In an attempt to make our kitchen more functional, I try to limit what I keep out on our countertops. (And, contrary to how these pictures make life appear, it’s a constant battle to keep them cleared off.)
Here’s what’s going on:
I was tired of trying to find the sugar in our mess of a pantry every time I needed it. So, I ordered glass canisters from Target and labeled them with a Sharpie. I also added these cute wood scoops from the Sucre Shop on Etsy. (They’re also the perfect size for a coffee scoop.)
It never fails that there are a few things I need to put on my grocery list--as soon as I get home from the grocery. I found this cutting board at our Habitat ReStore for $2 and painted it with chalkboard paint. (I keep a chalk pen in the kitchen drawer close by.)
To help with the never-ending paper flow that comes into our house, I’ve added a woven basket for those things I need to do, or sign and return for school.
And, my favorite countertop of all is the one that is completely cleared off. If only for a minute.
(You can see more changes I made to our kitchen here, here, and here.)
What’s on your kitchen countertops?
PS—I’m linking my cutting board-t0-chalkboard project up to Beth’s Tutorials & Tips Party:
Oh how hard I try to keep our counters clean! It is a daily work in progress. But keeping a vase of fresh flowers on our kitchen island helps me feel slightly in control;)
ReplyDeleteToo many things are on my counter tops right now! I'm like you - I love clutter-free counters, but find it's hard to maintain. Ideally I'd love to only have our appliances (microwave, coffeemaker, toaster) and a crock of cooking utensils, but inevitably other "things" take over! Thanks for the great inspiration in this post!
ReplyDeleteLove that cutting board idea! I confess I'm a wall liner..the one who pushes everything back to the wall...is there hope for me?
ReplyDeleteI have precious little countertop space, so I try to keep it as clear as possible. The things that have to be out -- my Kitchen Aid, my utensil holder, etc. -- become more tolerable if I make them as pretty as possible. I made a Kitchen Aid cover to coordinate with my curtains. I have my utensils in two coordinating containers that sit side-by-side. (It was somehow more attractive and intentional-looking than one giant holder.) Making them seem like part of the decor and less utilitarian makes me feel better about looking at them!
ReplyDeleteI love clean counter tops!! I am an empty nester so it's pretty easy in my home. ;) Love the idea for the cutting board chalk board. So cute but functional too. Your granite looks almost identical to mine. :)
ReplyDeleteRight now, too much junk is on my counters! No matter what kind of organization I try, I always end up with a paper pile on the end of the counter too. Love the basket idea, at least the pile would be somewhat hidde. Oh, and I just looked over and saw a cordless screwdriver, a paint roller and brush in a plastic bag, 2 quarts of paint, and 3 cans of spray paint :) BTW, I spy a cool gallery wall taking shape!
ReplyDeletelove everything. we have been in an extreme declutter mode over here so our countertops have gone extra extra bare which I am loving!
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ReplyDeleteI love cleared off countertops! I keep a few statement pieces out but keep everything else stashed away. My beautiful KitchenAid mixer, a coffee nook, a bread basket, and a "sock box" I got from BBB that I use as a catch all for random things that find their way into the kitchen. I also have my beloved mini cake stand with glass dome that I can never seem to keep filled... ;) Great post with some classy ideas.
ReplyDeleteSharpie on your containers? Brilliant. Helps your handwriting is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteyep, my kitchen is one room that I just don't blog about. it is only clean for about 30 minutes a month. I just can't keep it uncluttered!! thanks for the inspiration! ~kim
ReplyDeleteI wish my kitchen were as organized as yours! I love the little chalkboard idea - my "forgots" are scribbled on a sticky stuck to a kitchen cabinet. Thanks for sharing these ideas!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Emily! I love the chalkboard painted cutting board! I think I might have to try this! Have a great week!
ReplyDeletewww.mendezmanor.com
Very clean and well organized! My kind of kitchen!!
ReplyDeleteI am with you, I love clean countertops. Actually, I love a clean flat surface hear and there period!!
ReplyDeleteCurrently? A lot of mail!! Aaaah. But--I love clean countertops! I also love the clear canisters you got from target!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your chalk pen from?
ReplyDeleteI ordered it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JSSZ86/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00
DeleteYou and I are thinking the same today. I posted my kitchen and our counter items are really similar. :) I love a clean kitchen!
ReplyDelete2 lamps, my yellow Keurig, and a toaster. That's it. I just cleaned them off last week and love how clean the kitchen feels with the counters empty. I love your kitchen, especially the cabinets with the white walls - I have the same color cabinets in my kitchen and you inspired me to go white with my walls - I can't wait to get started! Can you do a post on the space above your cabinets? I keep mine empty but I am always looking for inspiration...
ReplyDeleteI keep mine empty, too. Here's an older post I did about the space above your cabinets: http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2011/05/accessorizing-atop-your-kitchen.html
DeleteGreat! Thanks!
