Kitchen Organizing tips

[Cognizant]

What are some ways that you organize your kitchen? I need help because I usually end up spending an extra 10 minutes looking for all my equipment/ingredients.
I can't keep items other than equipment near the floor level, because my dogs will get into it.
Any tips?

[ackmedsgirl666]

I keep all of my plates organized to one side of my kitchen
My pots and pans are under my microwave in a shelf thing
My spices and stuff are in the cupboard above my sink for easy access
I try and keep my kitchen very neat and I am especially picky about cleanliness
So I scrub my oven every day and dishes need to be done everyday
That's how I stay organized :)

[Steve Jobs]

I stack my pantry on what the items are, like canned stuff, breakfast stuff, pasta, one for drinks and another for ethnic food and stuff I usually don't touch... one for cutlery, one for plates & dishes, you just need to find a system that works for you.

All my cooking utensils and main cooking ingredients I can usually reach from the stove because I have a habit of marinating steak and throwing it on a hot pan and my hands would be too yuck to grab herbs or find the spatula :P

[AbbaZabba]

IKEA, pros at orginization

[kerryphilips]

For flatware, I like the metal mesh basket flatware holders from BB&B that fit in the kitchens drawer (http://www.thertastore.com). To clean the drawer, you just lift the whole thing out and the dust and crumbs that may have fallen in slip through and you can easily clean the drawer.