How to Work with Extra Kitchen Shelves?

[FaithHopeLove]

So I scored a great deal on some steel, industrial style shelving for my kitchen. I got two five tier shelving units, and they are each about 21 inches wide, so not terribly wide. I have a spot for them at the opening of my kitchen's "U" shape, where I currently have a little drop leaf table with my microwave on it. The plan is to have them side by side. I will need to put my microwave on one shelf. My kitchen is small and quirky, with old homemade cabinets, and only a couple of drawers. I'm in desperate need for extra storage. (Think all of our dishes are in two teeny cupboards, platters, holiday dishes, and the like are all in boxes still three years after moving!) I have loads of stuff out on the counters - coffee syrups, toaster oven, Kitchen aid mixer, dish drainer, espresso machine, big fruit bowl, big veggie bowl, big pasta bowl to keep hot pads in, some spices, crock for cooking tools, cutting boards. It is functional - everything is in reach, but it's very cluttered looking. Realistically, I won't be able to get everything off of the counters, and that's okay.

I have a teeny pantry down the hall from the kitchen, and some older kitchen cupboards in the garage that takes the pantry items that don't need to be critter proof. I also have some baskets on top of the fridge to gather bread, cereal, and such. When I cook, I often have to go down the hall one direction to get supplies and then to the garage for more. Half the kitchen cabinets open on the bottom side facing the dining room, so less used dishware/cookware goes over there.

I don't want the shelves to be cram jam packed full, and I'd like for them to look artful and organized. I have a very hairy beastie of a dog, and a long haired cat, so I can't do any sort of open storage of dishes or they'll constantly be dirty. Any type of storage would need a lid to keep things clean, most likely.

Shelving looks like this: http://www.zulily.com/p/silver-five-...-11625895.html

Any suggestions for how to best utilize this extra storage, and do so in a way that looks presentable? (I have an open floor plan and the dining area looks right at this wall.)

[2sunshines]

What about a curtain out of some nice fabric to hang over the front of the shelf so that you could at least "close" it to hide what's inside?

[bananacake]

I totally read that as slaves

[FaithHopeLove]

Originally Posted by bananacake

I totally read that as slaves

Haha! I don't think I'd know how to work with those either!!!!!

---------- Post added at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 AM ----------

Originally Posted by 2sunshines

What about a curtain out of some nice fabric to hang over the front of the shelf so that you could at least "close" it to hide what's inside?

I think I like the open look of the industrial shelving . . . And these shelves are open all the way around on all sides. But I usually love the idea of curtains to cover stuff (that's what I've done in the bedrooms for the closets because I hate the closet doors).

[2sunshines]

What about some sort of assortment of canvas storage boxes with lids? Similar to this: http://www.homedecorators.com/detail...C15C=669544369

[FaithHopeLove]

Oh I've never seen that type with lids before!

Dd and I went to Target tonight and they had so many cool looking things . . . I'll have to wait until the shelves come to see if they are adjustable, etc., but it's going to be fun to put something together.

I guess I'm just wondering - does anyone else use open shelving for kitchen storage? What kinds of things do you like to put there? What works well on shelving as opposed to being in your cupboards?

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:34 PM ----------

This is cute, but a little on the messy side for me. I hadn't thought about putting some of my pantry supplies in glass and putting them out. That would keep them clean. I could use a little rustic wood box with shallow sides to corral them. And I could definitely put my colanders out there. They are in constant rotation so would not be out there long enough to get dirty.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...5cccaba504.jpg

[2sunshines]

I have some open kitchen storage. It's definitely not my primary storage, but I do have a couple of shelves that are open and I store things in. I'll see if I can get pictures later today...

On one of them I keep all my dry bulk foods which are stored in Rubbermaid containers: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/cereal-...7.ip?navAction=

In another one, I have a row of my crock pots, rice cooker, and vegetable steamer. Then I have my big cast iron pans set underneath.

[knitlove]

We had open shelves in our previous apartment. I will see if I can find pics. You would probably think they were too messy.

[knitlove]

I must have deleted the pictures I took of just them from my phone, I will see if I can find them on the computer.

[FaithHopeLove]

Messy? What messy? All I see is that adorable munchkin... So there's the secret. Put adorable munchkin in front of shelves, voila, artful gorgeousness status unlocked!

[FaithHopeLove]

I'm really impressed with how much storage you have on your shelves - I'm really excited for how this will help us out. I can hardly wait for the shelves to arrive!

[2sunshines]

I cant wait to see what you come up with! When do they arrive?

[Singingmom]

Since this is a public forum, I'm going to put my admin hat on and ask knitlove to remove the picture of the adorable munchkin. (Posting Guideline 17 says "no posting photographs of your children in public forums.") Thanks.

[knitlove]

Now the shelves are still there

[FaithHopeLove]

Originally Posted by knitlove

Now the shelves are still there

Oh yeah, now without the adorable munchkin . . . I dunno . . . ;-) (Just kidding, of course!)

Shelves arrive mid month or so (zulily purchase, tapping foot . . .)