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Topic: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?  (Read 945 times) previous topic - next topic

How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

As new fulltimers that love to cook, we are perplexed on how to arrange our kitchen cabinets.  All of our food, baking supplies, tupperware, etc. fit into the large pantry of our U320, but we cannot decide what should go where in our kitchen cabinets.  I am taking a plunge here showing you our pathetic cabinets with hopes that some of you might show me what is in yours.  ;)  No judging....

FWIW, I am 5'6", and I find the large, vertical cabinet over the counter top bump out and next to the sink difficult to reach, hence why only easily accessible things are currently stored there.  ;D
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #1 –
Stuff that  I use daily goes where I can easily reach it.  I can only access the bottom 2 shelves of that vertical cupboard that you reference.  Stuff on the top shelf requires a step stool.  Directly over the sink is a sort of half shelf, right? On the bottom I use turntables for the many jars of herbs & spices, top is where the plastic storage containers live.  If they fall out on my head, no one is injured and they just land in the sink.  There is a teensy space over the microwave ... beer coozies live there ... nothing else makes sense.  The floor to ceiling pull-out shelves are Pantry and Appliance Land, drawers under cooktop are for pots and pans and cutting boards and mixing bowls, drawers under credenza/hutch thingy are for foils & wraps, onions & potato storage, and the deep one at the bottom is for the wine & liquor.  Dishes and glassware go in the cupboard at the top of the hutch.  Just load everything in as close to your arrangement at home ... it will all find it's place as you go. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #2 –
Carol, you are so helpful.  Thank you.  Your layout has us both scratching our head now with fresh ideas.  We have been fulltimers in our Foretravel for 3 months now, and when we literally dumped all the contents of our sticks and bricks inside, things found a home where they fit, not necessarily where they made the most sense.  i.e. Dutch oven in the overhead compartment; important papers in the microwave, etc.  :D

I love hearing of the differences with how your home is organized differently.  We store our wine and spirits in the small cabinet under the window and across from the couch.  The bottom cabinets and shelves of the hutch is our mobile office space, crucial since we both work full time from the motorhome. 

Two questions:  what everyday essential things do you put in the vertical cupboard?  what do you store in the three narrow slide out shelving cupboard thingies next to the fridge?  That is where all of our spices are.   



The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Siren –
Carol, you are so helpful.  Thank you.  Your layout has us both scratching our head now with fresh ideas.  We have been fulltimers in our Foretravel for 3 months now, and when we literally dumped all the contents of our sticks and bricks inside, things found a home where they fit, not necessarily where they made the most sense.  i.e. Dutch oven in the overhead compartment; important papers in the microwave, etc.  :D

I love hearing of the differences with how your home is organized differently.  We store our wine and spirits in the small cabinet under the window and across from the couch.  The bottom cabinets and shelves of the hutch is our mobile office space, crucial since we both work full time from the motorhome. 

Two questions:  what everyday essential things do you put in the vertical cupboard?  what do you store in the three narrow slide out shelving cupboard thingies next to the fridge?  That is where all of our spices are. 

Liked this thread as we have the same coach.  Never thought about the cabinet across from the couch.  Empty so far. 

Wire is 5'11" and reaches the top cabs fine so that expands things.

What do you have in the cabinets across from the refer and under the china cabinet on the aisle? And the one next to the refer on the left?

I swear I am going to put in a compactor undef the china cabinet.  Love to have an oven and maybe a garbage disposal.  And a small dishwasher like the discontinued husqvarna minnette.  Did not like out fisher and paykel dish drawer.  Threw them ways after enough repairs and poor cleaning in our home

Bob
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #4 –
Bob - I'm glad you get a kick out of this thread.  I was beginning to think that kitchen layout doesn't get a lot of traction around here.  :P

The three drawers facing the fridge are temporarily storing office stuff.  What our ultimate goal is to install something like this:
http://www.ovisonline.com/Silver-RV-Door-Mounting-Kit-P1473C123.aspx#.UoWMqOJ1lLr  Currently we have a roaming trash can.  The top drawer is our pens/pencils/highlighters/paper clips, etc.  See picture below.  I also added a picture of the shallow shelves on the front of the hutch.  I am quite happy with how I have it organized with everyday office supplies.  :)

Our shelves next to the fridge all have their purpose.  I was thrilled when I realized how to adjust their height.  From the pictures below you will see that the top four shelves are all various light bulbs.  The last shelf in the top cupboard is spices, along with the 1st shelf in the second cupboard.  The next picture shows the last two shelves which store our magic bullet, mini handy chopper, and robo stir'rs. The bottom cupboard is all cat stuff. 

