As many of you know, Dave and I are currently embarking on phase two of our home renovation! And judging by the Instagram DMs I’m receiving, you’re all as obsessed as I am with any type of home improvement.
So today I thought I’d share a glimpse into the project. We’re remodeling a range of different parts of our home - in fact, the renovation project has ended up being a lot bigger than we initially thought - in an attempt to make it as liveable and enjoyable as possible.
When we began, the main focus was on transforming the garage into a living space, and creating a primary suite above the garage equipped with a bedroom, bathroom, closets and a laundry room.
But as we started, things started to expand. When we were replacing damaged siding, we noticed some areas of rot around our old windows, so we then expanded the renovation to include the replacing all of our windows and doors, and redoing the siding on the entire house (!). So, needless to say, with all of that going on, the entire renovation is taking quite a bit longer than we initially expected. But isn’t that how it always goes?!
There are so many elements to this renovation that if I went through them all, you’d be reading a novel rather than a newsletter. So today, I wanted to focus on one area I’m particularly excited about … We’re turning our downstairs laundry room into a pantry! It’s right off of our kitchen and as a keen cook, I’m really looking forward to the range of storage solutions.
Below, I’m sharing photos of the current space (down to the studs!), and some layout ideas for the cabinetry and tiles. As you’ll see, I don’t do anything design-wise without creating multiple Pinterest boards (ha), so you can see the pantries I’ve been saving for inspiration along the way.
This is how our pantry was looking midway through the process I really wanted to keep the black and white floor tile. But after realizing that we’d have too many different floor materials on the ground floor, I made the choice to simplify so it wasn’t too busy. Now, we’re going with this grey stone tile which will carry from the mudroom into the pantry.
We’ve been working with Architessa who have helped us to select the tiles, and they’ve been great. We used them for the majority of our tile choices for our major renovation three years ago, so it was a no-brainer to work with them again.
This is one of the mock-up layouts and cabinetry options we’ve been looking at (and loving). For the cabinetry, I’m thinking of a lighter wood for a more modern look. Our house has a mixture of mid-century modern, farmhouse and contemporary styles, and someone the mix of all those really works, and I love it.
Months ago, I wrote out a list of what my dream pantry would have, and it’s been really helpful to reference as we go through the design process, to make sure the space is covering everything we need in our everyday lives.
This week, we’re at the stage= where we need to decide who we’re using for cabinets. We’ve spoken to a company about custom made, as well as a ready-made cabinetry company, and surprisingly, they both cost about the same amount. So we’re pondering that one at the moment.
If you’ve ever gone through a renovation, you know how many little decisions need to be made and the impact it can have on the process (and the budget!), and the stress that can follow! But we’re keeping the end in mind and circling back to my Pinterest inspiration to keep the dream alive! 😂
As we get closer to the finished product, I’m now about to start dreaming up pantry organization solutions (and yes, my Instagram algorithm is already adjusting to show me all the options!). I’m pretty excited for that piece of the project and am all ears when it comes to tips for storage and organization!
I’ve been thinking about how to optimize the space so it’s easy to find what I’m looking for and we minimize food wastage as a result. A few of the storage items I’m loving are:
This Everything Organizer Pantry Starter Set - a few of these to house our pantry staples (I particularly like the idea of having my oils and vinegars on a rotating turntable).
I’ve been really into OXO storage containers, particularly with the popped lid. They’re great for everything from pasta to nuts to cereals, and they’re conveniently stackable.
It goes without saying that I’ll also need pantry container labels to make everything uniform and aesthetically pleasing. 😉
I also like these soda can organizers for any type of canned beverage - from kombucha to seltzers.
These stacking bins would work well at the bottom of the pantry for perishable items that stay out of the fridge, like onions and potatoes.
This storage solution for container lids. Is it excessive? Yes. Will it bring me joy? Absolutely. (Is there anything worse than an exploding Tupperware drawer?)
If you have any ideas or wisdom on pantries, please let me know!
Speaking of comments, Paul left this comment on my indoor plant post which really made me laugh! So please, keep them coming!
Join me for my book event in Union Square on Tuesday!
If you’re in the New York area, I’d love you to join me for the soft cover launch of my book, Live Learn Love Well: Lessons from a life of progress not perfection 📖!
Tuesday April 23rd
6pm
Barnes and Noble Union Square
Tickets include a soft cover book and a photo with me. Hope to see you there!
Live, Learn, Lovewell.
✌️Emma
After living in my house for 20+ years and waiting all that time, I recently renovated my kitchen. I am an avid cook and baker, so it was long overdue. One of my must-haves was a place for my KitchenAid. I am petite - barely 5'0" and 100 lbs. So, dragging it around is difficult. I had my cabinet maker build me a special cabinet with a lift so it comes up to counter level. Honestly after spending a lot of money to gut and renovate the entire kitchen and much more, that is the one thing I use all the time and absolutely love. I am glad I insisted on it. The rest of the kitchen is also perfect. Enjoy the process, although difficult at times, the outcome will be worth it. It's the same with your pregnancy. I have two great adult kids :)
I have probably 20 houseplants and tried my hand at propagating for the first time after reading your last post. Almost ready to pot the pothos sprout in soil. Thanks for the tips!