The Life Chaotic

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» Home » Projects » Project Archives » The Life Chaotic

The Life Chaotic
By Cedar Burnett \| Published 08/1/2007 \| Project Archives \|

Advice from the Master Builders Association Hanging spice racks line the bake center. After a full evaluation of both the kitchen and the family's needs, Eliminate Chaos dove into the fray. First, they reestablished zones of use throughout the kitchen. The zones were determined by type and located based on the natural flow of use. Everyday dishes were compiled into one dish zone; a coffee center zone included coffee-making supplies, the coffee pot and coffee mugs; and a bake center zone was created with all baking staples like flour and sugar, as well as pans and other baking accoutrements. Other zones, including a small appliances zone, a paper goods zone, a utensils zone and a serving dish zone also staked their rightful claim in the footprint of the kitchen. After the zoning plan was completed, Eliminate Chaos sorted through each cupboard and drawer, removing things that were never used, food that was expired or would never be eaten and items that did not to live in the kitchen. While they sorted, they grouped similar items together for use in the new zones. Canned goods hung out with canned goods and cereal bonded with cereal in countertop harmony. Meanwhile, old chapsticks, ticket stubs, long-since inkless pens and ancient soy packets found a final resting place in the trash. With the junk removed, the drawers and cupboards received new inhabitants, grouped by type. All of the utensils were condensed and placed in drawer dividers, while another drawer was established for picnic items. Mismatched Tupperware™ was recycled and uniform, stackable GladWare™ was introduced, complete with a cd-like holder for the lids. Turntables, can risers and drawers bring order to the pantry. In the pantry they removed two lower shelves and added two wheeled storage units with drawers, maximizing the depth of the cupboards and the empty space below the bottom shelf. To further exploit the available space, they added can risers (effectively bleachers for canned goods), put condiments on turntables to allow for easy access and placed sauce mixes into clear containers for visibility. All tea and other drinks were stationed in a pullout drawer, while other drawers were filled with pasta, snack foods and other dry goods grouped by type. A lazy susan provides deep storage and access to heavy pots and pans. A new recycling system was created under the sink, with separate containers for glass, paper and cans. Pullout drawers were installed in lower cabinets and old, unused dishes were set aside for the thrift store. A command center, including a central calendar and a spot for mail was established. Finally, the art and pictures cluttering the cabinets were cleared off and moved into a formation of frames on the wall, offering a full display without the chaotic feeling the pictures had previously induced. Because Eliminate Chaos had truly taken into account how the family lived and not some prescribed, unrealistic vision of how they should live, the project was highly successful. Knowing that this was a household that had little time, heavy traffic, sentimentality and youth to contend with, a Spartan show house was out of the question. What Eliminate Chaos gave the family were the tools to remain functional even in times of near-pandemonium. As a result, and because the family had been involved every step of the way, they not only gained a more organized kitchen, but a wealth of education on how to organize and streamline other areas of their home; lessons the mother hoped the girls would implement for the rest of their lives. Thanks to Laura Leist, CPO© of Eliminate Chaos, for contributing her information and ideas on behalf of the Master Builders Association. All pictures copyrighted and courtesy of Eliminate Chaos. For more information on the MBA, go to www.masterbuildersinfo.com To view past featured projects, visit our project archives. Around the House with KPLU welcomes your comments and questions on this project. Please email us at aroundthehouse@kplu.org.
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