in boxes or containers is sure to come as a breath of fresh air. Trays, bins or baskets help in maintaining a clutter-free closet. Their services will be highly appreciated when you replenish your stocks.
* Now comes the part that requires you to get creative. Spare a thought to the most judicious manner in which all the items can be arranged. Here's a clue- keep all breakfast cereals on one shelf, preferably on the lowest one, so that they can be easily accessed by the kids. But the opposite holds good for those crunchy snacks. Items that are used frequently must be kept right in front. Now, that's common sense.
* Just in case you have to contend with limited space, bring home a stand-alone shelf to placate all those extra items.

Isn't it a pleasure to see a pantry closet that is neat, tidy and clutter-free? Setting up a pragmatic storage system isn't that hard at all, as long as it espouses values of easy access and uncomplicated maintenance.

By Tim J. Davis

When designing a new home, it is always a good idea to spend some time carefully considering the kitchen and its layout. After all, this is where the family meal is usually prepared and there is nothing more important than the family meal to keep the family as a unit.

The most popular layout today includes either a bar built into the counter space or a breakfast nook directly connected to the kitchen for the morning meals. That bar or the table in the nook is a great place for the kids to do home work or school projects not to mention a place for mom or dad to balance the check book or some other task.

A properly designed kitchen also should not be hard to work in. For instance, we should lay it out so that there is no more than a twelve to fourteen foot triangle between the stove, sink, and refrigerator. This method allows for less steps and more cooking.

Natural light should also be a major consideration. A good sized window should be placed directly over the sink if possible. If it is not possible to place it over the sink, then there should be large windows in the nook area to reflect light back into the cooking area.

There should be plenty of storage space whenever possible that would include a pantry integrated into a closet in easy reach from the cabinets. In corner cabinets, A Lazy Susan should be installed. A Lazy Susan is a rotating set of shelves installed so that everything can be reached by turning a carousel of shelves.

Drawers are very important for storing silverware and a good planner will make sure there are some deep drawers for those catch all things that always seem to show up in the kitchen. Actually, junk drawers are not a bad idea for keeping the kitchen tidy. Some cabinet companies have racks built into special cabinets that pull out like drawers for storing pots and pans that are hung on special runners for saving space.

Time and labor savers like a dishwasher should always be installed near the sink. Other appliances to be considered would be a built in microwave for quick snacks and warming meals.

By Rick Swanson

In an increasingly unstable economy and a questionable job market, many people are looking to ways of being more self reliant. One of the many ways people are doing this is through food storage, at least a years worth for many families. Having a supply of food stored away for emergencies is a good idea, and can be used to feed a family in the event of lay offs, as well as in emergencies that require spending a lot of money, such as medical and vehicle emergencies. If you don't have enough room for a years worth of food storage, that is okay! A few months worth will often be enough to get your family through rough times.

In fact, many people keep three to four months worth of the food they already use, and rotate items. A kitchen pantry cabinet may be fully stocked with the food items regularly used, and on shopping days regular items are purchased, and then rotated to the back of the stock so older items are never going to waste. If food storage sounds like something you would like to do, then the first thing you'll want to do is figure out where you will be keeping it. For many, a freestanding cabinet placed in the kitchen works well.

There are many different styles, brands and sizes of freestanding cabinets, so you'll need to choose one that matches not only your kitchen decor, but your storage needs as well. If you are planning on going with a two months supply of food, Target's "pantry with wooden double doors - natural" is one good option. Its large size and four shelf design can easily hold two months worth of the canned goods you regularly use, and probably many of your dry goods as well. This cabinet can be purchased both at Target.com, as well as through their catalog.

While there is little we can do about the economy, there is plenty we can do to become more self reliant, including preparing ourselves for hard times. Food storage is just one of the many ways to do this.

By Elvin Scott

Enjoy the convenience of your kitchen pantry storage and maximize its storage area through sliding shelf. The pantry shelves help store kitchen appliances, goods, and equipments in a tightly organize manner. It uses every possible kitchen storage space and optimizes it. Apart from this, the shelf offers convenient access and ease of installation. Since the sliding pantry shelves are relatively common, here is a review of this type of shelves.

Sliding Natural Oak Shelves by Sliding Shelf

This is the company's most popular shelf product by far due to its extreme durability. It costs around $28.97 and it can be customized based on your pantry's dimension. The shelves are 22'' in length from front to back. They are made of sturdy, high furniture grade oak plywood which is Oak veneer. The shelves are designed such that there is no visible plywood edges when the shelf is used. In addition, these shelves are pre-assembled and are ready for staining or painting.

