My old spice drawer had many issues:
– out of space
– tins not airtight
– arbitrary alphabetical organization
– no labelling for spice-impaired
– selection had grown from base pantry ingredients to a “collection”
Research led to a better organizational principle: botanical taxonomy as in Order-Family-Genus-Species, per the International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi and plants, 2012 (the Melbourne code); and International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, 2010.
Arrangement into a periodic table shape was possible but too “cute” and wasted a lot of space. (A guy did a magnetic spice rack similar to this on Instructables, but used the crappy tins I was getting rid of, and took up 24”x36” of wall space that I don’t have, for half as many spices as I have.)
I did have a doorless kitchen cabinet available, 11”d x 17”w x 30”h, after removing little-used wine shelves.
My compact “periodic” table formed the organizational backdrop for the spice rack. This graphic is actually a spreadsheet in Apple’s Numbers app. Here, have it (PDF download).
I printed it on 30-mil styrene and punched holes for shelf supports.
I designed U-shaped shelves to support ten 4oz jars each, with three shelf support contact points. Researched acrylic, glass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Prototyped steel and aluminum.
Produced the final shelves in 1/8″ aluminum at a local metal shop with a water jet cutter. Sanded the edges and faces for a scuffed stainless “commercial kitchen” look.
I drilled the empty cabinet with holes for shelf pegs, and added a battery-powered LED light fixture above.
Here’s the periodic table of spices, wrapping the back and sides of the cabinet in a U-shape.
Shelf pegs and shelves installed, face edges of aluminum shelves blacked with Sharpie to match borders on the periodic table.
Spice jars installed, each labeled with its two-letter symbol.
Night light mode
Bam.
Recently finished re-doing our kitchen – large spice drawer by the stove with the most common 30 spices in alphabetic order, labeled and lying sideway, less common stuff up in a cabinet in the same jars. But now? spice rack envy.
This has brought on a minor nerdgasm. Love the spice jars!
Any specifics on the jars used? Or did I miss that somewhere in the article?
Same question here.
Did 45 seconds of Googling. They might be these: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/libbey-71355-4-5-oz-vibe-spice-jar-with-lid-12-case/55171355.html
Or these:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/anchor-hocking-95941-4-oz-studio-spice-jar-with-lid-6-case/55095941.html
I used 4-fl.oz. candle jars from Specialty Bottle. They have a great shape and an airtight seal. http://www.specialtybottle.com/studioglasscandlejar4ozwglasslid.aspx
I see you printed it on 30-mil styrene, I also see that your cupboard was 30″ high, can you tell me for your cupboard what was the width your styrene was when flat?
I would have used slightly less-rigid 10-mil or 20-mil styrene but I could not find any at local sign shops. The width of the print is 32″ and the height is actually 29.5″.
thanks!
very well done!! super cool!!
Thanks!
I am in awe. SO COOL!!!
Incredibly cool.
Nerdgasm here! I love it – great job.
This is by far one of the sickest ideas I’ve ever seen. Major Applaud here!
Well Done!
Incredible! great use of existing space. Any chance you would share the Numbers file (or as xlsx) for us to blend up? Thx!
Simply brilliant!
Share that spreadsheet please!
Thanks
Awesome work…now trying to persuade wife that I need to make this! (Also, MUST BUY MORE SPICES!)
beautiful
For those who asked, here is the spreadsheet that the design comes from. https://www.icloud.com/numbers/0hBvMePepBgkrp-ilB96LL9pA#spice
It is a working document and I’m sharing it as read-only but you may find it useful to copy some of the tables and paste into your own documents.
The original design includes 80 spices but the table lists over 120 (and counting). Use what you like. There are also separate tabs where I’d started lists of common spice blends, and common kitchen compounds (salt, baking soda, etc.)
FYI I’ve moved house since the original project so I’m working on a redesign to fit a different cabinet. Cheers and good luck with your project!
I see you printed it on 30-mil styrene, I also see that your cupboard was 30″ high, can you tell me for your cupboard what was the width your styrene was when flat?
The width of the print is 32″ and the height is actually 29.5″.
Absolutely LOVE this, well done you! Wish my husband had energy for such interesting projects :)
How much do you reckon it cost you all together?
@Catherine – comment replies don’t seem to be working on the site but to answer your question I spent about $200, half that on the jars and half on the shelves and backdrop. I’ve since moved house and I’m redesigning to fit a different space – I think I’ll be in about $60 for that since I have all the jars already.
Sir,
You are my hero.
Sincerely,
M.
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