DIY craft table

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kkCwf3c3cJUagxaCnXABYvKpQ1pORkdJ9J8VF_ZDE5oOsn9q_D_KkGpHdk7MAhXIdam1Bwrz6woOM3yBC8NLFRdu6QmcABPdPROCubs5OrLbJWHyHxABPNT1MVkC0FuZYk8G38VhPj4/s1600-h/IMG_0121%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfHlgdDxwl9FnLniNthHBjFQUQUwhI9l3v5u42HeF1lZmJMwe7lhUZ-_Kfj8tv-6LRhGm9-37GLsF3ak8oaEbFmsO65S1Ycn0qXr6YC8yIc8-7Js0MDkMTDSuBC_oD24P9aZmAm-5LKk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Heya!! Hope you had a lovely weekend! I had a great one – got plenty of stuff done and then today spent the day with my sis and family as we shopped for her wedding dress (my wedding gift to her). We found it and it’s just beautiful! <em>She’s</em> beautiful in it. I was doing OK till she put the veil on, but then it was pretty hopeless. ;)</p> <p>I put together a project this weekend that I’m pretty smitten with. It came out just like in my head, which is always nice. Love when that happens. </p> <p>As I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/basement-step-1-of-587.html">mentioned last week</a>, we’ve had some activity going on in the basement lately, which I’ll show you soon. Over the past few weeks I’ve been doing my best to do another purge and reorganize what I keep down there, as far as decorative items and crafts. </p> <p>I want them <strong>all</strong> out of sight when things are said and done. This project was a big step in that direction.  :)</p> <p>It started with this photo of Brook’s craft table I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/01/pretty-work-spaces.html">here</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQHFw_a3jZBpzSLjlhWUsqH4Af3hZ-r7_O1WHgrdkI1gNQNdpLB2x56lVGmPKOMnka3kf1gBhUJvJ9itj6hkBBFcObYX9AO-NAeGwWFVWyX0OPHNhjoSvFYABti8dTert4Ef1GjxPnGA/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="blue craft table" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnpsEzi0CSqpDJUi7iRqr04KTJ8G0ZzIQx5i6-7_uPOVCNQOyuo-xa3_d9MITGMaLi6HOp_7xI78kuiSWhCXOja70ABG3ipI1gKxHpCPtbCnOh15hTnjMCJbGYeTBAhCRAtP4lgbTT64/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="blue craft table" width="400" /></a></p> <p>If I remember right, her hubby made this one. And it rocks. </p> <p>I wanted to try to do something similar but not have to actually build it. Well, not build it with major power tools anyway. Just <em>minor</em> power tools. ;)</p> <p>At first I was going to use bookcases to make the table, but I ended up with these cube shelves I see everywhere:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6KbH2l6sMLdPIbhrT178AyY9aeHu7frprGTaknZxi3_y4_dmbXShsS11YOvdffD3PoNTNWjEfb_IH_wp3AdV9mwUrYw_50MC7u7zphLsAVxolMnQoQDwZK4E_lDS1SaSE9DRCRs6Na0/s1600-h/IMG_0099%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eoFb-MWa2wYV0XG9n5iV3Z1H41MctOpW3Ix-uFtuGVXL9g4QAzZnSVt42X7OzhoY2_LUtxdE1o25SH4QcZengxEhPKcyLIhlEMiDWgEXYSftyeVoLZCqBUUvufDkTSNHN_zB-4zwJcw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p>I got mine at Lowe’s but I have seen them at Target, Meijer, Walmart too maybe? They were on sale at Lowe’s, I think for $39. Much cheaper than any bookcases I’ve seen! </p> <p>Because the backing that came with them didn’t cover the entire back, and because I can’t help but pretty things up a bit, I had a beadboard panel cut down:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRae1aPJ2lM1redFgX-i5aRNTHvZZCwNHS0m4GewZGKfQh94zw6uioiSUEq2Z6W1F_o-6BBBpozmoE23PrhgRtN9Li37NSeto1ha_CCqPKqOxDgzgrrqruK4se8ppPtnKBwNxLYzXnoTs/s1600-h/IMG_0137%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="beadboard paneling" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixipObx1rKhZVaVJWN19xmsN-woMIz2mjG-9lIyn3ClyvIkbt1ealxEpMAW3o6mGXeMO2tnQkf0UwGRQx7X6k-bD7z9gAfvtMkOFVnK_deU5PhOLO8JsZbZNS6wVMy1d6v2AKuIX4E42A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="beadboard paneling" width="300" /></a></p> <p>And then I nailed them into the backs of the cube thingamabobs. </p> <p>I knew exactly what I was going to use for the top – I kept our old laminate island countertop after I replaced it with the butcher block. It’s been sitting in the garage forever and I have always felt like I’d be able to use it for something, and this was it! I <strong>LOVE</strong> using what I have!</p> <p>WHOO!!</p> <p>I dragged the incredibly insanely unbelievably heavy counter downstairs to put it on top of the cubes:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9U08bVi7bVSeJ9daXh7xTStCWNqdlNlj_hZFX5HQpTGUJon9lBy75KbfsKE2iYLUD3PxE_l9WZAwjzEh-2IapO8RLP6rO9K44Oe-eMnf1G9QH8OlNEx7AQ2Ukb57UwEP-0fIRDYlB0g/s1600-h/IMG_0129%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="reusing old counters" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8WWuB3rXx5Al9vQTbAk8GdwbkNDlFdYQtYTksnSKZGL7KSUHpyoqqnnMoI48vF3W3JT8NaicjQK9vULUGVbhOFuje0Pj09enWRhf_KJOI_2ZkHD0F1PUF08OHVLyvsImjubjOoHJq9Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="reusing old counters" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Oh em gee, that sucker was crazy heavy! And I’m crazy for shuffling it down the stairs by myself, but that is how I roll.  </p> <p>I screwed long screws through the top of the cube shelves and into the bottom of the counter to make sure it wasn’t going anywhere. (I used six screws on each side.)</p> <p>The cubes were just a skosh wider than the island top, but I was fine with that: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTn_YJ2FIonYmB7kfqyO3EVpCTCGEJKWzrzCyqHCBF8bLvux29rwuhT0oLtdB_XEbD7jVam77-Cqnctbbl9r8c6gCKOI_t518otz7xnllI7Oc_LGU85-m750KuPH4JitMAQPTzSkbwRI/s1600-h/IMG_0128%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLaxLLzZRyJifHXGuUJEQRSLPRx4vNXYj7BiIkW18f-vd1ONsrbBg7Wnh_GZ7ZSHtyro66yV5oMEGmk-EZfreH6B2rxoy49j6lDvP3xT9cPD0pkA1iXUy8d_J64g2z-08T3scyW1jcZk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I found the little canvas drawers at Meijer for $6 each, which is the cheapest I’ve found: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-tDPbPPCn6wyABuRh6mQJ56w2iyt3CnqeYiBrTkbVWvAxZth18JHj7ggRdg1C2r0-2e6-WXrJB2q8os274aie6yw3C_ycS4nfepd8VOqMu1dvsOC0rc0BzQujEi5zMTTz7csrD01kVE/s1600-h/IMG_0119%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="canvas cube containers" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOTGYiP7uP4mi_yXv9BllRNzeOJSBRRJo2urpE8XIyMy34IZQ6RA9-YJMWbwym645SIjOXSITyPDQ2Bd-l2vHArQo5Y4lXJ3f1zobaXcIDIMeVw9cs9ZR4YV93APeeBiVJC5-D6dLuwM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="canvas