The Stylish and Well-stocked Pantry

{Image via Cape Cod Designs}

I love the mix of the gray shelving, Belgian wicker baskets and white dinnerware in this space. It's not actually a pantry but part of the styling for a restaurant.

It's always a challenge to figure out what to do with all that extra stuff that we really need but might not use everyday. Where do you put those large platters or the extra dinnerware for entertaining? I like it when homeowners show these "essentials" on shelving in plain view. I also like to see antique cupboards in the kitchen used as a pantry. You certainly wouldn't be afraid to let a dinner guest visit the pantry to help set the table. I love to have my guests sit with me and have a glass of wine while I finish dinner. They are always offering to help but I truly don't want them rummaging through the house to find my platters!

This pantry is perfection! I love the lighting.

{Perfectly Put Together}

One way you can make the pantry more interesting is to consider upgrading the door. I like the way the home above has positioned the pantry in a corner and added these doors with opaque glass or below where they have added a family message center with chalkboard paint.

{Country Living}

{via Searching for Style from Country French Antiques}

Here's a great example of using an antique to hold all those over sized platters and creamware used for special occasions.

{Writer's Block UK}

{Briger + Briger}

{Pam Pierce's kitchen and pantry via Cote de Texas}

{open pantry shelving via Cote de Texas}

{Martha Stewart}

{Pam Pierce via http://www.ppiercedesigns.com/index1.html}

I shared this lovely photo with you recently. In case you don't remember ~ it is the lovely table of my favorite interior designer Pam Pierce. I am sharing it with you now because it actually has a lot to do with the essentials I keep in my pantry.

My Top 10 Essentials for a Well Stocked Pantry:

{1} White dinnerware, platters and a cake stand.

{2} freshly laundered linen napkins

{3} wineglasses, bar ware and ice bucket

{4} Silver ~ it's essential in the South

{5} Candles ~ unscented for the table and my favorites for the entrance hall & powder room

{6} Gourmet essentials ~ Olive Oil, Champagne Wine Vinegar, Dijon Mustard, Tomatoes & Good Pasta, Capers, Olives, Sun dried Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Chutney and Herbs de Provence

{7} Collection of Flower Containers + Oasis

{8} Wine

{9} Cake Stand and Glass Dome

{10} Cookbooks

When I was putting together this post, I stumbled upon a wonderful video from Laura Calder of the Cooking Channel's French Food at Home. The video is entitle "The Essential French Pantry." Here's the link:

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/videos/the-essential-french-pantry/66859.html

Forgive the open link! Blogger is getting the best of me as I can not figure out how to embed a link when I make my posts longer than my viewing screen. Technology is not my strength!

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Closet Envy

Lizzie Carney's closet via Country Living

Warning this post will make you covet!

As I continue to go through my house looking at the small working spaces and try to get organized for the New Year, I start to look for new and fresh ideas to update my closet. I love to drool over the many images of designer, showhouse and celebrity closets but realistically, I just want a pleasant space that is well-organized, fresh and happy. I want to open my double-doors and in an instant be able to throw together an outfit and look stylish for my morning meeting.

We renovated an old house about ten years ago and the master closet was the one area that I REALLY had to make some tough decisions. We were able to carve out a wonderful space for a large master bath but a walk-in closet was just not possible. We were able to make three double-doored closets so my husband and I each have our own spaces and a little extra room for linens and formal wear and coats.

So today i thought I would share a little bit of the fantasy and {slowly} transition into some realistic ideas that we might all be able to achieve within a reasonable budget. I am particularly fond of the new closet design by Jen of Made by Girl. You've got to check it out!

{Southern Accents}

The closet from Sex in the City via movie set photos from Elle Decor

{Jenna Lyons closet from Domino}

Celebrity Nicky Hilton in her closet}

Wallpaper in the closet?

I think it's a great way to add pizazz to an otherwise dark and small space. Because I live in an old house with not enough closets, I would have to put a whole lot more in this closet.

I love this idea!

The recent unveiling of Jen's closet of Made by Girl has motivated me to stylize my own closet. Visit her site to learn more but you should know the closet components are from Ikea and that cute leopard runner is from Ballard Designs! Totally do-able! Now that incredible selection of shoes...

Ever wonder what to do with your {special} shopping bags?

{retail therapy!}

{Moth Design updates her closet with a quick DIY ~ framed shopping bags}

{Olivia Palermo in her closet}

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The Laundress

{a combination laundry room/garden room from Elle Decor via Heidi Claire}

There is one certainty ~ the laundry room is one of the hardest working spaces in our home and often, the last space that gets our design attention.

The laundry room represents a great opportunity to use your creativity. Usually a small space, it is an easy one weekend project that shouldn't break your budget and since it is a private space lends itself to experimental DIY projects or bright, fun wallpaper.

I am impressed with the affordability and variety of products available to help organize the laundry room and inspired by the many design ideas circulating around the blog world. I hope this post helps motivate you {and me} to make some positive changes in the laundry room.

{via Haven & Home}

{Country Living}

One of the things I noticed with the pictures I selected is that a lot of the spaces feature curtains to cover the washer and dryer or to skirt under the sink. The first time I remember seeing this is in that dynamite laundry room from Haskell Harris in her home in Cottage Living. Just that little touch of fabric or one wall with a bright wallpaper or a bright striped cotton runner for the floor makes all the difference in the world. It adds softness to a room that is otherwise cold and industrial.

{Canadian Home}

{Designer's Attic}

{via Houzz}

{Brabourne Farm}

This is my favorite laundry room of my selections. I love the color of the cabinets and the softness the linen curtain brings to the room. I think this space represents the best of function and beauty.

{wall sticker from Ballard Designs}

{The Washington Post}

I think this pendant light from Ballard Designs would bring great style to any laundry room. Don't you?

{frames wallpaper by Graham & Brown}

Graham & Brown's "frames" wallpaper would look so cute in a laundry room and provide a cheerful spot to display kids artwork or recent family photos. I think it would look great just on one focal wall or for the laundry room in the dreaded basement ~ a wallpapered screen.

I adore this wallpaper for a laundry room! I think a laundry room should be a bright and cheerful room that brings a smile to your face every time you open the door.

Looking for some fresh new ways to tackle the laundry?

{Lavender clean day detergent and dryer sheets from Mrs. Meyers; oval linen lined baskets from Wisteria; dried organic lavender bundles from Dreamy Whites; Farmhouse laundry sachets from Sweetgrass Farm; A guide to Green Housekeeping from Brook Farm General Store; Sea Salt Neroli fabric softener from Caldrea; Dryer sheets in lavender pine from Caldrea; hand woven towels from Brook Farm General Store; Caldrea Sweet Pea Linen Spray; Caldrea folding board; Eau de Linge from Durance en Provence linen water; bleached wooden hangers}

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