DeleteI just love your canisters and wooden scoops (I want those). I created a walk-in pantry so the little appliances are in there on a counter. My counters always look straightened...but I can't say that about the one in the pantry...at least I can close the door :)
ReplyDeleteI love what you have done with the chalkboard paint! I also try to keep our counters as clutter free as I can! It does seem to make everything cleaner, brighter and more organized. I love the gallery wall and sconces around your TV! :)
ReplyDeleteRedid our 1980's kitchen eight years ago. We have maple cabinets and the same granite counter tops that your pictures show. Great combination. I do have some Peterboro baskets and a few Polish stoneware pieces over one section of our cabinets. I try to keep our peninsula free of clutter.
ReplyDeleteEmily I adore the glass Canisters and little wooden scoops! perfect!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
2013 Artists Series
Such cute ideas! I love the glass canisters labeled with a sharpie...so smart. I have lidded jars just like them....hmmmm....the laundry can wait, right?
ReplyDeleteI've always admired those glass canisters on Ina Garten's show The Barefoot Contessa. I will have to check out Target for them now.
ReplyDeleteCounters are always difficult to keep clutter free but when they are they look so clean and neat.
Ever since we sold our house about 2 years ago and I had to keep everything off the counters, I've tried to limit what's on them too. We have a knife block set, a toaster, a wooden fruit bowl, and a banana stand. All my paperwork goes in a hanging up file organizer on the inside of my pantry door.
ReplyDeleteThis morning you can also find two empty Teavana containers, 3 empty yogurt containers (the kids were up early!), and a butter dish.
I like to keep ours really pared down as well, but it is a constant battle when everyone comes home and plops their stuff on the counters!
ReplyDeleteI have the same glass jars on my countertop, too. I ordered decals from etsy for mine though. A sharpie would have been cheaper! I have a no paper policy in my kitchen since we built an office now that we built our office. It seems to be working since it's right off the front door and the kids throw their backpacks in there. I think the hooks in the laundry room are going to have to be moved there soon!
ReplyDeleteSo clever and pretty....what a winning combination :) Don't I wish my countertops could stay cleared off...and I don't even have 5 kids! Love that cutting board idea.......
ReplyDeleteI'm with you: my favorite for sure is a clear counter - nothing on it.
ReplyDeleteI love your kitchen, Emily! I really like your cutting board that you painted too. :) I am all about having cleaned off counters. It makes me feel like it's more clean among the chaos. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch cute ideas! Love the scoops! Everything looks fab :)
ReplyDeleteEmily, I was amazed to see our kitchens are almost the same in cabinet style and wood color. I was actually debating on if I should paint them white. I am curious to see what your opinion is because I'm on the fence line about this idea. By the way, thank you for doing such a wonderful job of blogging. I love all your posts and if you ever are in Phoenix you are welcome to redecorate my home.
ReplyDeleteI like white kitchens, but I'm not painting mine :)
DeleteI can not even function if my kitchen has cluttered counter tops. However it does not bother my husband in the least!! Grrrr!! So glad to see it is not just a bad case of OCD!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I'm so happy to see another kitchen where the cabinets are NOT painted white! Don't get me wrong, I love white cabinets, but mine aren't, and I was beginning to feel a bit left out!! It's nice not to be the only one left with stained doors!!
ReplyDeleteI've got a basket for the paper avalanche as well, and that chalkboard painted cutting board is brilliant!! Well done!
Jeannine @ The Concrete Cottage
I have the same color cabinets and am currently looking for a granite countertop - what is the name of yours? I'm not painting my cabinets either. I was looking at Uba Tuba - black but like the lighter tone in yours with the black.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, I have no idea. The original homeowners picked them out.
DeleteI have a constant struggle keeping my counters clean and is primarily because I have such little counter space to begin with. I LOVE your chalkboard though and think I need to create one myself. Such great ideas your blog gives me :)
ReplyDelete- Jaime
www.southonbroadway.blogspot.com
looks great Emily, love the open shelves where you can see everything. I feel that if I don't see my stuff I don't use it! Just like in my closet!
ReplyDeleteI love having my counters cleared off too! I love the gallery wall I see around the tv.
ReplyDeleteLOVE clean counter tops! It's so hard to keep them cleaned off. I only have a coffee maker and a tray of fruit on one counter. Sometimes there may be a candle or a plant in the window. It is the kitchen desk that I despise...it's the dump site int he house. I have just started using a magazine holder to keep mail or paperwork I need to deal with. I also found an idea on Pinterest to arrange the cabinet over the desk with magnetic on the insides of the cabinet doors to keep all the notices I need close by and I rearranged that cabinet to hold office supplies and such to try to keep the clutter off of the desk. I also found great jars for the pantry at jarstore.com.
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ReplyDeleteffff
ReplyDeleteha my countertops are so rarely empty that i took a moment to appreciate the glory of yours. Mine is a mess of papers, pens (why are there so many half used pens in my house?), half eaten fruit, and used glasses of water.
ReplyDeleteWow I love this beautiful blogsite it reminds me the blog of pantry doors. Keep writing with this kins of posts very nice!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful kitchen!! Can you tell me where you found the sconces that flank your t.v.? Would love to see more pictures of that wall!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I have kitchen counter envy right now! So tidy and beautiful. Your simple touches make it feel stylish, yet clutter free since it is all kitchen related and functional! That cutting board turned chalkboard is making my wheels spin! Love it!
ReplyDeletexo,
Jen
nice post i liked it
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