Open shelving

Open shelving in the kitchen is so popular.
Here's the evidence all over pinterest:

 

 

 

So I figured it'd be a great way to add more space to my teenie-tiny kitchen. Plus, I'd had open shelving on one of my cupboards at the Kingdom:

I'd really gotten used to the easy access to my plates/bowls on display so I liked the idea of having that at The Miracle as well. 

This time I had to build shelves which was easy as apple pie. I shamelessly stole the corbel look from Young House Love:

In the end I don't think I got the right lumber- I believe mine was 12" wide but only 1" thick (I believe theirs was 2" thick). Basically, my board was skinnier looking than theirs. I used "common board" from HD and for a 10ft length it was 20.00. I had it cut into 3 shelves of 40" each. Which worked perfectly on my wall. The corbels were 10.00 each so for 6 it was 60.00+ 20.00= 80.00 for custom shelves.

Then I got to painting everything white. 

 

 

 

Here's the finished product:

 

  It gives me much needed space and it's cute as well! I painted the ceiling (see how low it is! Argh!) Which helps with the dungeon but there's still plenty to do in this kitchen.

 

I need to paint the cabinets and I will also be trying my hand at painting the ugly laminate counters soon. My job is not over in my attempt to make this kitchen feel more spacious and less like a cave.

 

But for now I like the open shelving. It gives me more space and the common dishes used are easily accessible. Check off one more thing that makes this place feel more like home.

 

 

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I haven't checked in for awhile and that's cuz I've been hell-a busy at The Miracle on 134th St.

Mostly painting the crap outta it. It's really popular to paint ceilings the same color as the walls here in OK, which I dislike. So, not only am I dealing with changing all the dreaded smoker's yellow trim, I've also had the added task of painting the ceilings back to flat white. It's worth it though because it opens the space up so much better! For example, the kitchen has a really low ceiling.  with the same color ceiling as the walls it makes an already low kitchen ceiling feel so.much.lower. I feel like I'm in a cave.

 (I have no idea why it's so low because they vaulted the ceiling in the living room and it doesn't make any sense why they wouldn't make the kitchen ceiling higher too). Painting ceilings was a must.

I've also been hanging shelves in the kitchen (more on that to come), organizing and unpacking (remember I'm not one of those who unpacks immediately, I wait to see how we live in the house first...so, despite the fact that we've lived at the Miracle for about 4 months now,  I still have some boxes to unpack),

and other odd projects here and there.

I've hardly hung anything or done much "decorating". In fact, most of my "decor stuff" is in my guest bedroom ready and waiting to be used or look pretty.

This wall is primarily filled with decorative items or furniture. What I don't use in decorating I will get rid of (garage sale when weather is nicer).

I'm waiting to finish up with all the friggin' painting (grrrr). Which, needless to say, I'm completely burned out on. What with painting all the trim and doors,  walls, and ceilings--it's never ending. And I haven't even started on bedrooms-- I'm just talking about the main parts of the house- living, kitchen, dining, entry, and halls. Tedious work + me burned out on painting = coming along slowly.

And since I haven't really decorated it's kinda silly to show you my house considering most of it's blank walls.

 I'm filling my time with cleaning out my boxes:

and organizing (okay, sort of organizing- at least you can see the bed now! You couldn't in the pic above):

But I will be posting more because I've been doing some projects I wouldn't mind showing you.
More to come!!!!