Hence, why Lily feels the need to investigate every time I pull out those shelves.  :D
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #5 –
My coach is currently empty ... M..T!!!!  We just moved in to our new winter digs, and I needed to use most of my stuff while I accumulate a few things ... and I want to give it all a good think before I begin restocking.  I do not have the shallow shelves under the china cupboard, since we have a slide.  I have drawers that open into the aisle and not a compactor ... but I LOVED the one that was in our '95.  The small pull-out can racks next to the fridge are for ... cans, mostly. The middle one also has the handy EVOO, salt-grinder, pepper mill and stuff that I use a LOT when cooking.  In the floor to ceiling pull-out shelves, paper goods and light stuff or seldom used goes at the very top.  Then we have the canisters with stuff that needs to be air-tight.  If I don't have a canister, it all gets sealed in heavy zip-locks.  Next are more pantry items, rather organized by use ... baking stuff goes together; grains, seeds, lentils, rice, etc with dinner items; and the bottom 2 shelves are stuff like the little rice cooker, the electric frying pan (REALLY gets used a LOT), colanders, small stock pot, stick blender, hand mixer, and some other stuff that I can't remember.  My kitchen equipment has bled into the bathroom cupboard a bit.  We do not have a washer, so I use that bottom half of the closet to store some large items like the Crock Pot, Pyrex, silicone bakeware, etc.  When I move stuff back, I will try and remember to take photos. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Carol Savournin –
My coach is currently empty ... M..T!!!!  We just moved in to our new winter digs...

Is it like a boat, wherein after you unload, the "pile" next to it is twice as big as the boat itself? :))

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #7 –
As usual "built especially for you" means the original owners, the Richardsons, ordered mine differently.

I have slide out narrow  pantry shelves on the china cabinet side just before the bathroom and a deep cabinet with a slide out drawer on its bottom on the aisle end of the lower cabinet under the china cabinet.

We have a set of three deep slide out drawers in a wider lower cabinet next to the refer.  Upper cabinet next to the refer has a cross bar for hanging clothes.

I miss my trash compactor and may see if I can get one in the lower cabinets end under the china cabinet someday. 

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #8 –
I personally do not get involved with the use of cabinets (Ruthie's job) but I did "fix" one above the dining table as the cooking & baking dishes were always rattling, which really bugs me. So I made this "easy in and easy out" rack especially sized for each dish she uses. It does use up a bit more room than stacking them on top of each other but as there is a lot of room all over it does not matter.
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #9 –
We found that the thin drawers alongside the fridge make a good place for wine and liquor bottles as they are adjustable for height.  Also we keep cans there.  One tip;  get some "Paraffin Wax", it's a whitish translucent wax, at the hardware store and rub it on the bottom of the draws where they slide on the wood supports.  Makes then a lot easier to pull in and out.  A previous owner (Carol?) put labels on the pantry draws.  Good idea as it stops the man of the coach constantly asking "Where's the....?

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #10 –
Do you mean today or yesterday. Seems to be my wife's goal to keep me confused. I did take the spice rack from the door of the one cabinet and cut the back out of leaving only a thin rib around toe perimeter and that allows the larger spice bottles.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #11 –
I find drawers are more convenient than shelves when you need to maximize space and keep things from rattling while moving. It's much easier to find something in a drawer than at the back of a shelf! Don installed a couple of metal drawers that he had in his house previously to augment the ones that are in the coach.

I have all the appliances in the cupboard over the sink with a bar in place for security while traveling. Once parked the kettle sits on the table making it easy to access the blender, etc.

Tys and Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #12 –
This was posted long ago on the forum:
Dish Storage
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #13 –
I use a dish towel to pot holder between pots & pans and lids in the drawers under the cooktop to keep the things from rattling ... all needed for the same function. For Pyrex or dishes, some smallish squares of non-skid do the trick.  In the "wine drawer", I made some reusable sleeves of bubble wrap for the wine bottles that work well.  There is always something handy to cushion a rattle or wedge something to secure it.  We have had ZERO breakage (knock wood), so I must be doing something right!  I DID learn that when I stored cleaning supplies (laundry detergent or a big jug os Dawn) under the fridge that I should put it in a cheap dishpan.  We had a bottle go onto it's side during one trip.  Holy Cow!  It is amazing how that stuff spreads and how many bubbles it will actually make during cleanup!!  Of course, the coach smelled like a laundry for 2 weeks ... and we now use the "pods" instead of a bottle of liquid ... and those little suckers really swell up when you hit the high altitudes!  I just learned to be careful. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: acousticart –
I have all the appliances in the cupboard over the sink with a bar in place for security while traveling.

Tys - re: the cupboard over the sink

Did your cupboard originally have a wooden shelf about mid-height, and only half width?  Your last image shows all of your appliances in the cupboard, and upon looking at our wood half shelf, it seems to be removable.  Did you unscrew the shelf, or has anyone else done that to make the cupboard more user friendly?   
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #15 –
No, Amanda, our cupboard did not have a half shelf when we bought it but the previous owners might have removed it.

Tys
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson
 

Re: How do you arrange your kitchen cabinets?

Reply #16 –
Any liquid, dish soap, hand soap, shampoo, etc. To keep it from blowing all over the place simply drill a small, 1/16th in hole right by the top so the pressure can adjust. Works every time!
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk