3 Kitchen Projects {DONE}

Today I am sharing 3 quick fixes in the kitchen.  Three more project to check off our get it done list!  Can't believe it took us so long to finish these.

{ Project #13 }

Secure slide out shelf in liquor cabinet {DONE}

I know how this one sounds and honestly, we are not big drinkers but we do keep some bottles around for parties and entertaining. My Dad suggested we move one of the slide-out shelves in a small cupboard to the bottom to allow for the taller bottles to fit. This worked great and the pull out shelf makes it much easier to find what we are looking for. Unfortunately, I took the shelf out but never got it secured. So it sits on the bottom of the cabinet.

As expected, it was a quick 10 minute project that has taken a year and a half to complete!  My husband emptied the cabinet and quite quickly got the shelf secured.  Easy peasy!

 

{ Project #17}

Replace trash and recycle bin in kitchen {DONE}

I can't believe this one took so long!  It is awesome.  And of course, when I took my trash loving son to Target and told him we were buying new garbage cans he LIT up with excitement.  Nothing pleases this boy more than trash (which is why we own over 12 toy garbage trucks, the Toy Story landfill and oodles of toy and real trash cans). 

We are big on recycling in our house so we keep a small bin in the kitchen to separate our trash immediately. The reality is, we generally have more (or at least as much) recycling as we do trash - and probably would have more if we had a bigger container. I have been looking for a slim can that we could use side by side in the kitchen so that this area not only looks good but is more functional.  We have succeeded.

 

Now, some day I hope to own an awesome Silhouette machine so I can make some fun labels.  In the mean time, we made trash & recycle signs that are taped to the sides.  Works fine but vinyl would be better.  A girl can dream!

{ Project #24 }

Replace Light Bulb in Oven {DONE}

This was a project that should have been completed when we were replacing the glass on the door of our oven but sadly it wasn't.  After "asking" at a couple of stores about what type of light bulb we needed and told they didn't carry it, we figured out that it is a relatively standard appliance light bulb.  Guess we should have just read the packages rather than asking for advice.   Lesson learned, sometimes we know as much or more than the employees at the store.

I would say that this is an easy job, however sometimes the contortionist act that we need to do to reach the back of the oven can be challenging and comical. Thank heavens that my husband took on this challenge. Thanks hubby! Check that one off the list!

As an added bonus, last week I spent a little time cleaning the inside of the oven too.  It looks awesome.  It wasn't horrible but I didn't realize how much build up there was on the sides and back of the oven.  Check that one off my spring cleaning list!  Yay me!

Come back tomorrow when I check off a few projects upstairs!

Oven Door Glass

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems that just about everything you touch breaks?  Well I have!  Christmas day as a matter of fact.  After an awesome morning watching the kids open gifts and play with their new toys...bad karma struck.  I dropped my good camera and broke the lens. And then...

I was baking some 5-minute artisan bread for dinner.  The recipe calls for a water bath.  Evidently I had the racks to close together and when I pulled the rack out to remove the bread from the oven, I dragged the water bath with and spilled it on the hot oven door.  It sizzled a bit and then this happened...

Yep, the glass broke.  It popped and my husband and I just stood there in disbelief.  I still can't believe that this water that was HOT could do that. .

Fortunately, my wonderful husband stopped by an appliance parts store today and was able to pick up a new piece of glass.  We installed it tonight.

We had read online that this can "easily" be a DIY job so we figured we would give it a try.  I don't know that I would describe it as "easy" but it is fixed.  It was definitely an all hands on deck job which is why this is the only "during" picture I have.

We unscrewed the door (as shown in the picture).  Then we needed to unscrew the panel that holds the glass in place.  This was the tricky part as this piece is also held in with the spring that holds the door closed.

It seemed to be a bit of a dance to get the glass, rope seal, insulation and panel lined up and in place while trying to hold the springs open and screw the panel back in place.  Honestly, we really could have used another pair of hands.