Lazy Susan Blind Corner Shelves

Blind corner refers to the area where equipments or goods are almost hard to reach. It refers to the dark part of the cabinet corner. The Lazy Susan shelves are specifically designed for this condition. The shelf rotates and can be pulled out of the cabinet for ease of reach. The product is usually sold in sets. However, the shelves operate separately. With the Best Kitchen Pantry Storages you can now optimize the free space in your corner cabinet.

Shelves that Slide Custom Pull Out Shelves

Do it yourself home improvement is a new trend today. Almost anything found in the kitchen can be customized to fit consumers' demands. The product can be installed in as little as 5 minutes. The custom pull out shelves help in kitchen pantry organization and double space storage. The product comes fully assembled and is ready for installation.

By Renee M. Matt

A walk-in pantry recently ranked a whopping 94% in importance for desired amenities for a home. (National Assoc. of Homebuilders "Home of the Future" study Feb. 2007). So what's the big deal with having a kitchen pantry all of a sudden? Americans are spending more and need a place to put all their "stuff" - food included.

Thinking about adding a pantry for resell? It's a no-brainer! Even if you refit a closet out for pantry use, you get to boast on your sale bill "has kitchen with pantry." You automatically move to the front of the buyer's list.

Think you don't have room for a pantry? Think again. Product manufacturers have really stepped up to meet the demand consumers have placed in this market. You might not have the room for a walk-in pantry, but your options are vast.

Consider pantry cabinet kits. It's one of the easiest improvements you can make to your kitchen. Slide-out kits are available to convert an outdated 24" deep black hole into organizational heaven. Same goes for upper cabinets. The selection for spice racks could make one's head spin.

Thinking of new kitchen cabinets? You may have been window shopping and viewed some contraptions that are nearly like a Swiss army knife. Consider a 24" deep pantry cabinet where the door itself may have storage, as it opens to reveal more racks that flip out to reveal even more shelf space in the back. These may be wood or wire rack systems. Due to the increased popularity of this type of storage, more kits or pantry shelving systems or units are being sold. The do-it-yourselfer can outfit their own jumbo cabinet.

A lot more roll-out or pull-out base pantry cabinets are making their way onto kitchen cabinet showrooms. It is becoming more common to see 12" units that pull out to see single-spaced items for easy location.

The closet market has made a cross-over to the pantry market. Buyer's used to be in the closet accessory aisle looking to outfit their cabinet, but the same shelving is being specialized and targeted to closet kitchen pantries.

Here's one you didn't think of: open pantries. Yes, right out in the open - and they're every bit as beautiful as the rest of your kitchen can be.

Don't forget the walk-in pantry, which is still king. The accessories are an enormous attraction in this arena: pop-can storage, water bottle stacking racks, behind-the-door racks, baskets, vegetable bins, corner racks, pantry towers and the list goes on.

Did I say a pantry saves you money? Actually, in three ways:

1) It allows the homeowner to buy food in bulk when prices are low

2) A well-organized pantry allows you to see your resources and use them wisely

3) A walk-in pantry requires a lesser-investment in kitchen cabinets for both a new kitchen design, or when remodeling is required

By Elvin Scott

Are you tired of the routine mess found in your pantry room? The kitchen pantry organizers will help you in simplifying your pantry storage and organization. They are available in different styles and designs, such as door racks, slide out, and shelf organizer. The organizers store decorative items and pantry utilities, and help in organizing them properly. The review below will hopefully assist you on choosing the right pantry organizers for your pantry room.

Kitchen Pantry Door Racks

This rack is ideal for pantry organization. It is available in different materials like metal or plastic. The rack provides extra kitchen pantry shelving so that you do not need to remodel your kitchen to accommodate more pantry utilities. This type of kitchen organizer is perfect for storing canned goods, tall bottles or cleaning supplies. The Rev-A-Shelf Kitchen Pantry Racks are made of high end, chrome plated gauge wire that provides excellent storage space.

Slide Out Kitchen Organizers

The slides out kitchen organizers give easy access to hard to reach groceries, pots, and small appliances in a pantry. Generally, they are made of commercial quality heavy gauge wire, making them more efficient and functional. Some of the best quality slides out organizers are sold at Improvements Catalogue. Their heavy chrome plated steel organizer can be mounted on either a pantry shelf or base cabinet floor. Also, the kitchen cabinet organizers has smooth rolling, ball bearing glide rails.

Pantry Shelf Organizer

The Shelf organizer can be placed into narrow spaces to optimize kitchen space. It slides and rolls without making the items fall off. An example of pantry shelf organizer is the Cansolidator 40 Can Pantry Shelf Organizer by Shelf Reliance LLC. This sturdy organizer is specifically manufactured for organizing canned foods that have small or medium sizes. It has SmarTrac technology feature that automatically rotates cans.

