I don't want to hijack Elizabeth's thread, but I am going through the same, only have a much worse problem. My projects get really big, and I realize that in the past the boxes or baskets I have used haven't been deep enough. I was a The Old Time Pottery last weekend, - they've got a number of stores in Atlanta and I don't know if they are elsewhere. They were selling "lingerie chests" with drawers that are about the size needed for 8.5 x 11 papers, or folded legal size paper. So I bought the only 2 they had (one was their floor sample, already assembled!) and have started sticking projects in that. I have already realized I'll probably need paperweights to keep the larger piles from getting out of control and sticking so the drawers can't open. The chest is about 45" high, and the drawers look square - I would say about 14" x 14". I am planning on using these drawers and maybe if I need them some boxes. I've tried baskets before, and realize that one reason they don't work for me is that they are so heavily textured that the papers get caught by the woven strips, or it's uncomfortable for me to stick my hands in. So far, I've scoooped up the project piles on my morning room table, which serves as a desk. As long as the drawers remain easy to open (i.e., good, lasting construction of cheap furniture, as well as controlling the piles by dividing into sub-projects, if needed), this might work for me.

I think Marcolo is right. It's probably only a very few things that cause the problem. I've had 6 people working in my kitchen with only a few 'scuse mes. In my old kitchen, no matter what, there was no way to have more than one person in the work area without them having to move over because they were totally in the way. In the current one, it's just a can I reach in there for a sec kind of thing. Partly that's drawers instead of doors, I think, but partly it is from organization. One thing that helps is that the optimal place to stand for prep at the island is in front of my fridge drawers, and for all that they're great, they don't need a lot of opening. You could replicate that by putting less used things where the prep chef's belly is. My secondary island positions are on the ends, and, especially the sink end, also don't need getting in much. The other end just has wraps, junk, boards and racks. Not high demand. There's enough room at the clean-up sink for the washer not to be in anyone's way, and the work area there is above the DW. By stacking used prep dishes in the least used corner, on the other side of the sink, the DW doesn't have to be opened while someone is working there. I try to pull out any pretty bowls and pie plates that I'll need for serving from the baking area before the cooking starts, so the baking counter is more available. There are wooden spoons in both the baking utensils drawer and the under cooktop drawer. There are some odd flatware pieces in the baking utensils drawer, for stirring, tasting, spreading, etc., so that kitchen flatware doesn't have to be fetched from the far side of the kitchen. There are mixing bowls in the island and the baking area, and also Pyrex pie plates in both. There are small prep bowls on both sides of the main prep area, so accessible to everyone. The only things I bought extra for this doubling was a couple of table knives to be put in the baking drawer. The forks and spoons are from my college set but those knives are weird. I got a couple of heavy duty ones, with good spreading blades, in open stock at the Corning outlet. The other things I just salted around a little. Maybe this kind of process would work for you? Designating undisturbed stuff for the standing areas and spreading things around a bit?

Seedling roots should not be allowed to dry out, whether under lights and heat mats or outside in the sun( as I am unaware of your current set up). But I have found that they need lots of water in the hot weather we have in India. Somehow if they are browning at leaf tips, I feel you may be watering them less than they need. You could segregate one or two and see how they respond to increased waterings depending on the weather you have.

Well, I certainly couldn't have done ANY of this without all of you. I am so happy looking around my new rooms. My favorites: the furniture placement (of course), the art wall, the mantle, the 3 vases on the black tray on the table (although there may be too many flowers in them at the moment), the fabric covered shade in the dining area. the sofa table bookcase, the fireplace screen... I'm going to interrupt myself because now it seems I'm just listing all the changes. It's obviously too hard to pick just 2 or 3 favorites. Theresa, your peonies are gorgeous -- loving the size of those blooms! I hope to follow all of you as you move on to new projects. I consider each one of you a new friend.