Kitchen 2.0

Emily Schwartz
Aug 27, 2017
3 min read

Pantries are one of my favorite areas in a home to organize. It's definitely the most used area in a home so it must be perfectly organized and have just the right fit and supplies for the family. Yes, having everything organized and very accessible does make it 100x easier to find the perfect late night snack; but hey, isn't that the sole purpose of a pantry?

I was able to put a little Touch of Em on a close friend's pantry. I was overly excited because this was one of my very first projects and because it was an absolute PERFECT challenge. If you got the chance to read a little bit about me, you know that nothing makes me more excited than a little clutter. It allows me to get my hands dirty and transform that space into something amazing and easy for anyone to navigate.

One thing most people don't realize is how much space you actually have in the areas of your home. This is because those areas are not being used to their full potential. A blank space shows so much promise because you can fill it with so many good things to get the most out of that space. But, most of us (even me at times) don't have the time or energy to begin filling it with good, so we just throw it into a pile and convince ourselves that "we'll get to it eventually." That is where I come in. I want to maximize your space to the fullest and do the work you want to do but just can't find the time to do it.

This pantry had a TON of space that was not being used to its fullest potential. Immediately as I walked in, I knew that we could really make use of all that space and help it feel more open, clean, and easy to get in and out of without digging into Neverland just to find something to eat. So, with that in mind, I began the Touch of Em process and here is the aftermath:

My client had a more rustic feel to her pantry, so I really wanted to stick with that overall look while purchasing supplies. She already had a ton of wicker baskets which 1. Provide a ton of storage and 2. Look great while providing that storage. I decided to utilize all the baskets she had, and then purchased a few clear containers for most of the food products. (All products in this Touch of Em project were purchased at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond)

Labels are a must for me. Even if you know the exact contents of a basket or container, having it labeled brings in so much more visual order. You can easily navigate any area and find exactly what you need without taking a ton of effort to look for something. The labels I used in this pantry were printed out, but I also think that white, handwritten labels are also very easy and get the job done.

This pantry was an absolute dream to organize. I was able to completely clear the counter space (one of my main objectives), find a customized place for each item, and provide easy accessibility in every area of this pantry. I remember walking into this pantry and feeling like it needed some space to breathe. Once I was able to take over and transform this pantry, you could walk in and breathe again because the stress of the pantry was lifted off your shoulders. This pantry will forever be in my memories as one of the most exciting spaces I have been able to transform so far.

- EM

Want to have your pantry look like the one up above? Book your consultation today to start your A Touch of EM journey today.