I know what you’re thinking. Is this a post about the art of organizing? Well, no it’s not. I want to share my thoughts with you on organization as art. Yes, organizing, and well-organized areas can look like a piece of art and provide the same joy that artwork does.
The Beauty of Simplicity
I take aesthetic pleasure in so many of the spaces in my house. Whether it’s a well-organized drawer, spice cabinet, pantry, or an entire room, I love the peaceful serenity that an orderly space provides.
Elana’s Pantry
This is a quick snap of my pantry, the namesake of this website!
The jars in my pantry are full of herbs like dried ginger, licorice, and dandelion; spices such as cinnamon, star anise, and pepper; and assorted items including poppy seeds, dried orange peel, and whole stevia leaf.
I collected the jars over the years and it still amazes me that they were “free” and came with the food that was purchased in them. The jars shown on the left contained organic olives that my boys and I loved, but you could just as easily collect jars from almond butter or coconut oil. Anything that you use repeatedly will result in a full set when saved over a year or two!
Elegant Simplicity
This is of my mason jar cabinet. Those are jars I paid for. I keep an entire cabinet of empty mason jars at the ready for food storage, leftover containment, and organizing around the house.
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This shot is of the gorgeously simple pulls on the cabinet. They feel great in my hands, are easy to use and elegant in their true simplicity.
The first thing people say when they walk in my kitchen is why so many mason jars?! Some people have a dark cabinet with tons of plastic storage containers that they have to rummage through several times a day. I have an orderly cabinet of mason jars at my fingertips for quick and easy use!
Check out my post called, 10 Reasons Glass is Better than Plastic, to learn more about healthy living and to get another glimpse into my well-organized kitchen!
Simple Spice Grid
This photo is of my spice drawer. That’s right, I keep my spices in a drawer. This way I can see the top of all of the bottles, which is where I place the labels that identify the contents of each jar of spice.
I use a label maker as specified above to label the jars, but if you have neat handwriting it looks beautiful to hand letter them.
A friend of mine built this organizer, but you could probably turn it into a wonderful DIY project or ask your handyman to make you one.
I find the rhythmic simplicity of this grid that holds the spices so aesthetically satisfying. This drawer system works better than any other that I’ve tried over the years!
Baskets for Laundry Room Shelves
These beautiful, yet totally functional baskets are for the shelves in our laundry room. I bought them over a decade ago and found similar ones for you here. I label the baskets with a label maker and store a variety of items in them from compost bags to stain removal items and much more.
My Kitchen
This shot is of my kitchen. If you look closely you can see that the kitchen counter is full of stuff! That’s the way a working kitchen looks.
The basic structures of the kitchen are incredibly simple and symmetrical. I find symmetry to be a wonderfully calming principle whether I’m designing a home (ours), or styling food for a photo shoot.
I think I have good taste, though I don’t know anyone who claims to have poor taste. I’m not sure if I was born with this or developed it in college taking Art History classes. I’ve loved styling our spaces and making them incredibly functional while visually soothing. I met Mr. Pantry in 1992, he has an amazing eye in terms of design and has taught me a lot over the years. His mother is a professional artist with works in the Metropolitan Museum. I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by these types of aesthetes.
Organization as Art
So now you see that art is everywhere in your everyday surroundings. Keeping your home organized is not only functional but creates a thing of beauty. What’s your favorite organizational technique that leads to artful simplicity in your home? Leave a comment and let me know!
Theda says
I really like the spice drawer! I’ll be switching mine over to this beautiful grid style soon.
Elana says
Theda, thanks for your comment! When you switch over I hope you’ll post a photo of it on Instagram and tag me so I can see it :-)
Susan Crane says
Thank you for the tour of your house. I too keep my spices in a drawer, it’s actually a spice drawer, but I hadn’t thought about labeling the spices on top. What a great idea! Thank you for the inspiration! I really get tired of bending over to find the spice I’m looking for.
Elana says
Susan, keeping spices in a drawer is so convenient, isn’t it?! Do you use Instagram? If you do I hope you’ll post a photo of your spice drawer and tag me so that I can see it :-)
Cindy Fraser says
Elena
Thanks for giving me permission to have things on my counters! I’m renovating a small kitchen and there just isn’t room for all my small appliances to be put away! I cook and bake a lot (mostly AIP diet) and have a food processor, a large stand mixer, a juicer, coffee machine, a blender, crock pots, instant pot, ice cream maker! Omg where do I put all this stuff!? All the design photos of kitchens have empty counters and I wonder if anyone cooks in them! Thanks again for being my inspiration on all things food!
Elana says
Cindy, you got it! Working kitchens are full and busy. I’m so happy to be your inspiration for all things food :-)
Sarah says
I love the look! Especially the first image with the desk and the lighting. Ready for creativity!
Looks really beautiful all around
Elana says
Sarah, thanks so much!!!
Karen says
What’s your secret for getting the odor of whatever came in a jar out of the lid? I’ve tried to save jars but what I put in them always smells a bit like whatever came in the jar originally even when I put the lids through the dishwasher. Thanks!
Elana says
Karen, I let the jars soak in soapy water for 24-48 hours and the smell is gone after that :-)
Sara in Brooklyn says
I just rearranged some drawers to put things together that are used together – spring cleaning came early here :) Your kitchen is more serene elegant, but ours has a certain wackiness that fits the bill…
Elana, I appreciate your amazing generosity in sharing not only fabulous recipes, but your perspective on so many aspects of living and being well, however we seek to do that.
Elana says
Sara, thanks for your incredible comment!
Di WILLIAMS says
It Looks Really Nice . That’s how i do mine also.
Thanks for sharing .
Di
Elana says
Di, you’re very welcome! Glad to know that others are doing the same :-)
Elle says
Thank you it helps to receive a little inspiration and encouragement about those things that some of us have trouble getting motivated about.Elle
Elana says
Elle, thanks for your comment! I’m so happy to provide inspiration :-)
thomas Baldwin says
I like your pantry of mason glass jars and your kitchen looks nice as long as you use it more often than not Thank You for showing me around
Elana says
Thomas, between myself and my boys we are cooking all day long!
Susan Z. says
I got a shiver looking at your photos… Honestly, they so closely resemble my own things and spaces I had a moment thinking: I wonder if we’re related? Naturally, I couldn’t agree more with you:)
Elana says
Susan, thanks for another great comment! I think we are sisters here on elana’s pantry :-)