Monday, September 7, 2015

My Kitchen Pantry, Newly Organized

My Labor Day Cottage Project included real labor to clean and reorganized the shelves of my kitchen pantry.

I must confess that this is the first time I have ever cleaned the top shelf and I was amazed that it really wasn't that bad. I'm still not finished but this is a good start. I find that I do better when I do a major project in dribs and drabs rather than all at once. I started by cleaning and reorganizing the first shelf last week. Then when the spirit moved me, I did the middle shelf. I was putting off the top shelf because I thought it would be dreadful but it wasn't after not being touched since 2004. I thought 11 years of dust would be much worse than it was and I was pleasantly surprised. 
I need to reorganize my cookbooks by size so they will look neater. I did get rid of some for donating to the annual firehouse auction this month. I hardly ever use them anyway. I always grab my few favorites or use a recipe I've discovered online anyway.
Are there any labor plans in your Labor Day? Have a good one. xo

18 comments:

Kathleen said...

I love your home, so beautiful. What a glorious pantry shelf! I have admired your wall color in your cottage for a long time and was wondering if you would share your paint color?
Kathy

Content in a Cottage said...

Mudd...
The trim throughout my cottage is painted with BENNINGTON GRAY BY BENJAMIN MOORE. It's in their Historical Paint Color chart and I love it. It's a neutral putty color that goes with everything but isn't beige. My pantry shelves are an old red that was custom mixed.
xo, Rosemary

Kathleen said...

Rosemary,
Thank you so much for sharing your paint color. Is your trim paint and wall color the same Bennington gray, but the trim gloss and the walls are flat? You have a wonderful eye and put things together so well! I am so weary of the current design TRENDS and love looking at your timeless style. Perfection. I would love to sit anywhere in your home and have a cup of tea and take it all in,

Content in a Cottage said...

Mudd -- My "white" plaster walls and ceilings are Benjamin Moore LANCASTER WHITEWASH. Not sure of the finish, probably flat. The BENNINGTON GRAY finish is Satin.
You are so right about finding a style that is timeless. That's the old-fashioned way that I love too. Do it right the first time and you won't have to update because it will never go out of style.
Thanks for your kind words.
xo, Rosemary

Mama Pea said...

Rosemary, your whole house looks like a page from a magazine. You are such an inspiration. I'm a firm believer that we need a neat and attractive environment around us, and you continue to give me ideas and the urge to try to make mine better and better.

I got a good start on my pantry about two weeks ago and only have one area to finish, but other priorities have been taking time away from the task.

We've been "laboring" this Labor Day Weekend, too. Mostly painting and polyurethaning, but the awful humidity is working against us. Come on, dry fall weather!

Content in a Cottage said...

Mama Pea -- You put me to shame with all your wood cutting and stacking, vegetable gardening and canning, and now your painting and polyurethaning. You must enjoy your pioneer lifestyle as I do mine. I pick my battles. I read an article that said "house dust might be making you fat" so I'm trying to get rid of mine!!! I'll let you know if it works :-)
Labor On -- xo, Rosemary

Mama Pea said...

Oh, my! I may have to stitch a sampler for that . . . "House dust might be making you fat!" What a tremendous incentive to roll up one's sleeve and deeeep clean! :o}

Content in a Cottage said...

Mama Pea -- Exactly! Clean house and lose weight. What a great combination. xo, Rosemary

Content in a Cottage said...

Mudd -- I just remembered that my Lancaster Whitewash paint for the walls was in an EGGSHELL FINISH. Flat is too dead looking. Eggshell has a slight sheen. xo, Rosemary

Malcolm W. said...

Beautiful! Show more please.
Malcolm

JudyMac said...

Beautiful kitchen, Rosemary, job well done! You really are a collector of very fine things and have great taste. I love the picture of the two dogs. You know the old saying about great minds ..... I spent a few hours Saturday and Sunday taking down the pottery on my kitchen shelves and removing the kitchen grime. Don't know where it comes from, but it seems things do have to be cleaned now and then. I think it is nice to be able to look up and see the things around us that we love every day. Makes life more pleasant. Outside of your labor, hope you've had a lovely weekend. Fall is on the way! :-)

Kathleen said...

Rosemary, thank you for all the paint information. Your home is so easy on the eyes, beautiful really!

Content in a Cottage said...

JudyMac -- There's something in the air to make us both clean shelves and the lovely things on them. Yes, I enjoyed having a lazy day with a little bit of real estate paperwork. I've been in so many houses lately with a customer who wants to buy and most of them are clean and free of clutter and I want that for myself too.
I've had that engraving of the two Russian wolfhounds ever since I moved in this cottage. I had it hidden in a closet because it needed a new mat. I ran across it when cleaning out the bedroom closet and decided to prop it against my cookbooks in my pantry and I like it there.
I enjoyed Arthur and George last night. Thanks for the tip.
xo, Rosemary

JudyMac said...

I, too, enjoyed Arthur and George. I really didn't know that it was starting last night, but just happened on it when I clicked onto one of my PBS stations right at 8pm. Now to remember to watch again next Sunday night for Part 2. Have a good week!
P.S. I would hope that all the houses you look at are neat and clean. .... All the better to sell quickly. :-)

The Queen Vee said...

Missed Arthur and George on Sunday night due to family celebration of the birthday boy, Ken turned 71. I will check it out online sometime this week.

Your pantry is so beautifully put together, doesn't look like my pantry at all. Love the Dutch doors, the clock, the copper pots, the platters, the paintings, the rug....I think you've created perfection Rosemary. Hahaha, if only being dust free would help me lose weight. I think the only thing it really helps me with is my allergies. I must read that article though about weight loss and dust.

Yesterday I didn't labor much as I had my six year old grandson Oliver with me for the day. We pretty much played the whole day except for the 1/2 hour that his Papa Ken and I changed the batteries in six smoke detectors.

Content in a Cottage said...

The Queen Vee -- There was something wrong with my DVR recording of Arthur and George. It kept freezing and skipping. I found the entire series on YouTube and watched the whole thing. Here's the link for Episode I -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USrDR06Cp_s
xo, Rosemary

Anonymous said...

I love love love your kitchen, pantry, colors and antiques! I bought a thingie like the rack mounted on the door...what do you use it for? I can mount mine! I bought it at my favorite store "Treillage"; which is now gone! Boo hoo!

But now Bunny Williams has a whole floor or something with all her stuff together (I am hoping antiques too!) in the D&D building in New York!

Love everything in each picture!

Timeless is the secret!

Content in a Cottage said...

Penelope -- The rack on the door is a clothes dryer. I use it for drying dish towels overnight and for damp for things that didn't get completely dry outdoors. It's a very handy thing to have!
xo, Rosemary