Not sure what your budget is, but Horchow has some beautiful canisters. Some are available in graduated sizes, but since they're sold individually rather than by the set, you could just buy multiples of the size you want.

Here is a link that might be useful: horchow canisters

What about antique canning jars? I used to keep my rice, beans, lentils, wheat berries, barley, millet, raisins, currents, etc. in them. They make a pretty display. I used to buy everything in bulk. What didn't fit in the jar, I'd keep stashed away in the store bag until the jar needed to be refilled again.

The old ones are a beautiful tint of blue/green. Mine have either porcelain lined zinc lids, which are screw on . . . or they have the bail type glass lids like that one jar in the photo. Not sure if they'd be large enough for you (not sure if they come larger than quart size). But I thought I'd mention it.

Once my two 4' long shelves are installed over my garden sink, I plan on keeping such dry goods in antique jars again, lined up on the shelves. Whatever you decide to keep your dry goods in should have a tight seal so bugs and mice don't get in.

Thank you for the Horchow link jenva2010. They have beautiful things!

Wow - thanks for both suggestions. We actually have lots of open shelving in the so-called butler's pantry, which is visible from the kitchen. Both of these suggestions are really helpful.

Right now I'm using modern canning jars but those antique ones are amazing (and I live in a town with quite a few antique shops carrying such items). They would also work on the top shelf of the area I described in my original post.

The lower shelf, which we see from the living room could sure use some of those Horchow pieces - although it will take me ages to decide on one. It's great that they'll sell multiples in one size - that's what I need!

Thank you so much.

Walmart and Target frequently have big clear glass canisters with covers, sold individually, that would look good, keep the contents visible, and store a LOT of grains.

The largest one, holds about 10lb of rice or 12lb of flour. they look sort of hand blown and rustic.

My sister used a variety of cookie jars and parts of canister sets from thrift shops. The rice was in the zebra jar, the lentils were in the bear ... etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Anchor Hocking BIG jar

melisande, I don't know about canisters, but for the pantry, I like canning jars, too.

judydel, here's a pic of some old half-gallons:
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Here is a link that might be useful: Emerson's pantry on Design Sponge blog

That didn't work very well, but the pics seem to have made it. BTW, judydel, lovely collection of old jars.

It's not right to drool over pantry pictures... but it was hard not to do so over the one you posted, mamagoose. I LOVE that!

IKEA has several different types of jars that are inexpensive. I've also run across apothecary jars on many sites, but haven't bookmarked any of them.

I also love the blue Ball jars and have several that I will be using in my new pantry as of this week.

Great ideas everyone!

Thanks Mama, but they aren't mine. It's just a photo I found on the web to show the OP what I had in mind. I do have several blue antique canning jars . . . they're just in the basement right now : ) Love those shelves though! And I love the pantry shelves in the blog you directed us to.

I recently bought some Ball glass jars with the bail type lid that Judydel mentioned at of all places, Michaels. They are huge in my opinion. I would measure or give demensions but I am not at my lake place where the jars are. They are clear glass with no color but they are nice. My store only had four and I bought them all.

HTH,
pup

Fiesta has some that are sold individually. I'm not too sure if these are airtight. They come in all the fiesta colors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fiesta canisters

OK, who is Emerson? I got a magazine from Cambria in the mail yesterday because I had gotten some samples from them earlier this year. I just now saw it this morning and was flipping through it, and that exact same picture I was drooling over yesterday is in there.