Last week, I wrote about “Kitchen Week.”
Kate commented: “Just a suggestion: If you lengthened the shelves to the left of the sink, so they stretched from the wall to the window, you’d have more storage space. Maybe you could add a third shelf too.”
I replied: “Ha! My mom just mentioned those shelves to me as well. They are cheap prefab shelves we brought with us from our college apt. It has been on our agenda to replace them with shelves that run the length of the wall, and to add a third for more than a decade. But, we have tons of other projects. We finally have the wood milled and dried and ready to tackle that shelving project, but as usual, other things are taking priority right now. But in the next year, surely we will get those shelves up.” (Jonny later corrected me, “No, my dad bought and installed those shelves for us when my parents helped us move into the house thirteen years ago.)
Kate replied to me: “To me, it seems like a quick and easy fix. My husband is too busy and I’m the handy one, anyway, so when I’m in the middle of organizing and I see something that would make things better, I do it (or get my boys to). My husband says I’m a Woman on a Mission during these times. A few pine boards (from the shed or hardware store), a slap of paint, a few brackets, a level, screws and screwdriver and it’s done. Even if it’s not what I ultimately want in my dream kitchen, at least it’s better than what’s there and will make home life better. I’m all about better, not perfect, just better.”
So, I just thought I would share a behind the scenes look at how a project, this shelf project, happened at my house. You see, first a tree had to fall in the forest…
(Easter, 2014)
(May 2014)
(July 2015)
(August 2015)
There are holes in the walls to be patched. We aren’t thrilled with the brackets, and I would love a beadboard backsplash, but these are the shelves of my dreams. They are beautiful, and are motivating me to spend more time in the kitchen, and to work harder when I am there. I am so thankful to our friends who helped make this happen, from the sawing, the hauling, to the milling and then letting it sit in your yard curing for so long. And of course to my dear husband, the artist, who can’t for the life of him just throw something together quickly. These shelves were worth the wait.
I am also thankful to Kate for leaving that last comment, one that Jonny read.
Kate, you lit a fire. Thank you!
Looking at past posts. I’m in love with your refrigerator. I have a large family miles from a grocery store. Having never lived farther than a few miles from a grocery store, I have come to appreciate the very large refrigerator and hope to purchase one sooner rather than later. I hope you were able to take yours with you to your new home.
It doesn’t fit! We moved to a bigger house with a smaller kitchen. 🙂 It’s in the garage though, and hopefully we’ll set it up soon.
Ginny,
I am partial to open shelves. These are beautiful. So happy for you. They look wonderful!!!
Those are so beautiful! I love the process pictures. 🙂
EVERYTHING is an unfinished project in my house and it’s entirely my fault.
<3 Jessa
Oooooooooo …. SHELVES!!
What a HANDSOME and TALENTED husband you have. 🙂
They really look great!
Kim
Your new shelves are gorgeous! You’ve inspired me to go ahead and actually start the shelf project in my house! It’s only been “looking” at me and intimidating me for a few years now. Thanks and lovely job!
I love this so much. I think it makes life richer when the things you choose to have in your home have a “story” like this 🙂
I just love your kitchen and your house. It always looks so welcoming and pleasantly lived in — but not messy!
Ginny, Wow great I love your new kitchen shelves. Great Job! Thank you for the lovely pictures. And this great blog.
We have beadboard just where you would put yours and I hate it. It looks nice, until you get up close. All of those grooves are hard to keep clean (and who has the time). Ours has swelled and warped just a little, it’s just those darn grooves . . .
The grooves are my big concern as well… the other option we have discussed is making a backsplash out of pennies. Have you ever seen that done? It would be relatively inexpensive, I just don’t know if I would like it long-term….
I was just reading about that last week over at http://www.domesticimperfection.com/
I don’t remember what lead me to that blog, but I saw that she had made a penny counter and I was intrigued.