With three decades of experience in the food industry and behind-the-scenes talents garnered at restaurants and retail operations, Stacy Klone knows that great things start in the kitchen. For her personal mission as the owner of Plymouth-based KitchenWerks, it’s about “getting you to go to your kitchen table rather than the drive-thru.”
When she’s not doing in-home organization marathons or hosting cooking parties or shop-smarter classes for clients, Klone offers these tips on organizing the special space where everyone always gathers.
Reduce
In your kitchen, “If you’re not going to eat 23 cans of beans this week, why have more?” Figure out how much you’ll actually eat in a week, and only keep that much in stock. That way, you’ll only replenish what you need when stopping at the store. Donate that excess food to a local charity.
Arrange
Save yourself from frustration by placing items next to similar items. When Klone wants to fire up the grill, she knows she can get all the tools she needs in one trip—no hunting for tongs here. Sort and store appliances by how frequently they’re used to clear up counter space.
Be Democratic
Get the entire family on board to have an organized kitchen; everyone should know the system of what goes where. “You all have to be involved,” says Klone, so that one “doesn’t work their tail off” while the others go back to old habits of putting things “away” willy-nilly.
Take Time
For those who want to go the do-it-yourself route, Klone suggests they start small when it comes to spring cleaning and organizing. The kids will be thankful when they come home, hungry after playing outside, and the entire contents of the fridge aren’t spread out across the table when it’s dinnertime.