cube containers" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t get enough for every shelf, just because it was going to get a tad expensive for both sides, and because I thought it would be nice to display some of my decorative items I use most often. </p> <p>Pretty much every bit that used to sit on these shelves:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo-b1yEaHfCmHyT-mtwtuwFI1NNxlQ-B93IaLcVdM74IBK78rMuIx-pYKwXGCok2FfAxGZ9o5j_uBBeh2eQf6ZmiktOKjYT8FYSY6JSl5jD7nNst0i9WyxIiA41DQDV-YNLkeSknPK20/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59bKEE-llgYB_3GhcyrAkEqicTOG8VsFmJImqbAsLe3HW0kJgnrutNL6_quugMkxTT5PODVchUnNYtMMaAIIXTPmLibHRAKYXODV6knD6SF-KizTb3oGiaGj0Wd7u7QrukBeevUK_15E/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Is now in these bins:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCPyCi_RAMUkFG9QUfzTFrnyEDNQ7oKLQ0lMxxLGqi_we_oU5osb9pdQqaVkbZgAALTH3htH6DQscv7W1fsKhFZcOiqy6Nh8H-3zC7qcVuSw1JBWQYKufAsjPpOhMrKC39V_cjhwlhSs/s1600-h/IMG_0126%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkc8Ol4LhlOM3y4-vPjnIora9vWrn9K_DYwxcralu7I7x5h2txxQKvS2TWn-VV68byh8LKkj_xl4pgYWTTFHVNTrQo3R5285vqL63CyNFWHw9Vq_M9ecOBq6YVrE2ZKj2NUXUx-f-PVs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p>PLUS some! And I am giddy about it!!</p> <p>I actually have empty shelves on the other side of the desk, so there’s a ton of storage space still left. <em>Ya. hoo.</em></p> <p>This spot in the basement will (hopefully) be a small kitchenette some day, so this craft desk will work as a table as well: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbId1DuMfqtwMCgeU6NDphpn8HPKLC-eHyNb10K6S2qYU6teyFOkaPYxagWZ_Xq4iKvFU-pgT6fN_amLFRfL39NPSa2u8IWGsAtI6tm9y-5N9LlU9POMIYiCDSxRZezSaWA-QTFJjesM/s1600-h/IMG_0107%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft storage table" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-HRL2EE_gyD36XwJzGBQcbAZG9cx_u_eOjqt-c9OT6ZYWeE3yHxrHzPxDtOaM-3E7vw74LSLyYVIIYKne4jJw3m-KVhuN1oXZ_KTrx81Sq7f4o6Rh5GRZ5LTru4qFwlWapgcT1Wc5cU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft storage table" width="320" /></a></p> <p>(I still need to paint the back of those beadboard panels.)</p> <p>Originally I was going to put my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-craft-room.html">old craft table</a> in another room down here, but that’s changed for a few reasons. One of the biggest is that when I really thought about it, I didn’t want to be in a teeny room away from everybody when working on crafty projects. </p> <p>This way I can be out where I can <strike>watch TV</strike> be with the family while I craft:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4BdSN1I0abMiZzxvb_TTl9i25UXC4j7yMysHMtcja6gxelqeBnjathaQdQi3_75ozlBdV0sfxILVzz0nPQSNLH1BxKiQzKP5av83Pp-05okz3jqVkDZrkNOJE8MBfM2P1CHfHAmPDB0/s1600-h/IMG_0131%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf6lo8GYdg7zA9DiIvNJ5mMhzlhC-VEy9tY3pRC1D59QugTHQibjHT_4ueVWbbXDrRN9IwE1SvCbXj6H1BIsWSeBR8zM1vD8G18SDvF8Wh_Gou-KwpeYsGMNUtVrOmymY5oKwU2oyIXg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="342" /></a></p> <p>The chairs are actually from our kitchen island, I just brought them down here to see how the size and height works. When it’s in the budget, I plan to head to Garden Ridge to get a couple more for this spot. </p> <p>I love that the table is SO large and we can use it for anything – eating, crafting, puzzles, games, whatever! The old craft table was great, but it was HUGE. This still has plenty of surface area, and the storage is the cherry on top!</p> <p>I may look into stools instead of chairs, so we can potentially fit a couple more people at the table as well:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0IVLKSTLBa6u6mgdjPpb96bsUXNhWxAZsze09u7T0M4fQGwbo7ClbKc9xPvjFEnTb19HmQli5rG3P0NLtxRg0Ru1yaqMar4oEaREARGfXhIv5J_KJcjyv4VrwzvdYLOUiqqXnJEj_Ww/s1600-h/IMG_0115%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft table from cube shelves" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl4mPgsHmWFHecT1wzJMu8AK9_pT4-FmqwmZIf2Y_EUtKx9nITE0rPDyiYBpviPAEb3MUQndMcT4VOMKjNNPhu1WiQO-0jWnYF7oOV0bFaIgYialDYOyXxGBZcW2xXpcjXSNCBRVb4zA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft table from cube shelves" width="512" /></a></p> <p>But for now, I luuuuuuurve it. ;) </p> <p>My hope is that when we start the electrical in the basement, we can rough in a spot for a pretty little chandelier that will hang over the table. FUN!</p> <p>The total cost was $100 to build the whole thing – the two cube shelves were $80 and the beadboard backing was $20. (And I have a bunch leftover!) If you don’t have a island counter top laying around (but really, who doesn’t??), you could have a piece of wood cut to size and then round off the corners and paint it. Or maybe some butcher block from IKEA?</p> <p>It only took a few hours total – to put the shelves together, nail the beadboard to the back and secure the island counter to the top:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJYxPUtPJsctatSnqMv9btNzKrL8_LgTsi4eZauY6wqNd8XvegTp0SSCrubga8uSNujCf6N4TjYyLdrlgM66XHTg6Ts40p7DSPZuxLbu90jfENBUON4RslIluM0HfePnWlw6dM0Tzbes/s1600-h/Picnik%252520collage%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGcqXCJvf1InhPzqmHm2lLcgzEaQ4k3ou75OBCbuWqVarg0kelYecVdj7E_6IYEFaL7yPfm7ECb7ofktet_iiz1kq5w7TO5ktaUpyPX5x1ic24K491x8MzHwRrRJmWsFA6I3BYprw0Pg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And we’ve got a custom craft table with TONS of storage:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTjx597igeCCqqcckZv3gvX4JKdWTrf_cGpSE7-qJ9FLQOw9rsmv4m1qnhZp6lZgH0QwCeO3_zkYSedkSYSndOqLiWAAkdTuK0XY-o74Y6zGWK31tEHRePd1DIPs-lCbi5ICiLWAPWFk/s1600-h/IMG_0133%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craft table" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSd6sChzWU3LJ3MS8034skNC3wf-SmjTX8ervioNe55MAhsHWGT0uZXtUWKJogZPbXTtJp9idgJgCV0h9Zl90PqlQj0gSDEQAtipzOJelYoqlzASB5V9XkyTfUf1YIedWgHZiEumbBQo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craft table" width="512" /></a></p> <p>Ohhhh, I love storage. It makes me SO HAPPY. </p> <p>And there you go. Now I promise not to show the cement walls again for…well, at least a few days. ;)</p> <p>Come on back tomorrow for the next Show Us Your House party! This month we’re showing off closets – so any pantries, linen closets, master closets, closets-turned-other-things. It will go up Monday evening!!</p>

