Julia Child pegboard can help organize
Great storage solutions are born from the fact that space is, in the end, limited.
In the case of our kitchens, there are only so many pots, pans, paring knives and gadgets that can fit. If yours are creeping beyond the accepted boundaries of the room, consider a little inspiration from the ultimate kitchen pro: Julia Child.
Not only was Child the person who brought French cooking to U.S. kitchens, but she was also 6-foot-2. And she worked for a World War II-era spy agency. But her weakness? Kitchen tools.
A look at photos of Child’s home kitchen reveals that it was a generously sized room but still packed to overflowing: Knives are hung on magnetic racks on most vertical surfaces, including the side of a cabinet. There are crocks of utensils and miles of pegboard, hung with everything from skillets to ladles to whisks to fishshaped molds.
The outlines of pans were traced onto their spot on the boards, and a small picture was taped under each one, so pans were never misplaced. Her system was smart.
So when I, in a fit of tinykitchen angst, went looking for storage ideas, pegboard popped up right away. I realized that pegboard, done right, could be a tidy way to use a tight spot, such as behind a door.
My search also revealed a twist: A company called Wall Control offers a modular, metal pegboard system.
Offered in a few bright colors, as well as galvanized silver, have a slick, industrial look. It’s a nice update.