When we first built this place, I anticipated the space under the basement stairs would turn into one of these.
Well, it's been 5 years. If we wait much longer, I'll have to build this for my grandchildren. Then, my friend did something similar to this in her stairwell, and I fell in love. Fell. in. love.
There's always the basket option. Very pretty, but let's remember. I fell in love. I can't necessarily cheat on the drawers at this point.
I considered this for a moment. Then I realized I don't drink. Well, not enough to actually use it. I would just feel cool to pull it out, only to realize it'd be stocked with juice boxes and pop.
Back to the crockpot. If I turn the handles 7/8" and raise the pan next to it at a 48 degree angle, it fits just fine. But wouldn't it look better in something like this? Noticing their crockpot yet? Don't get me started on the platters! Pure genius.
And, of course, all my non-perishables would be in beautiful containers like these. And my door would be painted with chalkboard paint. And I would have white dishes that dust themselves.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's remember my reality. This is what my pantry would resemble--sort of. Mine's bigger. It can fit a crockpot.
So what d'ya think? Are you using your under-stair-storage area? And by "using", I don't mean, do you have pillows stuffed in between the studs and sheets hanging from the ceiling to make it into a fort. I mean using. :-)Pictures:
inspiredroom.net
cottageliving.com
countryliving.com
closetdesigns.com
flickr.com
54 comments:
It's all really cool! I love it!
I love the baskets! Thanks for sharing your great ideas! I did a post about stairs a few weeks ago!
Thanks for sharing!
UGH! I would love to have a large pantry!
I throughly enjoyed looking at your photo ideas!
Someday...in my dream home...there will be an endless space to store all of my necessary, and unncessary, appliances! Awwww!
You are hilarious!!!
Great minds think alike I say! Tonight I cleaned out my built in under my stairway!
Well of course I can't just clean something and let it be, I started painting it black too! I hoped for it to look like...well.. something amazing that it doesnt look like yet. That's what I get for thinking I can take on a sanding/painting/drilling ripping down a built in project at 10:00 at night :) :) :)
We tucked a refrigerator into the space under our stairs. It's kind of like a pantry . . . ;)
Oh, jeez...compared to all this my pantry is a hot, sticky, mess...complete with a spilled box of baking soda and some random toddler goodies my two year old has stored in there for me...
I have plans for a playhouse too. I'm not holding my breath. Mimi
This post put me in a good mood tonight, you're hilarious! I put food storage in our little room under the stairs, it's all stacked up. But not too pretty.
My dream kitchen would have a huge pantry, because I love to cook and I have lots of kitchen "STUFF". Thanks for the inspiration. Great post. Love & blessings from NC!
Wow! It all looks great! We have two sets of stairs - one right on top of the other. The top is used for walking down the bottom set. But there is a HUGE space under that and it is filled to the brim with Christmas. It is great safe, dry storage for my precious decorations. The wreaths hang above from the steps. Works great and it is right off the laundry room so I can peak in every now and then just for fun. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Great idea's and yes I too would love to use some of thast wasted space under our stairs. I think we could make our pantry larger.
Dream on right.....?
Jody
hmmmmm....
I'm lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry...but it's not nearly as nice as the ones you've shown. When we built our house we made sure to carve out space for a pantry- which means I have a tiny library/office as a trade-off.
Our basement...that's the Annoying Project that probably never will be finished. I think we were planning on using as storage for various luggage pieces. We were also planning on putting a small fridge and microwave under the stairs since we were going to make the basement into our movie theater space but that's not going to happen anymore. So..who knows what we'll do!
By the way...I made the hand sanitizer gift....http://thelopsidedhouse.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-day-treats-fun-craft-project.html
:)
lol...we have an area in the basement...it's filled with stuff...stuff that used to be in the attic ath old house...It's all piled in...so if I want to find something, I have to pull it all out...I too dream of something practical and beautiful...
I have never even really though of using it...but now my mind is rolling. What a great idea.
