Organize your Kitchens : Pot Racks

Nothing eats up valuable cabinet space like a full set of pots and pans. And for cooks who like to get serious

in the kitchen, rummaging through stacks of pans in the heat of preparation is a major inconvenience. That's why many home chefs prefer to store their most-used cookware on an overhead rack, where all of the pieces are visible at a glance and you can easily reach up and pluck down what you need without having to search through a cabinet.

The three custom pot racks shown on the following pages combine the space-saving convenience of pot hangers with a deep storage shelf aboveperfect for storing stock pots and other hard-to-hang pieces or a collection of your favorite cookbooks. The simple designs can be customized with any finish and hardware you like, and you can size your unit to fit any space in your kitchen. Because the racks are wallhung,

you don't need an island or a high ceiling, like you do with many ceiling-hung pot systems.

All of the materials for these racks are available at most home centers and hardware stores. You can also shop online to choose from a wide range of specialty hardware, including shelf brackets, hanging rods, and hooks in various materials and finishes such as stainless steel, wrought iron, nickel, chrome, and brass. For a built-in look, choose a shelf material and finish that matches your kitchen's cabinets and woodwork. 

Lumberyards and hardwood suppliers carry solid and edge-glued 1 x 12 stock in almost any species of wood. For a painted shelf, use 3A" poplar, or use basic melaminecoated shelf stock and leave it unpainted.