36 Reader Space: Beautiful Inside & Out

Today is yet another example of how you all inspire ME all the time.  And when I say all the time, just know I blame you all for 99.9% of the projects that we tackle around here.  Wink wink!  Seriously, once you see this kitchen, you will know why I dove head first into my pantry the second I laid eyes on it!

My pal Jessica over at Cape 27 blog, gave her kitchen one heckuva makeover.  You can check out the story and before and after photos on her home tour page, but let's just say that the final product is absolutely stunning!

I could sit and take in drool worthy inspiration from this kitchen all day long.  And so what if I have... sigh... It was love at first sight.

And then it happened.  Jessica shared the goodness behind all of those pretty cabinet doors and drawers.  The inside was just as beautiful as the out.  This kitchen is a keeper.  So I had to know...


What is the main function of the space?

Our kitchen is the heart of our home. With the appetites of our two year old and 10 mo old girls, I spend more time in here than I care to admit. We were in desperate need of a kitchen that could keep up with their pace.

Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?

"We made sure to eliminate any extras that would just get in the way, eventually creating more clutter.  Everything was assigned a home with a purpose.  Keeping pieces not only organized, but in locations that make sense has made all the difference in the functionality of the kitchen."

 
What items did you find were essential in organizing the space, and why?

"Drawer dividers that fit the drawers.  We had a few dividers previously, but they lacked any customizations, leaving empty usable space.  We gained so much storage space with the new dividers!"

What did you do to go the extra mile and "make it pretty"?

"A previous tip from Jen - using clear dividers and pretty liners!  We used extra fabric that we had on hand, with peel and stick contact paper on top.  I've never been so happy to open the silverware drawer!"

 
What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?

"We looked into buying drawers for our pantry cabinet from IKEA, but it was going to cost a pretty penny.  Instead, Ricky picked up a few pieces of wood and drawer slides and made them by hand!"

How has it impacted your life for the better?

"Oh man.  You really can't put a price on knowing exactly where the sippy cup is with a screaming toddler ;)  I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!"

I have a giant sized crush on this kitchen!  Like I said, beautiful inside and out!  Jessica and her man did such an insanely great job making this kitchen work hard for them, and they should be high-fiving one another day after day.

I mean seriously, did you see those DIY slide out drawers?  They look so professional!  And the functionality and storage benefits gained by installing them is off the charts!  I also adore how she uses a pot lid organizer for all of her baking pans!  And don't even get me started on the smarts behind the fabric + contact paper = drawer liner process!  Incredible.

You can snag all of the glorious details behind the entire kitchen organization process, over on Jessica's blog here, here and here. 

What do you think?  Were you able to snag an idea or two {or twenty}?  Are you already halfway through cleaning out one of your own kitchen cabinets?

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!