Remember this empty corner in my new kitchen nook area?
Well after my Dad left I found some pieces of wood on the side of the house that were leftover from our bookshelf project. I couldn't believe it. There were three pieces of pine --all the same length--that I rescued and decided to use for a few open shelves in this corner.
What's your opinion of open shelving in the kitchen?
Someday when we renovate I'll have to see how I feel about them but for now I thought why not?
Turn out, I didn't even need to cut them.
After I painted them I headed to Home Depot and bought six wood brackets and immediately called my Dad and asked him how in the world I was going to get three shelves put up in a straight line. "Straight" is hard for me---so I never do any actual nailing around here, I usually depend on my wonderful Dad do it...
but he just left.
And after staring at this wall I finally got fed up about being so nervous about this project and I decided to jump right into it.
And after staring at this wall I finally got fed up about being so nervous about this project and I decided to jump right into it.
Here's the side of the bracket that goes into the wall.
As you can see there are 2 molly bolts for each bracket.
Doesn't this look hard? (That's my wimpy voice talking)
Actually I found out that it's not really hard, it just takes some careful measuring and a reliance on a level. Or in my case two levels.
Gotta keep checking these little bubbles.
After they were up I added some wood glue, chalked them and painted them the color of the wall.
And drum roll please......
My new open shelves
Voila! Here they are.
I still haven't decided how I want to style them but I love how they came out.
And wait. There's more. Do you know how one project leads to another?
Well once I got these shelves up all of a sudden my turquoise buffet really stuck out like a sore thumb. My mom has been asking me to paint it white for a while now and I decided she was right.
The only problem was I had never removed vintage hardware before.
Another little fear I got over.
Voila! Here they are.
I still haven't decided how I want to style them but I love how they came out.
And wait. There's more. Do you know how one project leads to another?
Well once I got these shelves up all of a sudden my turquoise buffet really stuck out like a sore thumb. My mom has been asking me to paint it white for a while now and I decided she was right.
The only problem was I had never removed vintage hardware before.
Another little fear I got over.
Before
After
white buffet and new shelves
Do you have something in your life that you're nervous to tackle? If so, this post is for you.
I encourage you to challenge yourself.
It doesn't matter how small and seemingly insignificant it might be. In my case it involved a simple hammer and drill gun and yet, I had this view of myself that "I can't do that kinda stuff."
I feel the same way about my computer. I've been dealing with some current computer issues that are affecting my blogging lately and even though I've always been intimidated by anything 'techie" I'm actually learning a few new skills-- I'm talking very BASIC ones but hey, the point is that all of a sudden I'm walking around feeling more empowered.
I just got to a point where I was tired of having all these little fears.
Can you relate?
xo
Leslie
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21 comments:
Looks fantastic! Love the open shelves. And, your mom was right. The buffet looks amazing white!! I don't mind painting, but something about painting ceilings scares me!! We shall see.
Oh!
I can SO relate!
I hardly blogged in Nov and Dec because my postes took 10 hours to update. In January gave up on Blogger and am now at WordPress.
Your open shelves and your buffet look amazing, Leslie. You and your dad are always making magic happen around there.
Happy February!
w/L
Wow Leslie, I am so impressed! The open shelves look so pretty and I love the way you styled them. The buffet looks perfect in white. Great job!
Shelley
Good for you, Leslie...must be a wonderful feeling of satisfaction...and look how GREAT it all looks!
Congratulations Leslie! You've done a fantastically beautiful job! I was delighted to see your work. You asked about open shelves in the kitchen. They are pretty, but as a retired Home Economics professor, I have to say that there are concerns about air borne micro-organisms along with dirt, dust, animal dander, mites and other 'critters' landing on plates, cups, glasses and utensils. On a happier note, tell your sweet Mom that she was right about the side board being painted white! It goes beautifully with the rest of the furniture. Love the way you refinished it. Have confidence. You are very talented, Bev
Leslie, kudos to you for taking this one. Fun to have a project to do with your dad as well. It looks fabulous. I like the white!
I am more the type of person who tries things and then realizes maybe I should have gotten help. But then, I'm already into the project so I need to keep at it.
I love open shelving ... I love your open shelves ... and I love the cabinet painted white - always listen to your mother.