I love all of these ideas! I would kill to have a real pantry. We have three roll out drawers and that's it! It's not enough!
I love that second to last pictures...I love any storage especially with baskets:)!
-sandy toe
we just bought a new house and i'm not sure if we can actually use the underportion of the stairs because of the way they are layed out...but it's something i'll certainly have to look into. i am already trying to plan how to carve into walls so that various nooks can be made!! good luck in whatever you decide to do; the photos with the baskets is incredible!!
jenifriend
You are incredible! Your blog has become one of my top two favorites - you and Rhoda from Southern Hospitality. Always such neat practical ideas that don't cost a fortune and actually fill a need. Thanks again!
BTW, I made two of your sanitizer bottles to give as gifts - fun and usful! You. Are. Great!
My house is so small, under the stairs is the only storage I have. Love-Love-Love how pretty it could be. Mines not. Cheap shelves, and Top ramon in grocery sacks hung on the wall. HAHA
Have a good day.
Sandra
LOVE LOVE LOVE the inspiration. We actually have tons of storage under our stairs, but re using it right now as more of a coat/shoe area. I probably have more things on the top of the list before I can start this project, but I love the idea of having the dining storage, i.e. glasses, tablecloths, etc. Thanks! Just beautiful!
The back of our stairs is actually our pantry in the kitchen. Which works kinda well b/c it lets the pantry be just a tad bit deeper than if it were just a regular closet. However, I do think there is at least enough room left in the living room area for us to fit one drawer under the stairs. That is a magnificent idea!
I had a family member who had a small door with a small closet area under stairs. It was big enough for an adult to sit in comfortably or a child to use. It was their media storage room.
I think they are great ideas! I especially love the drawers because they would look so nice and pretty when not in use, but convenient when needed. I unfortunately don't have room under my stairs, except in my basement. And right now, I think it's a bunch of dog hair, some old paint cans and who knows what else. I have, however, thought about doing something with it when the whole basement gets a makeover down the road.... good luck with your makeover!
So cool, I love all of them. I'll have to add this idea to my evergrowing list of project ideas! My husband will be thrilled, I tell ya. :)
I think I will be dreaming of a pantry for a long time to come. But these are very inspirational!
Such cute ideas! Mine is chock-a-block full of coats, snow suits, boots, card tables, backpacks, etc. Some day I'll have something pretty like this. I don't have a pantry. I store food in one cabinet and the misc. pots are squirreled on shelves in the garage. (BTW MY crock pot lives in the big cabinet under the cook top)
I featured you and your cute hand cleaner craft on my blog today! :)
No - we have split stairs - so the "under" of them go down to our (now don't get mad at me) basement. When/if we ever finish down there, I would like to convert it to storage. My crock pot is sadly on the floor of my pantry...that is how miserable my pantry is. Long time no see - hope I didn't say something to offend you, you know I just like to be my little (ok, medium) sarcastic self.
Our "under stairs storage" is a wine cellar complete with racks, fridge and all that good stuff. It was already there when we bought the house. Unfortunately, I don't drink wine. I really would love to use it for something else...oh, like a coat closet or somewhere to hide the vacuum cleaner. Can you believe we don't have either of those places?
I'm glad you defined "using." I guess I'd have to say no. The space is holding crutches/ice pack contraptions from my husband's two knee surgeries, framed pictures of my in-laws that I feel funny about displaying or throwing away and some pink glass dishes I never use (but can't bear to part with) since I have boys. I LOVE the pictures you posted - so inspiring!
Hi! I have just discovered your blog and I have loved every post! I love pantry's so much that we will soon be stealing space from our dining room just to make a walk in. Your post has me feeling very inspired! As far as under the stairs, I have that last photo cut out and in my file. I plan on doing exactly that but for cleaning supplies /vaccum storage.
