Apparently a new "-ista" trend has been established: Kitchenistas. And no, this isn't April Fool's aftermath (we don't think). The NY Post profiled several women (and men) who have transformed their New York City kitchens into closets -- making use of cabinets, ovens, even refrigerators to house surplus clothing. "I have one closet, and things were overflowing, so I started putting shoes in the fridge," says 26-year-old Bari .
"I called up my super and asked him to turn the gas off, so I wouldn't accidentally burn my clothes," says 27-year-old Zandile, who stores her jeans and heels in her oven.
Sure, we have a soft spot for shoes, too, but not so many that they fill the icebox.
So we decided to ask around. Kitchenistas: real trend, urban legend, or something only Carrie Bradshaw would contemplate?
Here's what our friends had to say:
"I knew someone who kept jeans in the oven, but that was a long time ago. She married a rich guy and has a separate little house for her nanny now."
"My friend Kym stored clothes in her oven! Four people have lived in her apartment over the span of 15 years, and I'm not sure the gas in her oven has ever been turned on."
"A former co-worker's wardrobe took over her entire kitchen. The only area she didn't usurp was the refrigerator."
"I have a friend who has this amazing apartment in a gorgeous doorman building. There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING in the pantry of the kitchen except beauty products, bath products and shoes. She keeps sheets in her cabinets -- extra bedding, etc. Every cupboard above the counter has multiple shoeboxes in it. And yes, she keeps sweaters in her oven."
How about you? Do you use your kitchen for cooking -- or dressing?
More Good Stuff on Lemondrop:
What I've Learned About Women in Two Decades of Dating
A Pregnant Gal Worries She Won't Like Her Spawn-to-Be


"I called up my super and asked him to turn the gas off, so I wouldn't accidentally burn my clothes," says 27-year-old Zandile, who stores her jeans and heels in her oven.








Comments:
Add a comment
Monday 05 April
By Sharon
Someone was hard up for a story. Right? In my world people use the kitchen for food.
Reply
Sunday 04 April
By Sue
I recently went from 1600 SF to 700 SF and I have an overabundance of kitchen cabinets and I had no choice but to use part of them for my shoes - not getting rid of my shoes - no way !!!
Reply
Monday 05 April
By Al Schrader
I knew Mary must have occasionally kept her undies in the freezer cause
on some days, she was cold.
Monday 12 April
By Josheda
This is probably prevalent in NYC (and other similar cities). The apartments are expensive and TINY. So, you do what you gotta do. And that includes storing shoes in the kitchen cabinets.
Reply
Sunday 04 April
By GIQUE900
That seems so funny to me because I cook so much. I'd just buy more dressers or portable wardrobe and sacrifice my living area - making my apartment more of a hotel room before I'd keep clothes in all the kitchen cabinets and appliances. Maybe the pantry. :-)
Reply
Sunday 04 April
By Mark
My wife has the hall closet the old Master bedroom closet, the old Master BEDROOM, the spare bedroom closet the spare BEDROOM which I turned into a walkthrough closet...and I have a 5 ft long closet...my wife has 72 pairs of shoes.
Reply
Monday 05 April
By tyrebitre
".my wife has 72 pairs of shoes."
Your wife isn't the only insane person in your marriage.
Monday 05 April
By Lee
ONLY 72? That's ONE of my walk-in closets. I stopped counting.
Reply
Monday 05 April
By Jerry
I know Im just a man and there are some things men will never be able to understand..but what is it with women and their shoes?
I have 5 pair of shoes. To my way of thinking, thats a lot. That includes the winter boots and the ratty sneakers I use for yard work. I just dont get it.
Monday 05 April
By shelly
If you can give up some space in your bedroom, run a rod from wall-to-wall and hang a drapery. You can then hang clothes on a pole behind it and also add shelving. This gives you all sorts of hidden storage space and, if the drapery goes from floor to ceiling, can actually give the illusion of your room being larger, even though you are taking space for storage. The colors/pattern you use in the material can also brighten up your room.
Reply
Monday 05 April
By magyymae1
I read that the new teen trick is to make a sleep space out of your closet and turn your bedroom into a large closet for your clothes. Getting rid of the bed opens up a lot of space for rolling wardrobe hangers and shoe holders. I don't even know how many pairs of shoes I have because I almost never wear out a pair!
Reply
Monday 05 April
By Cathy
I have a very small closet. No extra closets in the house at all. But I fit all my clothes AND shoes into my closet because I happen to think it is just silly to own more clothes than you have room for! I can't imagine wanting so many clothes and shoes that I had to keep them in the kitchen.
Reply
Tuesday 06 April
By raccoon034
Very wise young lady. Ridiculous. It is disgusting to have shoes or clothing in the fridge or stove. Imagine all the bacteria on those shoes, and where it has been. I
I am with you. Enough is enough. I would not want to eat anything from any of these slobs. No wonder there are so many diseases around.
Glad there is a few sane people like you on this board.
Have a great day!!
Monday 05 April
By holly
I don't get the shoes either.
I have 4 pairs, all black.
Tennies,
Hiking boots,
Sandals,
Dress,
Im female.
Reply
Tuesday 06 April
By raccoon
What is wrong with people, to want to put their shoes in a fridge and clothing in an oven. That is disgusting. What is coming to this world. Absolutely no pride and shame. These people are sick to want to throw clothing shoes along with their food supplies, etc. INSANE!!!
Reply
Tuesday 06 April
By James the girl AZ
so how many calories are in those jeans and sweaters?
Reply
Tuesday 06 April
By James the girl AZ
this is a new form of eating disorder
Reply
Wednesday 07 April
By Amanda
People concerned about bacteria of mixing clothes and food - I believe the entire point is that they AREN'T using the kitchen space at all. They've never turned on the oven (see the note above about 15 years, 4 owners, never used), they're not storing food in the pantry, and they don't have any pots/pans in the cabinets. The picture with the story is cute, but isn't the scenario anyone is discribing.
Reply