PANTRY RAID

Just because it’s behind closed doors doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a showstopper. BY SAMANTHA

BROOKS

Wall Streit was brought on to give order and create a system for the pantry and prep station of this updated ranch-style home. The large kitchen was designed for chefs, with a sixburner range and two refrigerators— but a small pantry tucked to the side of the open space. “It was o to a good start as the homeowner set up the pantry for success upon move in,” Wall Streit says. “However, the key is to constantly take note of what is working for you and your family and learn how to keep it that way. I recommend once-amonth, 15-minute purges. It helps free up room from old seasonal items or things that may have expired.”

If you’ve ever watched episodes of The Kardashians just for the pantry footage—rows and rows of perfectly organized grains, protein bars, condiments, and supplies, all arranged like works of art—or had the TikTok algorithm quickly learn your preferences for organizational beforeand-after videos, you’re in good company with Christina Wall Streit, a Los Angeles–based professional organizer and shopper.

“While there’s no real degree for ‘organizing,’ it’s something I have been into ever since I was a kid and shared a room with my sister,” she says. “I have always loved finding efficient and neat ways to store things. In elementary school, I was the kid who came home on Friday, vacuumed the crumbs and pencil mess out of their backpack, sharpened their pencils, and then made sure everything was in its place for Monday.”

Now, she works with a roster of clients across the city on projects ranging from under-counter tweaks to get cleaning supplies in order, to full-scale kitchen makeovers, closet organizing, and styling. Wall Streit is always on the hunt for new and creative ways to add functional organization to a home. Here, she takes us through a recent kitchen-pantry makeover, sharing her guidance to help you purge, merge, and create order. christinawallstreit.com

Where To Shop

WALL STREIT’S PRO TIPS:

n A wooden clipboard is great when you—or anyone in your household—are in the pantry and realize you’re out of something. Jot it down and snap a pic with your phone before you head to the store. It’s a great way to keep from buying things you don’t need.

n Clear containers are the perfect way to display the snacks you want your family to have easy access to.

n Hide the not-so-healthy snacks or things that aren’t as aesthetically pleasing in wooden boxes.

n Always keep your glass jars looking fresh by washing them every time you refill them.

n Especially for narrow or smaller pantries, keep your everyday items like, flour, pancake mix, and sugar in large glass containers on your kitchen counter. It looks decorative, but it’s also so efficient.

Wall Streit says the best supplies don’t have to break the bank. “Ikea is a great place to find inexpensive pantry items. I actually prefer their baskets for the pantry because they are easy to rinse or wipe down if you have any spills,” she says. “All of the glass jars are from The Container Store, but I have also found tons of them at flea markets. I like to search around my client’s home as well for things that we can repurpose, such as glass candle jars or wood tea boxes to hold smaller items.”