DIY craft table

Heya!! Hope you had a lovely weekend! I had a great one – got plenty of stuff done and then today spent the day with my sis and family as ...

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The Basement: Step 1 of 587

<p>Hey hey!! I’m SO excited about some work that started around these parts today. SO. EXCITED. </p> <p>This may not be the most beautiful post to read, but it is <em>beautiful</em> one to write! We have finally, after eight years of saying it…started taking some steps to finishing our basement. </p> <p>GoodNESS. </p> <p>OK, I know some of you are shaking your heads and saying “Geesh woman, more pictures of cement walls and floors?!” </p> <p>But I am<strong> so excited. </strong></p> <p>So bear with me.</p> <p>Very little has been accomplished so far, but when you’ve waiting eight years for something this big, it’s the little things that make you giddy. Well maybe not you…but me. And it was the smallest thing we did today has <em>rocked my world</em>. </p> <p>A few weeks ago, I shared the very <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/01/underground-family-room.html">rough plans</a> I came up with for our basement:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7Y7U509ZpYeyeq5B-h_JNnrMmGVSZRVgF6YJwKKs0YYBHWZpjIvZPrZFMjewrM5JKACP0LBk0DO-huErs92S5BHT53NJdwW33b3W1OyMCUXUsN58__mjdzxkVBAn6cZXfxGNewgrGaw/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYHJwJtz3M8JR6JV8Atd1Zs7Wa_06_zCiwWUGveUpYR-WEiN4xC_7zcrqx_7naWbS4rrIY7tbuk0ysMXi19Da2RRw1hZsf9DfrQUZ9DoHDqJXL28JJeMn77PtOC6R1ujk1LkRuXV1kGo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>See that area in the top left? That one is the space that I’ve been trying to figure out for months. </p> <p>I want to fit all kinds of STUFF in that small area. Our sump pump is over there, so I knew it would be a great spot for the washer and dryer, but I wanted it to be a REAL laundry area – with plenty of space to fold and hang. </p> <p>And birds singing and butterflies twittering about. Cause it’s going to be that amazing. </p> <p>It also has to house the exercise stuff, my craft table and supplies, AND all of these:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJaGzmxF-w1cr7GDWQKshQBINWuYxQ39zGYpn2ntEJd7sJ9i6A473AqUin5p9Tl99HtRZHlVneX8HJPrxed7GDn7ah-BD0wuSmjrIp-NuRBgB4Bx6sHq1VZhfpRCk3f9TrsdTTF0v6uY/s1600-h/IMG_3318%25255B8%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLr3wsww5xNDgj4PsDYigh-RA69Bj2xU_mr9jtWvE0gRvFciFRD23y0GTJSUCuxlSwhHAb1u9R8d9hQLG34er7c-AJgXmCkjfgUNfKwkQjcVXlWbDQl2uo7ZasEVQj7oXRgVdi3CSyfA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Approximately 85 storage bins. </p> <p>OK, not that many. It just looks like it. (And I’ve even gotten rid of some since this pic!)</p> <p>The guys that are doing most of the work in our basement came by last week to discuss where to start, and one of them looked at the space under our stairs. Until recently, it looked like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRvwD3PRb86xKIrDL8IeobZ0YtoJGP0XZnCrHO6FYGxK3Qk4VVCSBBqLNVB6hUKdZobHmW2nKNxvKk5zaGw7nuKXTEBZpQzz0zNEkmxcQQJbj9y4MntR2X57ZUbYpr_14otlkZaDNG5I/s1600-h/IMG_3324%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNp7fnjdbgbSo4hnxMtPn1fwhYkFk6hnkw3r2gMedBBdvAAuJ90WrABoGLXFmFiRzyxIc6B_yYxsTZeGCf4U0h2YedTXI6pwIbAyGZvsrq1apq9gZ_NhPNRI0GsnQ48CkEf2FHHqSyw0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>That space under the stairs used to be the spot where I stored our extra doors that I’ve <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/gaining-some-space.html">taken down in the house</a>.</p> <p>I hung muslin along the wall to hide the not-so-pretty, and the Bub’s toy shelves were along the wall too. </p> <p>We’ve since rearranged a lot of things down here and gotten rid of a LOT of things <em>and </em>I moved all those doors to the crawl space. </p> <p>Because of the little change they made today, it now looks like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQypUWSc-an-5-MuVEsEQa6M4JMtTYPRT1qoJ-G68I2OKgDlW95OdPm2QDOEwNS7tog_2Hl2WjqDMesO5ywPkwrF-Lhla7QYde0KAFRbTIId5S0er4kSLhXbi516_gxmJOmqdLlOzA0w/s1600-h/IMG_0090%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzvX2UVOEOfNBjRRq73u9UDadlQ_bY2BSn_oSpBL0_RerLecKx-PtSHPzQGovy5uZedKvNUldCM0x3VAxcC9IZHlMxT0H2OPjrScK4euPhFg_P7m9xVu-KK8gmA73v4G9LGcnZL0tjmY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Do you hear singing? No? Just me?</p> <p>Not cute at all. But TOTALLY functional. Well, it <em>will</em> be. :) It took the guys all of two minutes to cut down a stud (around the corner) so I could get bins inside. </p> <p>WHY did I not think of this before? </p> <p>They’re putting another doorway in tomorrow, at the end to the left up there. So I’ll have two spots to access everything underneath. </p> <p>I cannot even believe how many bins I got in that space!! It’s all of my Christmas stuff (except the trees) and some other storage bins. </p> <p>Giddy. </p> <p>It won’t be quite as easy to access everything, but I am SO OK WITH THAT. I figure I need this stuff twice a year – once to get it out, once to put it away. </p> <p>I can deal. I am more than happy to deal. </p> <p>I still have a few more bins, and they will go in another storage spot we thought up today. </p> <p>Here’s the layout with the minor change that’s going to give me a storage closet:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVssuDTWhV1UZki9IKrFQDFa92MPBNrRtYeOnwwvm0RphfZ2qFQV8iAvkQRTAN8xM42vpIoWSYQrKe6euvDGJrodcdqsplCPEMbRPVLSdul5aRwhLJq9_rX634yMhFz72Sr2aTCiMcrDw/s1600-h/new%252520layout%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="new layout" border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70EcQXixfj44qvrqJ4ORfKXvvjsI4xYIsUfGQyFlG6E_hKkU3fE7Xo2caUHNMmtG4lsgYGp5-XoUwpM2S2KA3iHMoBuqxXIpv1rV0f8XDmHDZOwbrnOeT9yWTBoD3OkL50Y6W-d1h3Y8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="new layout" width="400" /></a></p> <p>See the red lines? That little spot in the corner will be a storage room. A STORAGE ROOM people. </p> <p>I could cry. </p> <p>It will actually be a bit wider than what you see on the layout. </p> <p>All along I had planned on all of those bins being stacked around this room like they've always been. I didn’t think it was possible I could get them all away, out of sight. </p> <p>But that little corner was the perfect spot, and uses the space more efficiently. It only took us a couple months to figure it out. :) </p> <p>If we were paying a company to come in and do everything start to finish, they would have come up with this from the start I’m sure. But we’re piecemealing this project out – little bits at a time. So <strong>I’m</strong> the contractor. And it takes me some time, obviously. ;)</p> <p>I am crossing my fingers that the storage space will be big enough for our mongo Christmas tree bags and the few additional bins. (If it’s not, I’m purging more stuff.) I’m also hoping that if there’s room, I can maybe install some shelves around the room for extra paper goods and supplies:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GaBYCEPI6abeqj6_LEBFXCI_tUHbuIlL2OjAlqyvu4wo4Zq2MeKPHqyH2FPmsqfYH7NROmXI3DDibrCLbOctf-iapQgyz7UJkd4mP2wXz65B4NSb8EGwDaMOmBI6TDCXXqv93sgKbRQ/s1600-h/IMG_0098%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlB_ZEJpzKRpo2E7ft3SU0HEAL1XhlwN6tJ-PEQyM0XE0BfvtVJSmhLafow-INCuAqMHjxjprAZ4mxOu1AGCP0r4CmrVbZWZMYLkfnf4AeUVwisplXLIPncxE2Ieel90gUf3HOI1MEeCs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>It doesn’t look like much now, but tomorrow…well, it still won’t look like much. But it will be framed in, so it’s progress and that’s all that matters. </p> <p>They’re starting by framing out this area because that big black wire on the floor is going to a new electrical panel that will be dedicated to just the basement. We had no more room on our house panel so it had to be done. We also just wanted to have all of the electrical for the basement located in one spot.</p> <p>They are going ahead and framing out the bathroom and the storage room so the panel can be installed. And with that all up, then I can figure out the size for my laundry room. </p> <p>A real. live. non-mudroom. beautiful. laundry room. (With some exercise stuff thrown in. Maybe.) </p> <p>I could <em>die</em>. </p> <p>I have a plan for my craft stuff that I hope to show you soon. I was going to wait till the basement was finished to do it, but I came up with what I hope is a brillz idea, so we’ll see. </p> <p>We’re <em>hoping</em> next month we’ll go ahead with the rest of the framing of the basement. Can you even believe it?? I wonder if I should say those words out loud…I could jinx myself. </p> <p>We’re doing it all in phases – paying the guys to frame it out, then do all the electrical, then plumbing, hang drywall, flooring and trim work. I think they’ll do all of it except for the mudding and taping of the drywall. (I want that to be done by drywall-only folks, so it’s done <strong>really</strong> well.)</p> <p>So, it will take a while. I’m guessing six months, but it very well could be longer. We hope to budget some towards it every month till it’s done. </p> <p>This way, with me overseeing each step, it’s going to be MUCH cheaper. Not as cheap as if we did it ourselves, but much better than paying a contractor to organize it all. </p> <p>I think it will be fun. </p> <p>And I could be losing my mind. :)</p> <p>All I know is I’m expecting a whole lotta disaster before it gets better. It’s already started -- my hubby’s below-ground office that usually looks like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OQY08emLFeG6KCaTxYxgSCqfg8PwwahgcX5mrFtUeUqZhHgfCSXX_qNOBiTq-TjUSTy5mYG0XPX1I24hHlG4fcbeEC_OFJMFwGSuPmMSit6KsrpJnkgihJ7Vch-zbAejUZ4G0GaFnOo/s1600-h/IMG_3297%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9dkgPCpclPZhFc44akl5yeLi7Sxr6nw1bX7nAF9wUHn7DFAoDWKrwwJdKBcPHfYJF7g0ach_zAe5EJ2taoWILAf0dt9LEVOdW9cF_AQgijB_CRY_QgVSzLTRAsyYwNSR8-YFXNLcquE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Now looks like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQTbewGtJIFtPZxUDAgxgNFoVB3spODyp6haXq5zkA3xBUZdyR4VTSTjZjMzwG8-RccL7J205yLWS1RXywl2ukJRO76eECO5CAo_8wC5g01gRM27OaxGDouYV-d5-ib-4x6gj7uUgDaA/s1600-h/IMG_0094%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiNSZXrP7xxIU9Jlx-1Ylbpl4N3Ad-4ALAHWiDz7Z7y8IvrjVPUxe-kR7mswgv6Z6hUGskYxenX_zbbIFdffqCE6vr_5atJDumXwjDTNbhkDsFooxnRjvShD0MsxpptmfAquVQMiyMvQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And I know that’s nothing. I’m already preparing for the dust that will cover the entire basement. </p> <p><em>Oh happy day!!!</em></p> <p>So there’s step one – really all it is so far is that I’ve figured out storage solutions. But I think the first step in this process will go down as one of my favorites. I’m SO happy I won’t have to look at bins for the rest of my days. :)</p> <p>Have any of you taken on a project like this yourselves? Have you ever acted as the contractor instead of hiring it out? Taken months to do what could be done in a few weeks? Any advice for me? </p> <p>All I gotta say so far is, WHOO!! </p>

The Basement: Step 1 of 587

Hey hey!! I’m SO excited about some work that started around these parts today. SO. EXCITED. This may not be the most beautiful post to re...

