I love pretty packaging. A lot of companies are really good at packaging their products so they are pretty enough to display. There are also a lot of companies that don't. I have a problem with all those too bright boxes and containers that scream at you from the grocery store shelves. Buy me! Buy me!
To remedy that I simply transfer the contents into containers I like. Some I like because they look good and some I like because they are plain but practical.
Honey
Cereal
Sugar
Macaroni
On some of the more practical ones I make labels for the cooking time as well as the contents.
This is where the practical ones go. The reason for them is partly that I can reach what's on the top shelf without a step stool but I also like the uniform look up there.
And this is were the pretty bought spice packages go and also my transferred ones.
Pretty jars and spices! It really inspires cooking/baking.
Posted by: Tracey | August 15, 2008 at 01:13 PM
You're amazing. Really.
Do you have any tips for decanting? I often find it's messy or difficult to get all the ingredients transferred from one container to another. I'm still searching for the perfect funnel ....
Posted by: Patia | August 15, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Vilken otroligt fin flingburk!
Posted by: Kajsa | August 15, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Patia, I saw a jam jar funnel on Martha once. It had a wide mouth which would probably work well for dry ingredients too. Also on Martha they made funnels from cut apart upsidedown plactic bottles. I have to try that!
Kajsa, flingburken är några år gammal från Lagerhaus :)
Posted by: Benita | August 15, 2008 at 03:35 PM
I love this! I buy almost everything in bulk at my local co-op so we use alterna-containers too. And have you seen the site Debranded Home? They sell labels for this exact purpose. They also have how-tos to make a lot of your own stuff and "debrand" your home.
http://debrandedhome.com/
Posted by: Rachel | August 15, 2008 at 03:40 PM
I love this too! and wish that my home looked a little more like yours...I've nominated you over at my blog, please go over and have a look! :-)
Posted by: cecilia | August 15, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Love this post. I mostly transfer all my dry goods into glass mason jars, but still working on less messiness and overstuffing of pantry.
Posted by: Ksenia in Canada | August 15, 2008 at 05:38 PM
Wow! Your pantry looks so great. Getting rid of all the labels keeps it so simple. Opening my pantry can be blinding because of all the busy packaging overwhelming the eyeballs.
Another reason I really love this idea is that then you can buy containers that fit your pantry. Sometimes the commercial boxes are so awkward, and the companies keep changing the shapes and sizes anyway (grrr). This keeps everything neat for all time...not just while that particular item's box works for you.
Posted by: devil | August 15, 2008 at 07:08 PM
beautiful !
Love the repackaged display..
Posted by: h&b | August 16, 2008 at 02:05 AM
Thanks, Benita. I will look for that jam jar funnel. I have actually tried making one of Martha's plastic bottle funnels. Mine doesn't work very well, but maybe I need to try some different size bottles.
Posted by: Patia | August 16, 2008 at 03:09 AM
Gorgeous! We have a brand of honey that comes in a little plastic bottle that is a bear. Very cute. I don't think the honey is particularly a good brand, but the "honey bear" is adorable.
I love the colorful art on kids' cereal boxes (like Tony the tiger). I keep them on top of my refrigerator. Definitely not minimalist, but a burst of crazy color.
Posted by: maddy | August 16, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Rachel, I'm heading over to Debranded right away! Thanks for the tip!
Cecilia, thank you so much for the nomination. How sweet!
Maddy, I agree that some cereal boxes ARE cute :) We have a few of those bear honey bottles actually. Will get one out tonight. They are too cute!
Posted by: Benita | August 18, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Vilken fin ordning du har i köket, jag får nog kolla lite närmre på din blogg för jag gillar det jag ser =)
Posted by: Martina | August 23, 2008 at 09:13 AM
I do this too, although I have a hard time finding containers that I like and that fit the purpose. I like those on the left of the last photo, are those IKEA?
Posted by: Linda | August 25, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Linda, the jars are not from IKEA but from a local department store called Åhléns. I think IKEA has similar ones called BURKEN though.
Posted by: Benita | August 25, 2008 at 08:19 AM
I really like this post, mostly because I feel the same about storing food: it has to look good! This is how I do it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmargot/2827957179/
Posted by: Margot | September 04, 2008 at 05:01 PM