I am almost at 100%, but we are in the midst of helping our son and DIL move to Santa Monica - they both took new jobs, major raises and another rung up the ladder. Their new place has a view of the ocean and is 1/2 block to the park that runs along the sea. I am thinking that the week of February 15 looks good for me. I'll text you some dates.
Leslie,
These turned out great! They look wonderful the way you've styled them. I would have been really chicken about launching into this. My fear is that I will get them up and they won't be level. I'll try to remember this post the next time a project comes up.
Everything looks great, including your new floors.
xo,
Karen
I love the shelves, they look great. Mom was right, the sideboard looks great painted. I'm , of course, loving all your fresh white but seriously who can take their eyes off that chandelier?? It's fabulous!!
It looks so chic and European now!!! Great job conquering your fears and pushing through. I painted furniture this week and was terrified since they were not shabby pieces. At some point you have to acknowledge that they are objects and decor mistakes are not going to cost us too much (maybe some dignity I guess). Can you tell I am developing a healthier indifference to things with my imperfectionista swagger? Ha!
My theory about fear/worry is that the things we fear or worry about are way easier or never happen. The bad things that actually happen can be worse than we ever imagined. But that works with good things too! Your shelves look great. I have several open shelves. This is what I know - things on the stove side of the kitchen get dirtier/grosser than things on open shelves in other parts of the kitchen. I just put a few things from the shelves in the dishwasher every time I run it. That way I can just wipe down the shelf itself every now and then and the rest of the stuff gets cleaned every little bit. I have to go read now about the chandelier - I haven't gotten to that post yet!
THE SHELVES ARE STARS!!!!!!!
I LOVE OPEN SHELVES........MY entire pantry is open shelving!
BRAVA TO YOU..............
I bet your PAPA WAS PROUD OF YOU TOO!
XX
Wow!!! Your shelves are gorgeous Leslie. In fact everything you have done is so stylish. You are so talented and have such an eye for what looks great. Love what you are doing and all that you are achieving (how are the yoga teacher classes going?)
You go girl! I have a few projects that need done at my home! Do you hire out?!!
Hi Leslie,
First of all, great job on the shelves. omg, I love open shelves. Andihavenone. but BUT (she says) if i did have them, I would display all of my treasures. I feel like I have a Scout Finch voice running through my head most days, and a a collection of stuff that has significant value, not because of what it is necessarily, but because of the person who gave it to me (maybe a Boo Radley type) or the story behind it. When I was in my twenties, and had just moved into my own apt, I used to go to estate sales. I have a favourite white ironstone plate, a couple of beautiful blue Ball jam jars with the thick wire trap that seals the lid (you can tell that I've never made jam, right?). I would display all my favourite things on shelves like yours. You did a marvellous job, and isn't it nice that you decided to just go for it, but also that you chose to do it with your dad still around. You could share with him, ask advice. There is usually a story with each element that we choose to add to our house to make it a home. You have a wonderful sense of home. xx Nancy
You know I love open shelving, and yours are amazing, Leslie! Bravo! And your buffet seems to blend into the room better now that it's white, and lets your art takes center stage. It's all coming together beautifully!
My hubby is not at all interested in "building" or home improvements, so I've learned to do most everything myself. It's very gratifying to stand back and look at what you've accomplished, don't you think?
Here's a tip about font size on Blogger. Don't change the size of your type until after you've completed a post. Then you can go back and make some words larger or smaller. If you change the size of a word during your work in progress, all the font following the change is funky. Make sense?
We're never too old to learn!
Have a great weekend!
Vickie
Yes...I would be terrified to do what you did!!! And it looks amazing.
Good for you having faith in your DIY skills, you are your dads daughter! Your nook looks fabulous.
I keep wondering about painting my kitchen cupboards cream.....currently farmhouse pine.....
Side note....I'm gutted, my massage diploma was cancelled, my dream is going to take a little longer, oh well.....:-) Xxx
Love the open shelves! I took the doors off my dish and stemware cabinet in my kitchen and even before I added a mirror backing, it made my kitchen feel so much bigger. Plus you got pretty great looking storage too! You did a great job!
Those look great Leslie! I love those brackets too and although I adored your turquoise hutch and I can't believe I am even saying this but the white fits the room better. And va va voom ~ the chandy is so pretty ~ I am off to read that post now. xo
Wow So Beautiful, Looks Great. Very Nice Blog.
24 inch corner shelf
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