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Gaining some space

<p>Most of us would love a little extra room in the house, am I right? I mean, we don’t personally need any more square footage in our house, but I <em>do</em> like making changes that make a room feel more spacious, you know? </p> <p>I first blogged about <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/take-it-off.html">my little obsession</a> a few years ago (and I just realized I’ve been blogging for almost four years. That. is. crazy.)</p> <p>Anyhoo, I have a bit of a problem. I keep taking down doors. Interior doors. Useless doors. </p> <p>Doors that take up visual and actual space. </p> <p>I did it in the laundry room:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPdV05aomAd1Ql2XcQH-mpyCpTzM6PR90844cMB8d0eLH_kXeqC9IUUt3FZgZt93jo8K0zkQkZvgIs1gt4w7xHwJL7L0inHahUaLtH_W0wHyftzX9AU0d6q_E3EWCTgUPRyFB9eNMGLE/s1600-h/Picnik%252520collage%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking down interior doors" border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7oCrSkKQQAjhYgHv954d4dwJnvl2PqFWOW1mGFdVpsSh7rLYRpNXisxUuKzsHAXmfXWC9PSYjEZtl5SSSbKxyrfJCBUhMV8O1cRfvre8fL4_A_nA7DlKvczTb1VKiOeBWgiYKhmpHs8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taking down interior doors" width="400" /></a></p> <p>We never ever ever closed that door. So I took it off. And it felt good. ;)</p> <p>I’ve also taken down a door in the Bub’s bathroom, our master closet, two doors that open to the office and the one to our basement:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMkThgwzt29Daqs2HpFxDOzXy06HA4DUx9thawxokBWaA4QZuD-sofYjy6A-rfYdyp5uUwp3CAf2paW8oeOxsIzMJP2Pwd_gaSQjY5EmZWIPLfOitfjRSJmtrXQjogcnB-gA_CkaVSAY/s1600-h/IMG_00833.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bJd9Tb5jMi-C3k9fwSV_s-7shvUWlse6fq4PvcQssJZEF5FTe1x2K_3DznHH5U1BCZNgKAMTo6DotCtupoRYc0XAQT82ziY4MdXKM1ljXoXu-qBi20vLfNMCh5WvLVE2Dalgc8wvjjY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>See? A problem.</p> <p>I LOVE doing this. I feel like we gain space every time I do it. Usually the door just opens up against a wall like our laundry room, but sometimes it takes up tons of space, like the one to our basement. </p> <p>It was <em>always</em> open, so I took down. It’s been years now and we don’t miss it one bit. </p> <p>The only thing is, I’m left with some unfinished spots:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZjy6N6PclJp4vbstcZiCOdP3Eg_d7g7RE5kFy_-fzl6-c08osli0S-fEzDX7FXDsMo3l8tuu-gpFI33ItU582Mx6SkWUmxRPLtHaSElJ2NBl203exdLVLOC4lFYhzp2GLNWzWtiqJ7c/s1600-h/Picnik%252520collage2%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S7RJcbaez201LnB9cdEhJQMaWsGHYzTjCHp8ODyD6axoiZIDXQPsWnIDnf0k18q4DYfuc16m5QjQyNO7cpXOeRXxceBsZb7f8zFqDyXa2ViznbFvvlq8s8EtJA8VrGmp9xSHcEGEYfc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>So what to do with those? </p> <p>Obviously I’ve not been real worried about it, because every nekked doorway has sat like this for about three years. But slowly but surely, I’m making them look a bit better.</p> <p>I actually came up with the solution when I made the Bub’s <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/closet-turned-book-nook.html">book nook</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9tf9zqagGCrahTHEz7P2i4WCR3HU_w0KtaSoT1dzn0JrG0HPqTziMJGbT-z4DCSp_fRdD95MU9lPQmc5KJXF5In2J7jaTmfRex987rA1WNByWbjlfZRnvlXfBdwMmgNWETfNQUiyC6U/s1600-h/image%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUD5zdfNHeR1yLkwHtonGR_c3h-4G5exMj6EIeyHBVv3ehYN0p7OLhrcP5CwTQP9UoQ95oTJobcTeyA3HeZoYzj2aCgUrLHWw9VhK6Ka9kmpZo5bs8SJZsjDAB3AZUEy8rsNVQHEKNck/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I took that door down too, and wanted to cover up those not-so-pretty spots. My method worked perfectly, and I’m s.l.o.w.l.y. finishing up the other empty door frames around the house.</p> <p>When I took the double doors off the office a while back, I was left with spots for the hinges and some eye sores up above:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh7ZhjK_IQ47FweAZaVHXuOu8bKAbSgCNzqJmlGRCxwQE0bF4QW3d_3DvmSmRGqWt-Dp8LGrzS6wx1ttCELwDwmwHxXN9CFyO_fH7zeuQnr0eKAwqdP-Tj_SJS8GHf01Ei74j6P4EHYo/s1600-h/IMG_81443.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uzrK2PgzMN_eavbsX0OSON_v-oUw2AnS3HKqKBznxzBHTUADm8TA-SwWgSiRBrJQT9l95Uc1DKdlVR82HhV8UFQRxSnbXcxu9BqC5By7cfn-vWwAUQdBRDcQzdFnaZhuhE7mM5Q5kUw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I’ve seen some folks pull that middle piece of molding off the door jamb, fill the holes and paint it out, but that wouldn’t help much for this spot. And I wanted it to be easy to reverse if we ever move. </p> <p>Instead, I cover them. With my trusty lattice wood strips that I use all over the place. (For a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/big-boy-room-reveal.html">board and batten treatment</a> and the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-more-wire-shelves-pantry-redo.html">pantry</a> to name a couple projects.)</p> <p>I just measure the length of each side, then nail them right over the hardware spots:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nHc6MSYWd2P0ENOrvKrJoMJkib5wOYZE06awTrSzJW1TIVVfaDhaHdhxPV5hszPMllwAjsyocEThm1OWRm0GeD5XzWI82g0HOUgfRlmXR0qYYx6mQzO0HAVACQ7eUZYDKODoCqK28GE/s1600-h/IMG_81433.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0kp3Hih3bjTymw2kEZ16IOCXhkiowsHcFrlYXJawe4WXvl1irU1tAsYasKTDpQLwRQp-EK2JSJiIRicVyn75kfl45vlmKr9TlThp5Jvva_9EeJv9ILQ211AC5LP_xnKQYIQpD0tN2HA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>The lattice is almost the exact thickness of the door trim!</p> <p>Then I put a piece along the top of the door jamb, again right over the holes. </p> <p>I used a bunch of putty on the nail holes and along the sides, especially where the hinged areas were:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gjhY0-PtOnitoeY8oOGayPzADv7_4vNo19ssvvrEOK0DB_Y8jCoN-GX1SkclEK67mLXMuv3ydT0QNTD_EGN0SXAkAJFLCq71-70YxAZVzytovaeRFUnEoUxBn3EUdGGa56UvC9seK7I/s1600-h/IMG_81493.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHMLrf59MyQ4L18JXcOlN44nLlbgJ3jqmrjE6RLvZt88KYCLavjrY4fxzxmPsTthHb377S_1v23qH32-67tyONMzipf6mIfinWp-S5R-JKElgv1FfNyozDpsobKoyDAQ40wS-2O13XdI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>After it dried, I primed them once and then painted a couple times:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMC5LMOxozOfmjFjiImYJiinK4VPdAiXAkQjSMCx4sH2Wh3rs-_QQ4ZN2nfp32eKMbCw0zY41QPkBMvjA60a7yr7iQfRVyAFkFs0W0-HFfN8vRmfAesV8wNS-awGny9rax6K1YbQUNkI/s1600-h/IMG_00723.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2yhbdhVu4INgs31q0hw-CvWP02s07QCohggeihLUH5NDbXgQorAZAjJ3YD7WZlM8_T5iMSKZkrtqBPheMECswqc_OxGghBtZ89fD_jPmPPoPGak-SCgkwtOCcP1zk5445Y2gCklvR1g/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>You can’t even tell doors once hung there!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3l4OhHj3Cdev0wEQb8w5PutSx91ZFRelcsjp_iq5csXEV8RcwyRClMsd8-aOp0KEpwVs_uh7_xQtvJrBg6pBLS4Tx1DP1JBdlDfa6bKHWRuVLgEMeuAj_HlvtxUb5BGlqx4h0JF3lvgo/s1600-h/IMG_00703.jpg"><img alt="covering hardware holes in door jamb" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wSltwBMpWbWjJPZrlxIn_d10fxBXJD_S92sJDLRu2BrzezCE8xzvM8QSWLJVGW1_OP1hGTUTc9ITsbgivEDQLA4H4LWrgX6d3uVCKjTu6WmzGICtqP5gQ-wu9nRYEBIbnzAuFXXSOv0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="covering hardware holes in door jamb" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Only three more doorways to finish up. I should have gone to the basement door next, since more people see that spot, but I started the laundry instead:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiZmXfnUJjgMrC-vBDsnI6mcdcTYC0o8T6AozXzBUncQXSC7innz_FhaaR76t6cmVO65NjLZDi6Q2jCr8p3Y3lz9ehGdtkKU6Zvqc5e9aQsD6Iw9EXDquL3MobDNT6kQwep63r0M6pDA/s1600-h/IMG_00743.jpg"><img alt="finishing out a door jamb" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDvtsv_QOYwfpiwYhy7DKce_rlvtOuAVAhQ2clwbQFnKzCFBIUwCLoSA9TVeaWR6pCJ1RyjE7svwqh11bpHs9vO7stqfRFk6O152HFi6UnTky2jIXtpOeiZNEQ9T6Ke9xrLRgXayidw0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="finishing out a door jamb" width="320" /></a></p> <p>It’s sat spackled and unpainted for <strike>two</strike> three months now. I’m not sure what’s better…unfinished wood with dried up spackle or big honkin’ holes. ;)</p> <p>I like this option cause it’s cheap (each piece of lattice is $4 I think?) and if we ever move someday, I can pull them off with minimal effort. </p> <p>Have you ever noticed the doors to each room are usually missing in model homes? It makes a big difference! Have you done this in your home? Try it out – just unscrew the door hinges and pull the door away. See how you like it!</p>

