![Before IMG_6977](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XfKcBdpFdy0/UVyBt6-t3DI/AAAAAAAADEs/2AzzJS2Qya4/IMG_6977_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Before IMG_6980](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-El4hbogsQj4/UVyBvaOTJ7I/AAAAAAAADE8/M_UK7Nz6yLE/IMG_6980_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Before IMG_6998](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xoMGxVFYjpc/UVyBxC0evDI/AAAAAAAADFM/NQ7sFmmGw5o/IMG_6998_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
These drawers look tame in the pictures above compared to normal! Most of our silverware is missing from the picture, but believe me when I say these drawers were usually crammed full!
I asked my handy husband if he would DIY some custom storage for the drawers & he was nice enough to oblige me! By the time he was finished, I had enough storage to condense everything in these three drawers down to just two! Let’s take a look at the finished product & then I’ll give you a quick how-to on the customized storage.
![DIY Silverware Storage IMG_7064](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gH48Qn_imNU/UVyByouB6MI/AAAAAAAADFc/MZeX-3WXybE/IMG_7064_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
This is a front view of all the silverware drawer from front to back I have teaspoons, table spoons, salad forks, dinner forks, knives, and steak knives. The side storage is for baby utensils and serving spoons & forks.
![Organized Eating Utensils IMG_7063](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NQB__pkSdVk/UVyB0fEq11I/AAAAAAAADFs/DqnLISCUEqc/IMG_7063_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
To be honest, the above pictures only show half the silverware, here’s the real life version:
![DIY Slatted Silverware Storage IMG_7066](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mt819TdUfTw/UVyB2NFxJyI/AAAAAAAADF8/PO_Aqd6xM4Y/IMG_7066_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The drawer on the other side of the stove holds cooking utensils and pot holders:
![Slatted Drawer Storage IMG_7067](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZVLxkIxkLu0/UVyB4BQrV_I/AAAAAAAADGM/fMfb8UROZfw/IMG_7067_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
After measuring the drawer & drawing out a plan, Mark created storage for my pot holders, ladles, spatulas, scrapers, ice cream scoops, & a couple of miscellaneous spaces for other utensils.
![Storing Kitchen Tools IMG_7069](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qFJGQri08KU/UVyB5SveANI/AAAAAAAADGc/GWOa6N3xOS4/IMG_7069_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I love how much these drawers store now & how functional they are!
Now, I will attempt to share how we created these custom organizers. First, we measured the drawers & then I sketched out a plan for the sizes of each bin & what would go in them (taking into account the size of the slats). Next, because I wanted these dividers to be removable, in case I ever changed my mind on what I want to store where, (I’m tired. Does that make sense?) Mark had to come up with a way to make them removable.
Here’s what he came up with:
![Spacers IMG_7050](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WSEHLt5d6uc/UVyB6-BlP3I/AAAAAAAADGs/92ARoAJGj6Q/IMG_7050_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
First, he took my measurements & nailed these small spacers onto one side of the drawer. Eventually, the slats would slide into them.
![Spacers for the Opposite Side IMG_7051](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aoBbu_5ctvY/UVyB8wzSkcI/AAAAAAAADG8/ZI1jBhFtFQo/IMG_7051_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Because we have storage going both vertically & horizontally in this drawer, he cut a piece of wood (we used lattice molding) the depth of the drawer & hot glued on more spacers. These would be parallel to the ones attached to the drawer.
![Routed Middle Piece IMG_7052](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2TFZz5o2Rw0/UVyB-dd6B7I/AAAAAAAADHM/bwJQsliVXEQ/IMG_7052_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
To make it stable, he routed some space in between the middle section of this piece.
![Fitting the Routed Pieces Together IMG_7053](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_vI318HJigM/UVyCAONxs5I/AAAAAAAADHc/NfDPtv_Ytds/IMG_7053_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Then he cut a piece of trim the width of the drawer & routed a section of the top to fit into the routed space from above. This would give the dividers some stability. It’s kind of hard to explain, so I’ll let the pictures do the talking:
![Routed Pieces Fit Together for Stability IMG_7054](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BrRQjQEZ6iI/UVyCCEY2wpI/AAAAAAAADHs/ANneCiGlr8Q/IMG_7054_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The picture above shows these two pieces put together.
![DIY Drawer Dividers IMG_7055](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gYYkWoFolXQ/UVyCDpolLXI/AAAAAAAADH8/JnCpV-1JRpg/IMG_7055_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
And here they are in the drawer. This gave us the two vertical storage bins & divided the silverware storage in half.
![Wooden Slats IMG_7056](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HHMXRxtOtfs/UVyCFZCPa7I/AAAAAAAADIM/C0VzY-zTqfg/IMG_7056_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Next, Mark cut some trim pieces to sit between the spacers.
![Slatted Drawer Dividers IMG_7057](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kn3h7-wo73w/UVyCHA2VImI/AAAAAAAADIc/OOp-dCqvWeI/IMG_7057_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here it is after all the pieces are put together.
![DIY Wooden Utensil Storage IMG_7003](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9jUic3Bz1qI/UVyCIqu0pnI/AAAAAAAADIs/ZPq67gnihnU/IMG_7003_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
After labeling everything,
![Wooden Divided Silverware Storage IMG_7058](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zDvu0D1X9FI/UVyCKsCZiMI/AAAAAAAADI8/3uybfXi2anY/IMG_7058_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I loaded it with silverware!
![Slatted Drawer Storage IMG_7060](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vJdz7pKj7Ro/UVyCMkq0zUI/AAAAAAAADJM/SFRQIWlKSWk/IMG_7060_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I love how everything fits so well in these drawers now! Thank goodness Mark was able to make these for me, because the box in the third “before” picture contained more silverware that I had totally forgotten about!
I still have a few more tricks up my sleeve for this space! I hope you’ll stick around for the full kitchen organization overhaul!