Sunday, January 8, 2012

Organize Kitchen Counters Into Work Zones

                                                                       Christmas Time

Like most people out there, I have limited counter space. With my naturally non-organized mind that I am training ever year into an organized brain, I study books and magazines all the time. One area I strive to keep the most organized is the kitchen. I am in it everyday for at least three meals a day. I have been reading up on the best way to keep it organized and use my counter space most efficiently.

The idea of work zones on my counters is an a-ha moment. Yes, why am I walking to the cabinet way over there when I always use the thing I need most over here sort of thing. Here is what I have come up with for my kitchen counters.


First is the coffee and toast zone. Not only do the coffee maker and toaster match, but they are used by my husband as he rushes out the door every morning. They should be close and easy to get to as he is in a hurry. I keep a jar of coffee right on the counter and sugar and mugs are right above in the cupboard.


Next zone is my baking area. Not big by any measure but used all the time. I keep my mixer out because one it is heavy and it is used several times a week. I now have flour sugar and brown sugar in old glass jars right next to it. Baking tools are in the drawer directly below this area. Baking can be done all in this one area with fewer trips to the cupboard.


Last on the right of my stove is where I do most food prep. I keep the tools I use most often in crocks that flank the stove and a knife block is right there. I want to ditch the knife block and get magnet holders to mount on the cupboard sides to free up more space. I have a handy cutting board sitting here and a jar of rice on top. I was walking to the other side of the kitchen to get rice every time I cooked so this will lessen the steps I have to take.

Last is a butcher block we use for our napkins and salt and pepper. This is where the line begins at mealtime with plates and silverware at the ready.



My kitchen is small but it works for me. Think of your counters as a work area and ditch as many knick knacks as you can if you are short of space.


30 comments:

  1. Looks so good! I like your ideas and I love your blue jars. One this I really love is the juxtaposition of the sleek stainless dishwasher and the vintage double ovens. They look great together!

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  2. Brilliant. I have a baking cabinet.

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  3. I don't think we ever have enough counter space! I have to limit my knicks knacks...that's for sure! Your kitchen is beautiful! ♥

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  4. Love a good organized kitchen! Yours is adorable. I agree with putting the knives on a magnet, would free up a lot of room for you.

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  5. Great tips, Elaine. I do have a beverage zone, but it is in the infamous corner....most kitchens have them. You know what I mean: the corner where the cook needs to be most of the time and everyone else needs to keep out of??? I really need to move mine, I think, to the end of the counter.

    Thanks for the reminder about the nicknacks. I need to get rid of all of mine!

    I love the tile in your kitchen, and I want to replace our granite with tile on the sink portion of the kitchen and keep the granite on our cooktop island.

    You are so organized!

    xoxoxoxo,
    RJ

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  6. Your kitchen is so organized and just adorable. My DH was always on his own for breakfast when he worked. I have always had the breakfast and baking areas. I also keep a wet area around the sink where i keep potato peelers, can openers, jar openers, colanders and strainers. I also have all of my dish towels and microfiber cloths also.

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  7. Beautiful kitchen and wonderful tips. We have a coffee station on the other side of the island, away from the stove. Although I have to walk water to set it up (usually at night)...it's worked out great!

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  8. i love the design & colors of your kitchen. very pretty. i love moving things around. yet to figure out the best way. but change is fun for me. not sure if the hubby thinks so, though? (:

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  9. This is smart planning and I need to do more of it myself...Looks like you have a well planned out kitchen and this is what is most important...
    Thanks for sharing

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  10. You are so right about the need to have work stations. I like all of your ideas, I like your vintage kitchen so much, it's always nice to see it.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  11. HI Elaine, Love your kitchen it is beautiful. I have good counter space but the counters are usually covered with egg baskets. We get so many eggs every day and they have to be washed before we carton them....oh my...but on a good day...I have good counter space! Love your decor.
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  12. Great post. I love your kitchen Elaine! My kitchen is set up very similarly. VERY little counter space, less than you have. So I have a rolling butcher block that I could not live without!!!!

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  13. Hi Elaine! Oh, I love your organizing! You've thought of everything and makes such sense to keep these things together! :) You have a great kitchen!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  14. Elaine-
    I'm looking at organizing my work areas too and making my kitchen more functional.
    After reading this post...I followed a couple of your links on organizing the laundry and that lead me to the CHALKBOARD PAINT *painters tape* labels...

    How have those held up? I was thinking of making some, but all I have is the quart size. Are you able to erase and write again? Are you labels holding up for you?

    Thanks. Pat

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  15. Great organizational ideas! I really love the baking area you've set up. I need to work on this!

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  16. Great tips Elaine. I am now thinking of some ways I can improve my workspaces and accessibility to different things while preparing meals!
    Nadine

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  17. Love this idea, your stations look great! In the past few months I made a "baking center" and a "hot cocoa center" (would be coffee for most but we're not coffee drinkers). Not only does it make life easier, but it looks really great, too. Love the way you've organized, and when I come by, I'll be first in line to grab a plate at the butcher block :) Hugs ~ Mary

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  18. Your kitchen is so pretty and efficient too! I have tried to do the work areas and I think it works, at least for me. It's fun to see how others arrange things.

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  19. Elaine
    These are great tips for timesaving. You've got me thinking about how I can do some re-arrangeing now too. I probably need to lose some of the decorations on my counters!

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  20. Great ideas, Elaine! I tried to do this when we moved a few months ago, trying to have things on the counter make sense with what was in the cabinets around it. So far, so good!

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  21. You have inspired me! In the morning I am going to take another look. Organizing is good for the soul.

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  22. I love your kitchen, and that vintage oven is just to die for. Great ideas and tips for organizing work zones. I love it. Seems I do everything on the island. I do have a coffee station though. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  23. Great organizing ideas for your small kitchen space. I have mine organized to a great extent, like yours, but I am wanting or need to move some things around. I'm trying to find a basket of some sort to house the napkins, salt and pepper shakers to a more centralized area but I haven't found anything yet that pops out at me. ;)

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  24. I know what I am doing today! Thanks for this great organization idea! My hubby & I both love our time in the kitchen and we tend to work into each other's spaces because of a lack of organization - I am sooo doing this and tonight dinner will be a breeze. Thanks!

    Found you on the Not Just a Housewife linky party!

    xo Kristle
    http://www.willblogforbeauty.com

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  25. I Love clear counters with just a few cutsies to make me smile! I have a small L shaped kitchen and need all the space I can get! Having a kitchen that "works" saves so much time.

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  26. This is a FABULOUS kitchen! I have stations to.... the coffee station and the toast station! LOL! :)

    ~Liz

    P.S.I LOVE your ovens!!!

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  27. What a beautiful kitchen! I love your stations. I have much less room than yours but I try to keep like things together as much as possible.

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  28. Wow, what a great post! I love your tips.

    I would love for you to share this on my link party this week. I know my readers will love this too! http://thriftmeblog.com/lets-organize-2012-kitchen-countertops-recap-link-party/

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  29. "A place for everything and everthing in it's place."
    You have so thoughtfully arranged your work centers...such a great idea!
    Have a sunny day, my sweet friend!
    Carolynn :)

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