Kitchen Aid Mixer Storage

Before we fixed up our pantry, I had a love/hate relationship with my Kitchen Aid mixer.   Of course I loved all the tasty treats I could churn out on it but I hated how heavy and bulky it was.  The thing is a work horse in the kitchen, but it takes up so much room, it almost needs its own zip code.

Thankfully my baking cart keeps it tucked away and at the ready and at just the right height.  No more lugging it from a low cabinet up to the counter top.   

 
I'm very aware that we'll likely never live in another house with a pantry the size of the one we have now.  So even though my mixer has a cozy home for now, I'm always interested in what the other options are.

I think most people's mixers end up right where this one is - in a deep corner on their counter.  This works well if you've got the counter space to dedicate AND you're an avid baker. 

 

via Bijou Kaliedospcope 

Another option for the avid baker who doesn't want their mixer on display all the time.  A perfectly sized baking appliance garage.  And how great is that marble counter for baking?! 

 

via Elle Decor

In lieu of a built in solution, I really like these armoires turned baking stations.  If you have the floor space in your kitchen, I think this is brilliant. 

via BHG

via MeetSweetSavannah

Another great "hide away" option - pullout appliance sliders in your bottom cabinets. 

My favorite mixer storage solution has to be these amazing appliance caddies.  They're heavy duty and effortlessly raise your mixer from a bottom cabinet up to counter height.  You have to dedicate what essentially amounts to a entire cabinet for this option but I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff for the counter space you'll free up. 

{BONUS POINTS:  Install an electric outlet inside the cabinet so the mixer is not only available but plugged in when you're ready to use it!}

via Kraft Maid 

 via Mullet Cabinet

 

This is the hardware you need to get yourself some of this fancy mixer storage.  Note that it's the hardware only - you'll have to provide your own shelf for the mixer to sit on top of but even a basic cutting board would work.

Rev a Shelf Heavy Duty Mixer Lift 

The DIY Network has a great tutorial for how to rework a kitchen cabinet for one of these lift mechanisms here.

Where does your mixer live?

Martha Stewart Fabric Storage Drawers at Home Depot

Have you guys seen the amazing array of storage bins in the Martha Stewart line at Home Depot? I've been meaning to blog about them FOREVER.

They are such a great deal at just $6.98 a piece ($7.27 for the striped and polka dot ones).  At 11", they are a perfect fit for IKEA's Billy bookcases and come in such a pretty rainbow of colors, you're bound to find one that fits your decor. 

Crown Molding as High Heel Storage

Shoe storage is one of those things that most women I know struggle with.  You love them.  They're pretty.  They make you happy.  Yet all too often they end up stuffed into shoe bins or piled up in the closet. 

If getting your heel collection under control is on your list of things to tackle this year, consider the simple and inexpensive option of hanging them on pieces of crown molding.  Let the molding blend in by painting it the same color as your wall OR really embrace the "shoes as art" mantra and paint it a fun, contrasting color. 

{Images via Living, Etc // Living In a Nutshell // Geniabeme // SFGirlByBay // HomeStoriesAtoZ // House to Home // Martha Stewart}

Bonus:  Each row of molding/shoes only takes up about 12" so depending on your wall space you have room for lots and lots of heels (read: some shoe shopping might be in order. I know...it's terrible.)  

Short on wall space?  You could even mount a few strips on the back of a door.  So much nicer than those over the door shoe racks don't you think?

My favorite new items at Ballard Designs

I am a BIG Ballard Designs fan.  I feel like their designs have a really easy going elegance to them that makes for some very liveable interiors.  Several of my favorite items in our home are from Ballard and I've always been happy with the quality so I always get excited when a new catalog comes in the mail!

Here are some of my favorite items from the latest catalog.

Great lines on this new couch.  I love the casters and the airy-ness the tall legs create.  And of course, I love nail head trim.  

Griffin Sofa

Love the mix of the age wood with metal on these bar stools.  Plus they swivel!

