A Spicy Project that is two years and counting

I have to be honest this project has been longer than two years.  This is something I have always thought.... there just has to be a better way to store these spices.  Years ago when we redid our kitchen cabinets I had two must haves in the new kitchen:  1.  White Cabinets (I did not get them.) 2.  A cabinet for spices.  (Again, I did not get that either.)

I really wanted something similar to this idea from Better House and Gardens.

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Unfortunately that would not work out in the design because I had such a little kitchen and my hubby was not willing to expand the kitchen or combine it with the dining room.   So I had to let it go.  

However my mind was always thinking of places that I could put the spices.  Then I thought we could hang racks on the outside of one of the cabinets similar to this idea from Pinterest.... 

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Again my hubby did not like that idea, however he did hang two racks inside a cabinet for me.  However these two pictures planted a seed inside my head......look at how nicely all the jars match.  I would love to do something like that.  I have a lot of mismatch spice jars.  I also need to be honest I have and obsession with matching things.

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This blog post at Raising Up Rubies really tempted me.  I almost ran out and purchased lots of little mason jars and spray painted them, however I stopped myself more than once.  Where was I going to put them.  I needed to stay with the traditional size jars.  I decided to stick with the Spice Island jars because they fit the best in the rack and baskets I have.  However, I like the covers from the McCormick spices.  They are red like my kitchen.  So I am combining the two elements I like from each company.  

It has taken me two years to save jars and tops to have enough for the spices I use the most.  I keep those in the cabinet near the stove.  

My other spices I keep in the pantry closet.  I finally have enough of the same bottles so they all look the same.  

As I need to purchase refills.  I will buy the McCormick brand so I can start collecting the red tops.  I don't know how long that will take me.   It may take another two years, but for now I am happy that all the bottles are the same.   I am considering spray painting the covers red.  I need to ponder it a bit more.  

 I have the jars in alphabetical order in the baskets so they are easier to find.   

When I was finished the spices I clean and organized the entire closet.