In my idle moments, one of my all-time favorite daydreams is that I have a perfect kitchen.
In my fantasy, it's a big eat-in kitchen with a double oven, perfect granite countertops, and absolutely zero spaghetti sauce stains to be seen.
Most important, it's full of nifty storage that makes use of every spare inch. We're talking a kitchen that operates at maximum efficiency!
Unfortunately, my reality doesn't quite match up (yet!), but there are lots of other folks out there who are already living the dream, and adding heaps of fuel to my wildest kitchen visions.
From the $100 kitchen makeover that had me reevaluating my budget to the ultra-deluxe versions on my favorite home makeover shows, there's inspiration everywhere.
At the moment, my very favorite project is a genius hidden spice rack that does a beautiful job of maximizing kitchen space, keeping things tidy, and making sure that every spice is right at your fingertips when you need it.
Scroll through below to see this spectacular DIY project unfolding!
The project, like so many great ideas, was born out of necessity.
Posting on the image-sharing site Imgur, the folks who made the spice rack explain that they use about 70 spices regularly and in large quantities, so they keep their spices in Mason jars.
Unfortunately, the large jars are too big for the average spice rack and are taking up a ton of much-needed storage space.
All told, they have about six crates of spices, most of which are kept in the large glass jars.
Up until now, they have been storing the spices in three rows that take up all the shelving under their kitchen island.
In fact, their stock of spices actually overflows the available storage, and two of the crates are actually on the ground underneath the island.
That's when they got the brilliant idea to create a rolling frame that could be tucked away in the otherwise unused space between the fridge and the wall.
First, they plotted out a few design ideas, mapping the best way to reach the jars using the jars themselves to measure.
They quickly realized that the jars would need to sit in the rack at a slight angle in order to accommodate all the space in the gap next to the fridge.
Next, they purchased lumber from the hardware store and cut it down to the right dimensions to start assembling the project.
There were lots of different pieces involved in the process, from the longer boards that make up the frame to smaller boards and dowels for the shelving.
They also needed a few additional materials, like wood glue and nails. For more information, you can check out the more detailed instructions on Imgur.
As the shelving unit slowly takes shape, you can see how the spice jars will eventually fit into the construction.
Throughout the process, they relied on Mason jars to help make sure everything would fit comfortably.
You can also see the wheels that will eventually help the spice rack move seamlessly out of the gap by the fridge.
Check out the nearly finished product!
You can see how perfectly the shelf fits into the narrow dead space beside the fridge.
The shelf is supported by the twin forces of the wall and the fridge, as well as a few supplemental pieces of lumber, and slides in and out of the space easily on its wheels.
Here, you can see the shelf stowed tidily in place when it's not in use.
It melts pretty seamlessly into the kitchen, and ensures that the previously occupied real estate elsewhere in the kitchen can now go to pots, pans, and other bulky items.
The crafter put a handle in place to pull the unit out, and is planning to stain it and finish it later.
Of course, the most beautiful part of the whole story is seeing the finished product in action!
If you crave an organized kitchen (like I do), this picture is catnip; just look how perfectly organized all those spices are, ready at your fingertips whenever you need them.
I'll go ahead and admit it: I'm entranced by this kitchen hack.
If you agree, please be sure to SHARE with every friend who loves cooking, crafting, or both!