By S. Nickse

An organized pantry simply makes life easier in the kitchen. Food items are visible, accessible and easy to find. But the abundance of items many people store in the pantry can make this versatile kitchen closet an especially tricky space to establish order.

The first step of organizing a pantry is simple-remove every item from the pantry. You may also want to use this first step as the opportunity to discard any expired items. Emptying the pantry will allow you thoroughly wipe shelves clean and erase any preconceived organization scheme that may be holding you back from a truly organized, clutter free kitchen pantry. Set the contents aside on countertops or a table so that you can assess what items you have and what quantities.

Next, divide the pantry items into broad categories. For instance, group canned food in one category, boxed meals in one, snacks in another, and so on. Determine the categories to select based on the types and amounts of items you store in your pantry. Then, within categories containing many items, divide the items further by type or purpose. For instance, the canned food category may be further divided into canned soups, vegetables and cooking ingredients (such as chicken broth, cream of mushroom, and the like).

Making and keeping your pantry organized and clutter free may involve establishing designated containers for items that tend to scatter or otherwise become jumbled. Examples of such items would be batter mixes, gravy mixes or any other items contained within irregular packets that do not necessarily stand neatly on their own. Determine what groups of items would be best stored inside containers, and find appropriately sized baskets, trays or bins to serve each purpose. Establishing designated containers for certain items not only gives your pantry a streamlined appearance, but makes it simpler to maintain your organization as you use and restock the items over time.

Now that all of your pantry items are neatly organized, you can get an accurate idea of the amount of shelf space needed for the items in each category. This phase may require some creative thinking to determine the best arrangement for the space in your pantry. Items that need to be most frequently accessed, for example, should be placed on the most easily reached, visible shelves. If your pantry is home to an abundance of canned items, for instance, you may consider doubling your functional shelf space by inserting a standalone shelf to hold a second row of cans on the same pantry shelf. If your pantry is also the place you store nonfood items such as a broom and mop, consider finding a place to hang such items flush with the wall so that they do not affect the accessibility of other pantry items.

Keeping your kitchen pantry neat and tidy involves establishing a clutter free, logical system of organization in the first place. If you have narrowed down, categorized and organized, yet still do not have enough space in your pantry, you may be unnecessarily storing too much in the pantry. If you need more space for food storage, consider relocating items such as paper plates and cups, pet food and sodas to another area of the home. Ease of access and upkeep are key objectives in creating and maintaining order in a kitchen pantry.

By Sam Butler

Interested in learning how to build a kitchen pantry? Nothing easier! The kitchen design is very important since it needs to be both functional and aesthetic. So what should you choose? A kitchen pantry can combine these two requirements. With its help, you can organize your supplies efficiently and you can bring extra charm and style to your cooking space. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when you want to build a kitchen pantry. ·

There are a few basic tools you need before getting started. In order to get started, your equipment kit should include: a measuring rule, a drill, a pencil, a sanding block, a screwdriver or more of different sizes, a hammer and a paintbrush. Besides the tools, you need to have a few materials. If you want to build a kitchen pantry in a professional manner, you need sandpaper, pine stocks, glue, nails, angle irons and paint.

The first thing that needs to be done is the frame. This is not as hard as it seems and you might even enjoy to build a kitchen pantry, after all. Firstly, you have to assemble a rectangular box, with the help of your wooden pieces. Don't forget to secure the corners with the screws and to apply the carpenters' glue in order to make sure you obtain a stable and safe construction.

The second step when you want to build it is represented by the shelves. After cutting them as you desire, you need to establish the exact spacing between them. When you build a kitchen pantry and you are done with the assembling part, you can get creative! Like how? Take the paintbrush and the colors you desire and make your construction look like in a décor magazine. You can combine any nuances you like in order to coordinate with your kitchen designs. Use patters or even applications for a modern look.

One of the most important things you need to remember when you're refurbishing, is that you need to measure everything before cutting. Take one step at a time and focus on each process in detail. Only like this, you will manage to obtain the furniture kitchen you desire. Think before acting ahead! When you build a kitchen pantry, it is advisable to have someone near to help you. Ask a friend or a family member to hold the shelves for you or to hand you the tools when you need them. Plus, you avoid accidents in case you have someone to help you work on your kitchen design. Are you looking for innovative solutions?

Then here is a tip for you: build a kitchen pantry behind the door. You save a lot of space and this construction can be used as a great storage. With the right guidance and with the above tips on how to build a kitchen pantry, this will not even seem like a hard job. Actually, you can achieve your goal in less than 5 hours. That is, if you manage to be a skilled kitchen designer. So, what are you waiting for? Go shopping for the right tools and materials and get prepared to build a kitchen pantry. It will worth it! Your ideal kitchen designs can become a reality in no time!