Marguerite Stool

Again, great mix of materials.  I like that they look really soft but are actually woven over a wire frame so they've nice and sturdy.  Love the leather....I feel like you don't see leather on baskets very often.

Palm Leaf and Leather Basket

Very industrial chic storage benches.  Tufted burlap top pops off to reveal storage below.  These are feeling very Restoration Hardware-esque to me (like these but with a top sort of).

Wood Plank Storage Bench

A leather headboard with nail head trim for $459 (queen).  What more do you need to know exactly?  Also comes in chocolate leather if that's more your thing. 

Camden Leather Headboard

Fun shower curtain design that features the London skyline.  All the iconic favorites - the Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the Millennium Ferris Wheel.  

London Shower Curtain

Check out these paintable decorative panels you can use to embellish any wall.  I still like my girl Danika's O'verlays better. 

Decorative Panels

Love the cut pile texture of these indoor/outdoor rugs.  Also, it's cheetah print...so that's awesome.

Naomi Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Do you have anything from Ballard Designs in your home?  Or something from them that's been on your wishlist for a long time?

Clever Built in Storage Ideas

I'm a big fan of built in storage ideas that make use of otherwise "dead" space. This is probably because our house has a complete and utter lack of any of these solutions (including a mudroom which I am in desperate need of). These images are completely inspiring and really display how every nook in a home can be functional with a bit of ingenuity.

They also make me realize how uninspired many of these big building companies who develop entire neighborhoods are. It seems like new houses suffer from a real lack of smart space utilization solutions like these. With just a few small tweaks to their house plans, they could be offering much smarter, more functional homes instead of just 4,000 square foot boxes.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. On to the pretty pictures!

We've all seen window seats with hinged tops for storage but I love these banquette seats with actual pull out drawers!! Plus I'm generally obsessed with banquettes as a whole.

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The bathroom is a great place to utilize some of these hidden storage solutions and keep counter surfaces clean. I've always wondered if I could be one of those "pedestal sink in the master bath" people. I love the look but I always get hung up on where everything gets stored. But with some thought and planning, I think you can make it work.

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Or you could just hide the whole sink. (???...wow!)

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Staircases take up a lot of room in a home, but they also create a lot of (usually) unused space in and around them. I love these ideas for taking that space and making it functional.

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What about when the stairs themselves turn into storage? What do you think of this idea? Brilliant or a safety hazard? I vote brilliant though I would probably leave the drawer open, forget, then fall on the way down.



Don't get me wrong, I love our pantry but you don't need a whole room in your house for pantry storage, just some thoughtful planning.

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In my opinion, 1 good drawer in the kitchen is worth 3 cabinets. I.LOVE.DRAWERS. Speaking of which, have you seen Martha's kitchen drawers? It's like lady porn, I swear.

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Move over lazy Susan!

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Do you have any built in storage areas or nooks in your home? If you like stuff like this, follow my Smart Storage Ideas pinboard on Pinterst where I'm saving all kinds of brilliant storage ideas as I come across them.

Swahili Imports Baskets

With a new baby in the house, I am acutely aware of the coming onslaught of toys that will likely accumulate in our family room. I am determined to find some good storage options that don't scream "toy chest". I have a little time before this becomes an issue (I think!) but when I saw these baskets from Swahili Imports featured on the Nate Berkus Show, I knew I needed to blog about for future reference.

Seriously, how gorgeous are these baskets? I'm obsessing over the colors and textures, nevermind the storage space they offer. They come in 3 sizes with the largest being 28" tall. That's some great looking storage! I wish they weren't so pricey but they are handcrafted by women in Senegal in a traditional weaving style. I guess that explains it?

I WANT: Organic canvas bins by 3 Sprouts

Particularly partial to them in the gender neutral giraffe & monkey variety (which coincidentally would look great in Baby's nursery) but I think all of them are downright adorable. I love that they're nice and big at 17" high x 20" in diameter. They collapse for easy storage when not in use which, per my mom friends with young kids will be exactly never.

Available at lots of kids retailers online and on Amazon.com.