Having a chef as a husband = lots of herbs and spices. Most of our herbs were bought in big bulky containers too…restaurant grade of course. We even get gifted herbs and spices, it’s just the nature of who we are I guess! Our pantry is smaller than our coat closet (our one complaint with this house). And no spice rack has ever been large enough to accommodate the number of different spices we have going on in our cabinet. See…(and we have more stashed away!)
I got fed up with these taking up a whole cabinet, when we have other things crammed elsewhere because these spices were taking up so much room. I was walking around the hardware store and saw it…MAGNETIC PRIMER. This idea just popped into my head and I knew I had to do it! The back of this pantry door was destined to become a SPICE DOOR!
When buying this magnetic primer, make sure to have the paint person put the can in the shaker. The magnetic metal can clump up and it must be dispersed to apply evenly and give you a strong magnetic finish. Grab some extra stir sticks too, because you have to stir through out painting, more so than with regular paint.
The box the primer was packaged in and the can itself has pretty good directions. Either apply 2 thick coats or 3 thin coats. I did 3 (ok 4, I was paranoid) thin coats. This takes real guts and I suggest warning your spouse, significant other, roommate, who ever you live with, the back of the door is about to be BLACK for a few days…
Once you are finished applying all the coats of primer, time to return your door back to white or paint it some fun color you’ve always wanted to try. This took me 3 coats to accomplish. Use a label maker to print out labels for each of the spices. You will need to stick labels onto the magnetic containers or else a bunch of dried herbs are going to look the same! (The best deal I could find on magnetic containers was at IKEA, they have a 3 pack for $4.99)
Then fill your magnetic spice containers with the spices…which was tricky. I didn’t think about each herb and spice having a different density or weight to them. But they do. Some herbs I could fill the whole tin with and some I could only fill to a quarter. So don’t do what I did and fill every tin to the top with all your spices, because you will make a huge mess putting spoonfuls back into the bulk container.
Pop those babies onto the door and you are finish! Shew, thank goodness this worked out, or else we would’ve needed to buy a new door. And you maybe thinking, that isn’t very many spices…I have 30 more to go…yea…but, that cabinet is now EMPTY! 🙂
This Carolina Girl 
What a great idea!! I love how you worked out your dilemma. I think I have exactly the same pantry closet. It looks almost identical. 🙂 I have loads of spices too because I cook so much American, Sri Lankan and Asian food. I may just have to do that too. 🙂
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Great idea!
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that's neat! looks like someone is ready to cook, 🙂
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Looks great. I can relate. Tiny Manhattan kitchen equals barely any space. Not built with a cook in mind 😦
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Pretty cool. Have you had any issues with them falling off when you slam the door or some other strange event?
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Haven't had any problems so far. I did have to becareful about the weight of the particular herbs that I put in each container. I'll be sure to give the door a big slam and let know of any fall off 🙂
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What a lovely idea! Those IKEA magnet containers are perfect, they hold well on my door, much smaller though! 🙂
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Hi Krista! Greetings from California. I stopped by to say hello and thank you for the friend request on FB. I happily accepted. I apologize for taking so long to reply. Life here with work and such has been busy. I like your blog. Catchy title. And you my friend are a funny writer. How hilarious that you are the chef to a chef. What a treat to have so many spices to work with. And are cupboards always so neat and organized? Wow! Or did they just dress up for picture day? And great and efficient use of such limited space. You have a good idea going here.Please stop by and visit my blog when you get a chance. Besides food, I share by musings on life and relationships. Influences from my occupational background, I'm afraid. Again, thanks.Ciao!
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Hey Mario!I'm thrilled you think my before picture is neat and organized, because to me it looks like an absolute mess! So I guess it's the opposite of the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Just went over to read your blog, but had to stop. My stomach is already growling and it isn't even lunch time! But I will definitely stop by later on today. Thanks for the nice comments and look forward to sharing ideas!
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What a great idea. You know, we have the tea at our coffee house on a metal board in these little containers for people to smell and choose their flavor but I never thought of them for spice! Cool. A couple years ago my husband had a custom spice cupboard built for me— 5 ft tall, two feet wide and two spice bottles deep. It is packed- I am a spice hoarding with spice for all the international flavors! This cabinet has been great but I am getting a new kitchen now and the cabinet will not match. The new spice cabinet is not as convenient so I am thinking I could put twenty or so on a cabinet door— magnetic primer, huh? Great idea. May I pin this on my kitchen re do pintrest board?
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Spice hoarder, I like that term! Oh girl, please feel free to pin ANYTHING on this blog 🙂 And if you have any questions before you start with the primer, email me!
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Oh wow! What a great idea for a space saver!!
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WOW!! That is one of the best ideas I have come across for storing spices. My pet peeve with my new house is the “SMALL” pantry. I now know how to store my spices more efficiently!Thanks
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What a fantastic idea! I love it!! I had to move my spices into a cabinet because the rack was taking up too much room on my counter ( I don't have enough counter room) Now I need a pantry closet! LOL…I am so doing this when I get one!!
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Seriously, this was the best decision I've ever made. You could also do the same with the magnetic spice containers and use your fridge as the surface. Realized that AFTER I nearly ruined the door 🙂
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this looks genius!
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