Gaining some space

Most of us would love a little extra room in the house, am I right? I mean, we don’t personally need any more square footage in our house, b...

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You’re Kool

<p>Hey there! I’m posting early today (for me anyway) because I just had to share a Valentine’s project we worked on for the Bub’s (little bitty cutie patootie) friends. </p> <p>I figure if you want to use them for your kiddos for school tomorrow or for friends, you could still get it done tonight if I posted this early enough. </p> <p>OK, so I think I actually came up with an original idea here. (Yeah right – <em>is</em> there an original idea anymore??) In the world of Pinterest I know that’s unusual. ;) I thought this up a few weeks ago and we finished them last night. They turned out TOO CUTE!</p> <p>LOVE them!</p> <p>It’s so simple – first we grabbed (what seemed like) <em>one meellion</em> packets of Kool-Aid from the grocery. Because they were so cheap, I ended up with two for each kiddo in his class – total cost of just over $6. </p> <p>*Important note: You may not want to go through the <em>self check out</em> with 32 individual packets of Kool-Aid. With all of the not scanning and not registering on the stinkin’ belt and the all the sweating and…well. I just would advise you to go through a regular line. </p> <p>OK. </p> <p>Anyhoo, I had some little treat bags from Hob Lob that were a buck. I created a “kool” valentine on Picnik (still not ready to talk about that, boo!), and then stapled them to the treat bags:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwhvJO0Co2Pp4W9jewOfavss1e9sNdmLj-iflPzKctiywMdZhtkHDs8C8Mfebg3dS4cwp3MOgCIImjaRRHgqZ531Yik3to5RjwHZ-JOOS6TYnco_AllWfBLFk1XweGZNU1bOhiSpkAqk/s1600-h/IMG_0064%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kzRLw8T73JjfmPvrxcSUY9dtAloCbETGYpxu0CsPuJPDX9V9M3DEAFAf9W9C0IXC78MA2O8tXY7tXTCfeoAebCHEv9NSIsW4X6aNUVVmFiIOjPYAaLxb1mHXzg2ibfEKVahkEhatkHs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>O.M.G, I just adore how they turned out!</p> <p>Usually we do the standard box of valentines, but this was a fun little project for both of us:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tt56_P0YOVXF80NbvAqHGg0kJrgjk83uWrndyA4radlmslS9nsl7CP_39xfDIh9l36Tk9JBpQFQXG3-WI7drE5D4sr08u0VX3pApXMA2DDrN4IT8j8JoViP3eITXQHoo3_yHUZ260oQ/s1600-h/IMG_0066%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX2HzdFzCsFs2SxCyvc5dhZ23nY9rHFvk85BfrM-zNcCy010bVmfZa7mJjUkdvc-37IP0ow701KjTJ_ySOlZjjY0AUDdBkwPQwNHashkJzbwZPMyOeORw3E1dqfV99y_Gr2-AerXVuqw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="311" /></a></p> <p>I figured the Kool-Aid would be a welcome change from all the candy. Plenty of sugar still, yes. But different. :)</p> <p>Cause I’m nice I saved the valentine and made it so you can use them for <strike>yourself</strike> your kiddos!</p> <p>You should be able to click on this image to get to the full size:</p> <p><a href="http://s891.photobucket.com/albums/ac111/thriftydecorchick/?action=view&current=Valentine.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="361" src="http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac111/thriftydecorchick/Valentine.jpg" width="400" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Then you can paste it into a Word document and size it to what you need. </p> <p>I thought they were pretty darn cute. :) The Bub loved them too. </p> <p>It took less than an hour to cut them all out and put them together. And each one ended up at less than 50 cents each – pretty decent for a custom treat! </p> <p>I had plans to get a couple other Valentine projects finished, but time got away from me. I dug through the storage bins and pulled out my cutie <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/02/crafting-therapy.html">XO letters</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/02/crafting-therapy.html"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGlNZJpAmy2-k0whd4naPnoT8wmAPJsTxxU_GYwifPsrppRt3WS8-d1oIuTD4zUPYWJZPm_0C-8H_RmM7Twz7SYXMJukfCPs1t6fFZNdRHxApADS70P8T51tyNEvo_kuP3cpE2wAOQEM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="383" /></a></p> <p>And my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/01/valentine-quickie.html">rose petal wreath</a> has been repurposed since I made it years ago, but I love how easy it was to put together:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr_dHz2IBLYOFnOa2g26SBGOwnEWTiJ8OrKr3jKF74HuhUPo6ZVk_RJhXvgicJZCXVOlUdzoJ6wcer1N_nEq0Wgg5gOyPoIy_L_-juDq04gFIe025Lga9LES6OpDb8CTHWLeRwo_NOLA/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PpDbFry5wJOwhN-dvtrTtgJkcgT0c9AfrscaW6BOTADdWwrIH1LtTeRKrU_EDQ-BhuiiHACTfN9wDIwp2wWwBMplZGlrGaBDaNUjD-kRmsw6f1qx5u8feuvZcx8yrGqZcboUvkFF1mk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a></p> <p>You can see bunches of other V Day crafting ideas on my Pinterest board <a href="http://pinterest.com/thriftydecor/v-day/">here</a>. I know it’s late for this year, but you’ll just be plenty prepared for next year. ;)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Did you do any fun Valentine’s crafts? Cute valentines for the class? I’d love to hear!</p>

You’re Kool

Hey there! I’m posting early today (for me anyway) because I just had to share a Valentine’s project we worked on for the Bub’s (little bitt...

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Giveaway Weekend!