I love the ideas! I also dream of a bigger pantry as I stockpile stuff when it goes on sale. I love the under the stairs idea, hmm...I had forgotten about it, wondering what is under my last set of stairs before the basement--we have a tri-level house. Those stairways are awesome, I love clever usage of space like that! Thanks for the ideas! Now...when to get to City Hall to get the blueprints for my house? :)
Mine is used for craft storage and I WILL NOTTTTTT be sharing those pictures!! hehehe!
Oh my goodness - the drawers are amazing! Who would have thunk it?! Thanks for letting some of us dream with you!
We have this super ugly and old bar/sink area, under our stairs! The cabinets currently have all our games in it, which is helpful though. We're about to sheet rock the whole thing; bye bye ugly sink! Talk about out of place in the house! too weird.
I don't have a walk in pantry, but do have an unfinished basement that in my dreams has a huge finished pantry and some robot to go downstairs and get everything for me!
In my old house under the stairs was a coat closet. We don't have stairs in our current house.
I would love a pantry.
My stairs are in my foyer, not my kitchen, so I couldn't really use the space under them for a pantry. I do have it set up as a play area though, with a child size table and chairs and a short shelving unit with bins holding toys and books. It's like a little "play room" withing the foyer but confined to the depth of the stairs.
Heck no I'm not.
I've never seen such great ideas. The thing is there is so much space there.
Now I know what my new sprink project will be.
Thanks for the amazing idea!!!
I love the drawers under the stairs, too! We use the space under the stairs for coats, shoes, purses, and backpacks. I would love for it to be more organized, and for my kids to stop just opening the door and throwing things in!
A girl can dream... I only wish I had stairs to work with. You have some great ideas there!
we have the set up like your first picture. it's full of luggage, bedding for our camper, a vaccum, and the drums/guitar from World Tour.
Not nearly as fabulous.
Our understair room does actually hold quite a wine collection. That we never drink much less look at or show off. It also holds a buttload of shoes, which means even if we did want to look at it or drink it we couldn't get to it and it would smell like dirty feet!
I'm in LOVE with that 5th picture of the pantry! I have large pantry but it has nasty wire shelves!
Well, I'd just take ANYTHING bigger than I have! Great post!
I live in California. I don't have stairs and none of my friends do, either.
Sigh.
We have spiders under our stairs, I store my husband's old things, that I know he'll never wear again but won't throw out... it is rather pathetic...
Those are all very cool ideas for under the stairs, but I have an actual room under mine. And it's all mine! I use it to store my stuff & there are bookshelves & a filing cabinet, along with all my craft stuff, fabric stash, etc. It's great to have a real room to hide things in.
Our pantry is under the stairs - like your last photo in this post - and I hate it. I have to ask my kids to find stuff in it because I'm either bumping my head or I can't see what I'm looking for because it is too low.
I would love to have bookshelves built into the space under the stairs, filled with lovely leatherbound classics...
Love the photo ideas. The organization junkie in me about died :)
OK love the inspiration pics LOVE! I stumbled here from Imperfectly Beautiful (I think??) and have to say that if you notice that some crazy lady from Michigan blog stalked you for an hour or so at a ridiculous time of morning. That would be me! My dear son woke me coughing and needing a breathing treatment at 4am and unfortunately I can't get back to sleep BUT the bottom line is I LOVE YOUR DECORATING sense. I am so excited to add you to my google reader account. Thanks for the inspiration! Sorry about the babbling but that is "how I roll" when I'm tired!
I would love to have a nice big pantry. It should be something that all homes should have.
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i love all of the ideas. I would have never thought to do any of them. So-which of the ideas are you going to do? Make sure you post!
I am having a giveaway. Come and stop by!
Have a great monday
I love the basket idea. I am, however, already using my under-stair area, and I just blogged about it last week. :)
http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/02/from-awkward-coat-closet-to-fun-toy.html
~ Sarah
Ours is full of and I mean full of baseball cards in rubbermaid tubs. At least their not in the living room...
I love all these ideas!
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