Needless to say, it is in and we are back in business.  My son is very excited because he has wanted to make the Shrinky Dinks he got for Christmas for a couple of days now. 

Oh, and I will be cleaning my oven tomorrow too. The pictures reminded me how dirty it is. 

{31 Days to a Functional Kitchen}: Day 1: The Heart of Our Home

I am so excited to share my first ever 31 Day series. Last month,  The Nester introduced her annual 31 Days series for 2011.  This year, she has invited back her friends but has also challenged other bloggers to join in the fun. Well, I am always up for a challenge, so I am in with my very own 31 Day series. Introducing...

Welcome to my 31 Day series...31 Days to a Functional Kitchen.  The kitchen is one of those rooms that always seems to need attention, especially when it comes to function, style and organization.  I look forward to sharing tips and ideas about how I have organized, cleaned, DIY'd and decorated my kitchen to make it more functional for the way that our family lives.

Each and every day throughout the month of October I will be sharing my tips, tricks and favorite finds to create a beautiful and functional kitchen. My goal is to inspire you to take a fresh look at what is arguably the most important gathering place in the home...especially ours!

Day 1: A Kitchen Tour - Zones

Welcome to our kitchen.  I love my kitchen and how it functions.  Is it perfect - NO - but we are getting there.  It, like everywhere else, is a work in progress that will continue to change as our family and lifestyle continues to change.  When we moved into our home, I immediately looked at the kitchen and determined some zones based on how the kitchen would be used and the placement of the appliances, sink, pantry, etc. Each section of cabinets serves a general function.  Throughout this series, I will share specifics about each area of our kitchen so to begin with, here is a quick tour.

Beverage/Entertainment Zone
The area between the refrigerator and the pantry has been designated as the beverage zone with a sub-function as the entertainment zone. In this area, I have cabinets for coffee, alcohol/bar, fancy glasses, pitchers, kids cups, etc. Additionally, I store trays and other entertainment items in this area.

Pantry
I am blessed to have a nice sized walk-in pantry inside my kitchen. I am an avid couponer and believes in having the essentials available at all times.  There are many times when this pantry doesn't seem to be big enough.  I am thankful for the storage that this space does allow for and continue to work on making it function better for us.

Baking and Storage Zone
The area to the left of the stove is where I store bowls, plastic storage containers and baking pans. Being near the pantry and stove makes this very convenient. I can pull items from the pantry to mix up a cake or pull things from the stove and place in a container for the fridge or freezer.

Dishes/Cookware Zone
I selected the upper cabinets near the dining area and across from the dishwasher to store our everyday dishes. Emptying the dishwasher is a breeze as I simply take them out, turn around and place them in the cabinet. The same is true for setting the table.  The lower cabinets below the dishes zone and just to the right of the stove is where we keep our pots and pans.

Small Appliance Zone
I am so happy that my kitchen is large enough that I can designate an area to store my small kitchen appliances such as my crock pot, mixers, ice cream maker, popcorn popper, waffle iron, etc. In my previous homes I have had to store these in the pantry or a cupboard/closet in another room. I find that I use them more frequently now that they are convenient.

Cleaning Zone
Every kitchen has one, an area where your sink and dishwasher (if you are fortunate enough to have one) are located.  The function in this area is critical to keeping the rest of your kitchen clean.  Adequate storage for cleaning supplies, counter space for both dirty and clean dishes and a sink/faucet that meets your needs.  This house has a large sink basin with a smaller side basin.  I was used to 2 equal sized basins so it took some getting used to but I have learned to love this new configuration.

What's missing?
I have no where to store my cookbooks. No where for my table linens. I have some ideas for these. More on that to come. Does the organization of your kitchen make sense? If you had a plan, would it be more functional? Do you have a zone that I have not mentioned?

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY...

Giving thought to how you use your kitchen.

Keeping like items together will help you have a more functional kitchen.  

Remove any items that are not essential in your daily living 

and store them somewhere else if space is tight.

Assignment:  Map out your kitchen into zones to maximize space 

and function for each area.