<p><strong>**This giveaway is now closed. </strong></p> <p>Well hello there! Thanks for the awesome comments on my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-more-wire-shelves-pantry-redo.html">pantry redo</a>! I’m just thrilled about it and hope it helps any of you who have pantry you want to change up or organize. :)</p> <p>Since Valentine’s Day is coming up next week, I figured it’s time for you to treat YOURSELF. :) The kids and hubby’s do a great job, but sometimes we need to get <em>exactly</em> what we want. And I love these products because they are all about pampering you or the people you love. </p> <p>You soooooo deserve it. ;)</p> <p>The folks at <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=common/home">Heal My Sole</a> are back for another great giveaway weekend!</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=common/home"><img alt="" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iqULhl1unxU/TzXgkrbOGWI/AAAAAAAASno/XG3gE6cw6DI/Capture%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I have tried a few of their products and LOVE them, but I’ll talk about those in a minute. First, the list of items I <em>want</em> to try out but haven’t. ;)</p> <p>Wait…<strong>first</strong> I need to mention that all of the Heal My Sole products are NATURAL -- they use an aloe based preservative and no harmful ingredients like parabens, alcohol or petroleum. Their ingredients are simple, pronounceable (ha!) and good for you!</p> <p>OK, now the fun stuff. </p> <p>I’m totally intrigued by the <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83">massage candle</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83"><img alt="massage candle" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RylCDcD6K4A/TzXgkwJ8J9I/AAAAAAAASnw/RuUbtEmfsDo/image%25255B21%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="massage candle" width="200" /></a></p> <p>You light the candle (with a cotton wick), allow it to puddle and then use it for a massage, or rub it into your own dry skin. I love that they suggest lighting the candle before taking a shower and when your done the oil will be ready to apply. Do you hear that ladies? A quiet shower with lovely scents wafting in the air and then soft skin to boot. I’m just thinking of <strong>you</strong>. :)</p> <p>Speaking of scents – these come in two. The popular Lavender and Grapefruit with a touch of Eucalyptus and the new Yuzu Marmalade (think citrusy and bright).</p> <p>This <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=87">home spray</a> can be used in the house, in the car, on linens, the dog bed (stinky!), anywhere!:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=87"><img alt="natural home spray" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--voFack9zrA/TzXglJMab9I/AAAAAAAASn4/ELDoOiLc13w/image%25255B22%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="natural home spray" width="200" /></a></p> <p>I love that you can try a single fragrance or a combination of three. They’ll also add more scents at no additional charge. (They suggest a grapefruit, rosemary, peppermint and lavender for migraine relief!)</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=35&product_id=81">lavender crème</a> sounds absolutely lovely for this time of year:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=35&product_id=81"><img alt="lavender creme" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A-N46Q10HxA/TzXgleN78rI/AAAAAAAASoA/8TDg528l0EY/image%25255B23%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="lavender creme" width="200" /></a></p> <p>The crème is made with grape seed and sweet almond oil, but it’s thicker than regular lotion to help heal chapped or dry spots on the face or body. </p> <p>And isn’t the lavender scent the one that helps you sleep? I must try this!</p> <p>I love that they suggest using the <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=38">massage/bath oil</a> to shave your legs:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=38"><img alt="bath oil" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RFqF472_Fgs/TzXgljbyHeI/AAAAAAAASoI/Om6cSr_uzcM/image%25255B24%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="bath oil" width="200" /></a></p> <p>AND you can use it to remove eye makeup! Brillz. </p> <p>They carry this and a bunch of other products in an almond scent and I LOVE the almond smell in lotions. It’s just yummy. </p> <p>I use a couple of the Heal My Soul products weekly if not daily. I’m kind of obsessed with <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=37">lip balm</a>, and I LOVE theirs! I got the apple scent:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=37"><img alt="apple lip balm" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BgHCmYzwT7A/TzXgl7oeg3I/AAAAAAAASoQ/QLCOGS48_xs/image%25255B25%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="apple lip balm" width="200" /></a></p> <p>I use it all. the. time. I love it cause it’s thick and covers really well, but it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. And it smells <em>good</em>. :)</p> <p>I got mine forever ago and it’s still not even halfway gone – not bad for three buckaroos. </p> <p>I use the <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=36">peppermint foot scrub</a> as well:</p> <p><a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=36"><img alt="peppermint foot scrub" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QHXcEtPRahQ/TzXgmJOsOBI/AAAAAAAASoY/d7hfOsa8wkY/image%25255B26%25255D.png?imgmax=800" title="peppermint foot scrub" width="200" /></a></p> <p>But I use it on my elbows and knees along with my feet! It makes them <em>supa</em> smooth! And the scent is perfect for the morning –- the peppermint smell wakes me up! </p> <p>The folks at Heal My Sole are graciously offering <strong>two </strong>of you <strong>$40 in pampering products</strong> from their shop! (And $40 will get you far with their great prices!) Wahoo! </p> <p><strong>Here’s how to enter to win $40 in Heal My Sole products:</strong></p> <p>1. Leave a comment here. We’re finally getting a winter here. (YAY.) How about you? </p> <p>2. Visit the Heal My Sole site <a href="http://www.healmysole.com/index.php?route=common/home">here</a>. Check out the products and come back to let us know what you’d like to try out! </p> <p>3. Visit the HMS Facebook page and “like” it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heal-My-Sole/166495254910">here</a>. Come back and let us know you did in another comment. </p> <p>* You can enter one, two or three times – it’s up to you! All three options are not mandatory to win.</p> <p>* Remember if you comment anonymously or you have a private blog, please include your email address in each entry, and spell it out with “at” and “dot” to avoid any spammy emails coming your way.</p> <p>This giveaway is only open to US residents! It will be open till this Monday, February 13 at noon EST. </p> <p><strong>Have a wonderful weekend!! </strong></p>

Giveaway Weekend!

**This giveaway is now closed. Well hello there! Thanks for the awesome comments on my pantry redo ! I’m just thrilled about it and hope i...

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No more wire shelves!! (A pantry redo)

