I agree with Janet – chilling uncooked potatoes does them no favours at all plus they often turn a rather unappetising dirty grey colour which means that you will tend to keep them in the fridge for a few days and then throw them out anyway! If you have an extra prepared potato (ie one that has been peeled and/or cut) don't let it sit around chilled or unchilled – cook it anyway with the rest of the spuds and then you can keep the cooked (boiled, roasted, mashed, whatever) potato to use in any number of ways for tomorrow's breakfast or lunch or as a snack (potato salad, potato cakes, potato gratin... ) or even (if you have an odd aversion to using up left-overs) chop it into the dog's dinner or the chooks' scraps...

I keep it on the counter, on a pretty cake pedestal, next to my tomatoes. I don't eat it all at once so need a place to keep it until all used. If it sits around too long it starts to smell strongly of garlic, that's when I know it has gone off. Otherwise it does not have an odor, and it is very pretty in its show white gift wrap.

emerald..don't know how you full time mum does it..I wouldn't be able to cope lol I only work part time and yet on the days I work I don't even look after myself properly lol. took the kids to Yum Cha today so I bought groceries at Melb Central before hopping on the train back .. just making a stir fry tonight..was going to have stir fried noodles..turned out my Hokkien noodles are expired..this is the reason why I don't buy stuff beforehand lol so will wing it and have with rice..one wok wonder with some scallops from the freezer.. my kids are easy they don't ever whinge about what I cook they know better..as sometimes I don't cook at all lol

my suggestion has access to the walk in pantry (and laundry) through the kitchen with an optional sliding glass door...the "extra pantry" on the right uses the space INSIDE the dividing wall for tall, shallow cabinets with multiple adjustable shelves, deep enough for most cans, bottles, glasses, sauces, oils, cups etc etc The walk in pantry could have counters, under bench drawers and wall storage.. re-arranging the kitchen allows space for microwave, mixer etc - be kind to each other in your very first home