The Dish Pantry!
I love to entertain and I love tablescapes!
My new friend, “Pam Darling” ….. asked me the other day how I keep track of all my dishes for my tablescapes.
I told her if one has many sets of dishes…one has to be fairly well organized or it can be difficult to go searching for a particular item.
I personally find it easier to prepare meals if I am organized and several years ago, the Captain completely “organized” my kitchen with pull out/roll out shelving, which I love to this day.
If you missed that post…just click on the following link. (No more getting down on my hands and knees to search for anything).
Kitchen Cabinet Roll Out Shelves
But today I want to talk about my Dish Pantry, because it helps me to be organized when planning and entertaining.
When we moved to Florida, the house we chose had a room off the kitchen called the Panic Room or Hurricane Shelter Room. It is built very well and supposed to be able to withstand strong hurricane winds.
The “extra baggage” I always carry with me from house to house are my many sets of dishes, fine china, flatware sets, and drinking glasses to match.
Imagine my delight to find this Panic Room just waiting for more heavy duty shelves (built by my Captain)… and what better place to store dishes than a room that is built out of solid concrete?
From time to time, (Spring Cleaning) I need to re-arrange this dish room and I thought I would share a few of the pics of how I try to stay organized.
I try to make everything accessible….even hanging odd shaped items such as deep fryer baskets and large utensils that don’t fit in my utensil drawers.
Below you will see I use clear storage boxes for my flatware (or silver ware) as some like to call it.
I like being able to identify each set by the clear storage box.
By the way, I took pictures of the silverware color, and number of place settings…to tape to the outside of the box…but I haven’t gotten them taped on yet. 🙁
So far, I have always been able to “see” the,m so I am debating the need for further identification.
Plus, I am a bit lazy.
Which is why I need to be able to see sets of dishes and be able to get to them without having to move other dishes.
The shelves run ceiling to floor which is wonderful.
I do need a ladder to reach the very top shelves….and several years ago, the Captain bought me a ladder that is so light weight…. even I can carry it. 🙂
I also use clear storage boxes to store napkin rings, matching salt and peppers and other small items that can get lost in the shuffle.
Bowls, chargers and various specialty serving dishes are easy to access.
You had to know that I would have Sports-ware didn’t you? 😉
Do you, my dear readers have an organization plan you would like to share?
Have a happy Monday and a great and blessed week. 😉
I have to say that your dish pantry just blew me away when I saw it… however I don’t remember seeing the boxed your cutlery then… which is a lovely touch and made me smile…
I love that your Captain can turn his hands to all things practical too…
You’ll need to get your steps out to bring down the “petit four” cake stands for your tea party…
I’m thinking this could lead the way to a neat “Themed/Fantasy Afternoon Tea” business plan… perhaps a private afternoon tea club for your private garden? Dressing up would be mandatory though! Even if you did it monthly you would have enough “themed” crockery to work through the year…
Hugs from across the pond
xx
The cutlery is in the Utility room….in a different cabinet than above the washer and dryer. Maybe that is why you didn’t see them when you visited a couple years ago…although, I can’t remember for sure when I “organized” the silverware cabinet. I did have flatware in the Dish Pantry too…memory is not as good as it once was. haha.
You are right about the ladder….which is why I store seldom used items on the very top shelves. Since pink will be my main theme color…I will use the pink and the white tiered petit four/sandwich towers. Probably throw in the large pink platter to serve pink macaroons.
I have to laugh, ….makes me think of the movie “Steel Magnolias” where the colors for Julia Roberts wedding was “pepto bismal pink” haha…seriously, this will be a softer, pale pink…wish you were here, we could have so much fun planning together.
luv ya
Love you back x
Move over, Sandra Dee!
You are funny Skylark!!! 🙂 When are you heading North?
Thanks for stopping by
LOL Kari, I don’t know how you do it. I love your dish pantry.
Thank you Sandy….now I am planning my tea party. Wish you lived close so you could come.
thanks for stopping by
LOL Kari, I don’t know how you do it. You can come and organize my kitchen anytime.
Actually once it is organized it is easier to keep….I didn’t say it always looks this way. haha That is why I had to re-organize a few pieces. I sometimes get in a hurry and just “set” something back….and not in the correct place.
thanks for stopping by