<p>So here we go – my little pantry redo! It’s nothing super fantastic, but I just love how it turned out, for more reasons than one!</p> <p>Let’s start with the before, and then I’ll go through my thought process and the <em>actual</em> process. Umkay?</p> <p>Here’s the pit of despair: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCEZygWrwGv9dpkTjkD_LB4EG9-CyGVqJbSxCQtPhtgxwrehGFxvgEK19_BxJWCsV7Frt3prxxKJ_8zSq8hPdtiv9XM8ZHEFmq3Zafcrtp4zMurNEifSti8B_HLFOMRSa5COYAmmXF_Q/s1600-h/photo147.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwjoNY5XyzYlbvMMGV2aPD7NbOHnifsNN_im5BsyO208JgC-TeqrAPs3AKBtpaD_SlaU6loGV6bQvvdCG6xMT6koaVtCAPzYJPegeOMzEdA6esINjC2hBK6ZHduXJ2uAFWfgzJGy5nR0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="360" /></a></p> <p align="center">(Excuse the awful cell phone pics!) </p> <p>I’ve blogged about cleaning out the pantry quite a few times and it ALWAYS ends up back like this.</p> <p>It was time for a change. It was getting on my nerves that I could not keep this spot organized. And over Christmas break and the weeks after I had a bit of an epiphany. </p> <p>It started when I went to get a can of soup over the holidays and pulled one out, checked the date…expired. Pulled out another, checked…expired. Another. <em>Expired</em>. </p> <p>It was RIDICULOUS. </p> <p>And then, a couple weeks later I read <a href="http://www.athoughtfulplaceblog.com/2012/01/organized-pantry.html">Courtney’s post</a> about her pantry:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0mu9XaOWLtBCKhxNKLvSnGsxzap_qALRI4424tvkImIIuYxDIJkQECwfCF-7QFaVZ5l0zue8Cm5Eyw8eIBLPH3aZg6oVZN_tQV3eCaQW4huLM6Ve1cdNGXoVQNBvK2gkv5k2dmnOlEs/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnufdBObCg9ZeYXq2wKru9zhBgupBA4WTIwlEgKA1cBqN_Yo37pe5ualnLTOnlFYUC8WmpjCLbR76MLyaVE-DvbM2mNXRlMgBJHAfF2kR3AwCB59ZYrebXy2aKbYJR20eeRrZGAnJW4RM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="325" /></a></p> <p>And I was struck by something – I couldn’t believe how small it was and how little food was in it. I actually said out loud to myself -- “There is NO way that holds all of the food!” </p> <p>I was even a little…annoyed? Goofy, I know…but I was all, <em>how the heck is that enough</em>? </p> <p>And then I read on about how she plans her meals and only buys what they need when they need it. </p> <p>And then it clicked. </p> <p>I realized something about myself –- I’m a food hoarder. I don’t say that lightly – I really think I am. I’ve always had this weird <em>thing</em> about having tons of food in our pantry. </p> <p>I really think it stems from stuff I went through growing up. It’s a long story, but there’s something about having the ability to buy enough food for my family – and yet I never felt like it was enough. I always had to have extra…just in case. Even though just in case never came.</p> <p>Sorry to get all philosophical on you about a stinkin’ pantry, but there. you. go. :) It really struck me and made me realize something BIG about myself. </p> <p>Not only that, but I was just disgusted that we were wasting so much food. I knew I wanted to make a change. I’ve been wanting to redo the pantry for awhile now, so this project came at the perfect time!</p> <p>I started by cleaning it out <em>again</em>…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj2Eh9AvZDrcdEa-iMpcYmtoqGEqqNzxIR0nq0KTkfFl9Yg_3n4vR-aV92D-hk6QwEsyukY7QjPnKmgSwHvQyYbCs8n4K0xkQaVkCwjw2_dNWyPK4NqUEcbLKF9jQhds0BoiMpqqNlHg/s1600-h/photo%25252813%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw7Hp9szKROExNbzmAhCJt8nRK1hddb7LpOAVv6300pZbO0J0UJJCLlETotY7dYN-GSWdMSFTrWZs0-DP0p97-odq-zxl6QgzgGJT3QUbvrNFb3KKXLfnGp9sTJ0b4Ih62Tvk-Wo8RXg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="360" /></a></p> <p>Ahhh…so much better already!</p> <p>And then my very, very favorite part – the removal of the wire shelves!!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwcUV_hapNEZMHeZdLCInjSh3NMCqn2T9BwWeagqWXAevfR-3GBmx9SzH0BhvHBcQQP9bUGtHW78_TTYLMrRS4qEZW6e9JL7lP_Vd9DgYaqrA4DJEwcAmLVSbejdPrj_FVhzlMVI-Vvk/s1600-h/photo%25252816%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxxQBy0mwmOD_2ffuI4_5HC_-ImYSqY7fmBNuWqlWeRE1dWuYGkpLSZYVLrYndjaly5ukM3wtELsr_9WhHg3fEh9DhwU3rtR2fRiDBF835Z3PP6vwaoD_qcfoBHSW_RX618EP3IC0KOQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="256" /></a></p> <p>I showed you a while back how I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-dream-pantryalmost.html">laid plywood on top</a> of the wire shelves, and that’s served me well. But I wanted to take better advantage of the space in here, so they had to go.</p> <p><strong>So sad.</strong> ;)</p> <p>I filled all the honkin’ holes using <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/07/got-holes.html">this method</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAKMBjFWgIyThsgxePxZMgBZkF5TvKWmhRTtC0aXtstcQ2_Z9COnajIfxmh_gaicJXq5Mn7ODoA7euK_tQtMQ0L17RopWkKhCO0G4m8ur1a7YvPJy_iaMJ8z2FskKyuel1SqSp7S2SsY/s1600-h/photo%25252817%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HX4-g3DY7dJWLd7bxe_zNavgVfxlDWZXb4SP7EvrP2lPu8pnnFzv4TTZ2LeKBLW7Iz6uPs5hYiaDlZOMwyJyO6C49PVw3y8619nTpGiOShYilyMPohnqgAVed2NhzAWpqHcEapeN2RM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="266" /></a></p> <p>And then got to painting. I used a sample quart of a blue/grey color I’ve had forever and only painted the back and sides of the pantry. I had <em>just</em> enough paint!</p> <p>And then, because <strike>I have no life</strike> I wanted to jump on the stencil-the-pantry bandwagon, I used another color sample (this time in a greenish blue color) to add a pretty stencil to the back wall. </p> <p>I took no pictures of this process. Probably cause I was too busy cursing. ;)</p> <p>No really, it wasn’t that bad. At times I had trouble lining up the stencil, but overall it really didn’t take that long. (It helps I only did the back wall!) Total time actually stenciling was about an hour, but with drying time it was a few. </p> <p>That was OK though because it was a nice, mindless project to do while I caught up on episodes of The Lying Game. (Yes, I am 15 years old.)</p> <p>Then it was onto the shelves! I picked up a large sheet of melamine from Lowe’s in white:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG1jkbaPSo6IE3pdj9i47RjUCZKsEsMJz3Y5EFjw4Q-lgSyYqSkCbB59hIoNDaMQJkWpevXXoaH2mTQxThjXrX5Pb56Gbge4vzoztC0ly9CYhLdqcSFn8uVTMRQQWrTlAgNEZUC98630/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp71fqi9xbQ1TxBWAs7Tw2P96Jn_F1qhoB6QWDjNI1IddDqXgVcVNLqER-h_mkJJJM1OhTAxp4J7mOPNA1BCFTJ-RV18GeZmuZJj3e-0Jz42dSBCa1-IjYoSqrt4BKYjVlgLEALaeRQM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" width="240" /></a></p> <p>I was going to use wood, but then I thought about all the priming…and painting. And painting. And drying time. And then a light shined down on this stuff, so this stuff it was.</p> <p>So I paid a little more and got the sheet of melamine (in bright shiny white!) for $32 and had them cut it down into five pieces. I LOVE it! </p> <p>Next, I installed supports by drilling wood into the studs in the closet:</p> <p><img alt="hanging pantry shelves" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SAzwUdKHejRBUdvubXA46x9nAEv11E6qE2-MlxC8ffr8qm4R76PzKaibplfyl8lAChkoGJ3E1z0GeiVSI_AdVYw5GtrOhAByy-HSCZAACxmyvQQS7jV9rC5zB4IuNEthcuDhrHymdNE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="hanging pantry shelves" width="360" /></p> <p>The container of goldfish crackers was sustenance. </p> <p>Nah…it was just to see how tall I wanted that first shelf to be. ;)</p> <p>Then for added support, I used Liquid Nails along the top, then nailed the shelves down into the supports as well:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xqMAzPfMdBoM-h_UlvZs09khUs6O-wCjT-WWtf4oJOSRf5USnQTB5w8gGw6aiOtEnF4JXUe944bSLgzYjFr0_mOZdN_ARHxSVFoVxmsxJgcE32RchWpn05T7DrMpvvx4KWC1D-etAbI/s1600-h/photo%2525282%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRIjimKt4aQODWr0p2zmQp5nIHIjydB2zDyU93kHsN6CTYJwGpQQRi8f50DTYU5tzGlooA72SBvqDYTfXbaJU__q3niXURaTvdxvWfn32QD88W2KXIr80V2jJEWZNqd2fj9QKRJ15yx8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWk1Tg1PsI9hC_7HPdiPpYwYYCHdYjX24bxgs33b2IispOylrnC7HAlACVc-TdrBzsC-RWqiIUyRIrktEPsl-FNOF6OfgaClBH0XlbcrzBMUXsq1nowKtB1jxIyhdFjLoVUzvPdoajcs/s1600-h/photo%25252812%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k7jIOQMJfMFidO_YNwTpQDHGh_LrN0mBLS-lXKSl59DETIWmpi3or6ipGfKSolqcjwFXOQV1pPzXEQ5o1kNS7mLMSQTkPgbVmXZom9AaRRMdZ5HHpujOw2-sTBi3-nyzvdkbPVfuiTc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a>      </p> <p>The side of the melamine were rough along the front, so I covered them with strips of lattice wood and then painted them white:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK3zJQvxI44GBI7-nef48FMIYj1nT4Oo740ZvoAEb2t7i7DZVcwJ-lyBKBOYnLdEuiXqJWxXz1mHKQyX0IRzQ_hQVopakKHnICcWTVXU7Mo8ZkKyYtkgWdurSWM4X4X1VVp087RaA6v4/s1600-h/IMG_9993%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="containers for dry goods pantry" border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84Yfbzi1QicGIxu67L2zfLBxJvpRGAw1WjwGyhMI0U7E5PaBhyphenhyphen0FE6rwWYWSNjoYxRsvIILbPh6IGlhKeF3ked_RM6qGp3zekthWf3sBrlnD3ERCp3DcPIDC2_VXdRuEP39y_HjOyKGw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="containers for dry goods pantry" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I used this same stuff as the “board and batten” in the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/big%20boy%20room">Bub’s room</a>! </p> <p align="left">Our old wire shelves were about 16 inches deep, but I had these cut at 19 inches, so that adds up to a LOT more space overall. </p> <p align="left">So much space, that with my newfound plan to schedule out our meals and shop accordingly, I have a TON more room in here now!