Small Kitchen storage ideas

[HSLINKS]

if its horsehair plaster you can still hang stuff .. (BTW the absolute best repair for horsehair plaster is floor leveler, way better than using drywall mud)

if you have a flat wall you can put up a 1x for mounting a wall pot rack or peg board system. (a 1x frame works great for pegboard as the pegs fit in the holes easily)

Ria

[BellaInara]

There have been some great ideas offered already. Here are the few that I have.

In my home I added a plastic 5 shelf unit in my dining room. This holds my small appliances, dry foods, and jars for canning. I am planning on converting my hall closet into a canning pantry this spring. (I'll use cheapie wall mold and wood cut to size to make shelves)

As for the washer and dryer in the kitchen. My aunt had this in her old home. She had my uncle create a cover for it, which gave her more working space and protected the machines. On Laundry Day, she'd pull it off and use the machines.

You could always check freecycle or craigslist for a bookshelf or dresser. A long dresser in the dining room would look like a buffet, but without the cost.

Shannon

[mcnerd]

I am planning on converting my hall closet into a canning pantry this spring. (I'll use cheapie wall mold and wood cut to size to make shelves)

I am just finishing do just that and its well worth the effort. Just make sure it is reinforced since a lot of weight will go on the shelves....my first attempt collapsed from the weight. Not fun. My closet is just off the kitchen so it is convenient. I'm also putting in wire shelving that hooks on the inside of the door.

Haven't figured out where to put my ironing board and vacuum which used to be the occupants of that closet.

[HSLINKS]

If you can't get into studs on the walls for shelves, you can make it free standing (think bookcase). One advantage of free standing, is you can have a skinny section on the side for the ironing board (LOL).

For permanent shelves - running support boards on the back wall and another skinny board screwed into the bottom edge of the shelf will make it safer.

Another big advantage of the freestanding style is you can make some shelves movable .. if you screw 1x2 under the edge of the board it will help support the weight and still be movable (do front and back of board) .. you can use L brackets on the side walls to change the height of shelves .. drilling holes and having pegs although easier tend to tear under stress of canned goods or other heavy items.

Ria

[JennyCup]

I am getting ready to convert a small part of my laundry room (it is in the hallway that attaches the garage to the house) to a mini pantry by adding a couple small shelves. It won't be much, but it will be enough to store a few things.

[Niddi]

how can you tell the difference between horsehair plaster and regular plaster??? The house we live in was built in the 50's and has plaster walls and ceilings, all uneven and with swirl marks all over. We had to get the ceiling in one room sheetrocked over because it had cracked and was sagging so bad, I was afraid it would cave in.

[HSLINKS]

sheet rock has a paper covering over a chalk like substance.. this is nailed directly to the wall studs .. Unless it is put on top of another substance try the knock system - knock on wall to see if it has a hollow sound (thats the area between studs) if you hear both solid sound (thats the stud) and hollow then its dry wall.

Horsehair plaster has lathe (thin strips of wood) nailed up side to side from wall stud to wall stud .. Usually it has a gap of 1/4 to 1/2 inch between them .. Then plaster mixed with horsehair is applied by pushing into the crease/hole and spread on top of the lathe .. Because of the lathe doing a knock check will not work .. if you have a magnetic stud detector and run it up and down the wall and get hits the whole way down its horsehair (the nails from the lathe)

Horsehair plaster is usually harder than sheet rock ..

However when it starts to pull away from the lathe, it is a royal pain to patch. I have never had a lot of luck with using DW mud, it will crack and pull out later.

Clean out all loose material (be careful its nasty in the eyes). Wear eye protection and cover hair (it drys out the hair and skin)

I use the white floor leveler (has a very fine cement texture). Spray the lathe with water (spray bottle works) this helps prevent the wood from sucking all the water from the leveler. You will have to semi duplicate the original technique by making the first layer thick enough you can push through the cracks (it will puddle on inside holding it to the wall). DO NOT make it smooth you want the next layer to have something to grip to. Then spread on next layer - You will have to build up layers and it may crack a bit from drying irregulary, but its repairable .. Last layer must be as smooth as possible. The white leveler I have is hard so you want it super smooth cause it is hard to fix bumps later. Once it is dry, check for touch ups ..

Ria

[HSLINKS]

Niddi,
you may have textured walls - which was done a couple of different ways (especially in 50s) over drywall

Drywall mud mixed with paint or standing alone was used. This was done more recently usually by homeowners

There was/is a textured paint - it is HARD .. I have some in back hall. Some of the textured paint had texture in it, some had sand, or hairy things. some was smooth , Many used paint brush for a swirl effect, some used trowels for a rough plaster effect, my grandmother had giant swirls (must have used a wall paper brush cause they were almost 12 inches)

[brchbell]

I am getting ready to convert a small part of my laundry room (it is in the hallway that attaches the garage to the house) to a mini pantry by adding a couple small shelves. It won't be much, but it will be enough to store a few things.

One of the places we lived in several years ago had very little storage space and I was going to put up a few shelves to put some canned goods on and my husband looked at it and said he could make better use of the area if I could wait a couple weeks. He was my Hero! He measured my cans and was able to fit 4 shelves in and then he used piano hinges that you can get at the hardware store and he added doors that had more shelves. When I opened it I had twice as much storage because the door shelves held just as much as the wall shelves! It was amazing and didn't cost him much to make. the piano hinges (2) and one sheet of plywood. I sure hated to leave it behind when we moved but glad I could brighten someone else's life up with the extra storage space!

[mardhines]

HELP! NEED MORE KITCHEN CABINET/SHELVING

I have a small Kitchen (mobil home). For some odd reason there are 3 large windows in it?? I desperately need more cabinet space for small appliances. I do have an area( 3 windows side by side at the end of the kitchen, 36x54, and one on the opposite wall, same size), that can be used for a cabinet, shelves, ect. I really need something enclosed, but I am willing to deal with that problem later. I salvaged, 4 solid wood, old chest of drawer, drawers. My problem, any ideas on how to convert these into shelves, a cabinet, ect. ? I might add that they are solid wood, pine I believe, with veneer faceings, and on one or more, can't remember now, of the drawers, the faceing is coming off. I know its a lot to ask. I have been scouring the net trying to find ideas. I guess I don't know the correct search terms to enter because, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I appreciate any and all suggestions, thank you so much. Have a wonderful day!