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w6VL1hr1rYEk1Fp5nNQSegQBlkO0lHNIIGNgjZFMhN1LulB9s2z4d0my_IQRYvXwwupUuqMsRfd479vRruYvmukyxSHpm2kRAPx_sYaOZ1L4i9wOe0-MfuDbV_CtheV52WXSnHAnTgo/s1600-h/IMG_9992%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Mv0XpN78lFY7ZUMCjAhN7854MrmvIPaTVoQa_XoicbWtdI7yzSTtHGi-PC-cN2VctkZAW6hxVzCzqn_A4ghGeComoroNO_rIykSyN3rIUcIhbWe90vobMQKKq_g-KiUSIn4ah2jE57Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I had most of the organizational stuff already – the baskets are from Meijer and I bought them months ago for another spot. I like them better here. :)</p> <p>That one holds dinner and lunch-type stuff – mac and cheese, etc. Another holds snacky stuff. They’re easy to just pull it in and out to get to the food, and I can still see what’s inside. </p> <p>Most of the containers are from WalMart – I had most, but I got the tall ones for cereal today:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgsQP4UparR5VmrOv-bviimjNzW6Al5yWilqKvrmJmhcMXHfWezJTrfINxGIx9-FbKoWtS3yijmbEjAfLXDaTHCl4cnOIOTgQpLWtwN_avubzhZS7lAsNXPb-e4nvDPBzsjxjl6x4jQE/s1600-h/IMG_9988%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4RvMMr2i_BrvG7JFkNv3Q35F-KCOhwLOmK925yR6jCQoiWi3K9RMioI3E4hFOr1fobryAfls57CnvAv1aKtmgRXyjlnJffhjsyV2vmtfY-kEwM31FSkGkABtdybVOI1ntpuucmnlGHk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I <strong>love</strong> having dry food in containers – if I can see through them! I used to use a bunch of tall containers for snacks, but they weren’t clear, so I never remembered what the heck was in them. </p> <p>Out of sight of of mind! </p> <p>These though, are awesome because I can tell exactly what we need when we need it. (I use my label maker to add the expiration date to the bottom of each container.)</p> <p>I had so much extra space, I had room to add a few of of the serving dishes/mixing bowls I use most often:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmn57y_60iAwrk1w_dgTPfZgiQaWlFrPR09RZa91FIUBAYp9eW6kiTnhxyFw6EbIBaSBNCjefEIFQOujBG52cA-EtFhyphenhyphenjMYCJbg4XHxEYnDOaZqs327UauJfqceFbGHL6Tt-ccKcsokw/s1600-h/IMG_9991%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiirKm6M-lfbB2gDZNPOOIuncLFuRTuO_onvf1QrtIRuvNAIV8v9RALgvKTmJK_iKgi8Z5s79ADkBeScy_kxY2je6zrnlbRYlRHMYmHJVFTe-Xv9RHulWvF0Hg7Q2tQjkIFMHqn1qsQw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I LOVE having them so easily accessible! I especially love the mixing bowls in there – I can grab them while I’m pulling ingredients to make something. </p> <p>The flour, powdered sugar and brown sugar are now in these $3 containers from WalMart:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnQMGpph_ECTxbJsf7Ous8FiE0vyKvcV6a2gsA1I5XhtVmb_BTgpcl_uEdbhpHF7FyVj0VTJD0mhKZbMuZWQp5TElz03GFZ7PNk3qp1DW7NhpyAYMyrPHdqAK-hZRk5x2AS2rku-NCpc/s1600-h/IMG_9997%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="walmart $3 container" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1PHmkdIgTHoqhgIIFG8AIWiRyLffEYKZhOQ3HMPNu__9SVjaM2WFpMeM7szGCRP-TuvmE0WojPz9bcBbx6EctkSmwjXBQqD3vu1ik9Fwc5rDenq2l7OzjzGbP7xOFizR8c1vs_ovAek/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="walmart $3 container" width="300" /></a></p> <p>I used to have them all in glass containers, but dang, they were SO heavy. And bulky – I was always afraid I was going to drop one when I got it out. It’s one of those things I learned as I used them…and I like these plastic jobbies MUCH better. </p> <p>I reused the tiered shelves from Target for canned goods on the sides:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bVA9k7Av-GW8guH0XlrxP-9xIzUbSuxOd1mn8cacESM-SkthShpHHYnfJISk_Lb6F70S_G7srO1Qo8FNUajORyN0Uri_NreoWJpEHKcgnkCQc98ZanCXQPAyqhR1QVgK_uwI-5nWIik/s1600-h/IMG_0002%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiered can shelves" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKsMVgWmmg7GCMYpEiMZXFai1WioBssOXMwx4n-RvLx9ndDo_VZ4B_7rZLATg9ygZVIJCneaNxd4tX4jaxp2uz_pe2eDQDTVa1FN4HSJsseWLcs8YIzyMRr-h4uZYuxuAqhafaxN3sl0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="tiered can shelves" width="290" /></a></p> <p>And these little shelves from the Container Store work great to go vertical with items:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC__sM5MFXa12LsHK0aM_9u_DrqpMPiK5TnpwPuYHr2ir64uolpiY3q6ijIuu5WX_sT7q0-bmTJa_StPpu4fk2CLWEHzFBaq87X0sLxAYfL6OTtsMdgvaDx68zRadlmyNQE-TW63jko8/s1600-h/IMG_0003%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="container store shelves" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsYCsZSgHc1_eHl1imEALFmawYyTfJqW3pS8ocT5wndJKfNyx5Roh4QS9wkwIwEtlI-yBqbNOfNZAHpcB2lBjlpmmyAmCNgotDYnGyi8jkEhSg2RDNpm6kR7G6v4FvimKuopyeKa-zaE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="container store shelves" width="290" /></a></p> <p>I also have a few IKEA containers in there as well, and I love those as well! They have a tab at the top so you can pour out of them if needed.</p> <p>You’ll notice the pantry glows – last year my Dad and I hooked up the rope lighting to a switch:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirALe_A-WRUEEkAON5BJIhAlFSfCZAcmotSl6TCSvi03xWEgmIATz24zhEQhaOviGEweC0CWcthMp_hyphenhyphenro3MUyhd2ZOzHGMCS_iMfpIOTHfEL62fmD_scu346VytRSU6d346eyUc2n7dI/s1600-h/IMG_0057%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="rope lighting in closet" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg3lFVgLrd-B_w3F31_bIDyJERkM_xVU4Kj_suysAyjGQfQUcEUd5o3JrCpBM3FR6c5jM5nYJBMgmrNUi8EuRwz5Ooc03FgYKcRWVdcXVInIvjqeHOYFnue0XdJGXb0T-HOg82Evvl5o/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="rope lighting in closet" width="300" /></a></p> <p>And it’s the <em>perfect</em> light in here – it illuminates the whole pantry instead of just at the top. :)</p> <p>I could not be more thrilled with how it all came together!!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJUnnP3H-UMUaZXPlmAhYvRrJN1qZoh05dCqNA_pqhJrK_ZMnIno9fRd6Qvc_zNFTn5UycHO_2qT8hMmDfWKpQHnl4pPUlZ0IgDIFRUAVaVy0ZZbZrLwNEFnKW3eHc0fyDw8mv4WKFds/s1600-h/IMG_0027%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="melamine pantry shelves" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzW-eziIqgWRSmun7dPe1Gx74Fq_a0lYS9Ma0KrWcU-ZQ-aQjVRuEleorxZsmg4Ada-BrOzBdWBNjhpDiTnpqeUmBBLYwlacyQgyhgS0k8Cx8AgK5TkI2NjKwOXJ2sqP2z_BTUacDCto/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="melamine pantry shelves" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I keep the door open <em>all the time</em>. I’m not kidding! I just love looking at it. </p> <p>You observant folks will notice I didn’t paint all of the supports on the lower shelves – I thought no one would ever see them. Other than a few thousand of you. Oops!</p> <p>Sure, the paint and stencil took some extra time, but goodness, if there’s a space we look at numerous times a day…this is IT. Pantries deserve to be pretty too. ;)</p> <p>I ended up staggering the shelves a bit – a couple are about 13 inches tall, the rest are 14 inches tall. Not sure why…it just sounded like a good idea. :)</p> <p>You can see in the after that the shelves go up higher in the pantry, using up more of the vertical space inside – here’s the before:</p> <p align="center"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y9iKmbZZl12MolhALO3aqBAOoZepiwRERsuVh5WS0TNkNnYF2KUMtvvVkvFQjWoAxdIqFShwS023npIuPxad6UCQ1mZ1L2bfvSHXy3894HiwizVtALJXpcf7uCh1P44drK_hpixeC88/s1600-h/photo149.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z6KoxgXFukaX7fDsDBLWw5kfGNfqyda88w6MLe-5N4-VLB3CIVKcdrX8DCVWnCbPQvbCi41rW1PY6HKpip37psrBKmcxFATNmUnZTz5iNKVBVANVnw4smlEGDSbtFDs-SY4us5DYV6Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p align="left">And now:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WyeClAxdEaOnFyvKf3MAb0NDWxRq6hiT5JuGlJCOIzFh9zgAuNKFXEywnj012x2iBtuiVQz_zsb7Dh4_DcbVVxD8btZrQiR0B1j_zVIVdTHuioSPB-gqPnsctVxAMspu6yZf6wwjKuw/s1600-h/IMG_003713.jpg"><img alt="pretty pantry stenciled walls" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_CoZdD-bHmp6oH0JiXuuAqAZUb7wGWrXybKWJztfP02Ywh6HbAMbbjGtgXyS1hhNH9KAUb-qqOB0Fy5vyl-akIrlmAf4iFrjiI8I2v0FKwkRPSi4ay8t4sbOXHIqR0nnD05G_s8b_kY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pretty pantry stenciled walls" width="400" /></a> </p> <p>Have you ever looked up inside your closets? SO much wasted space! </p> <p>Getting rid of those wire shelves made all the difference in the world – the white melamine is so much simpler. And prettier!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhb2ZDh-fdtl-ceA0FYT7w733YZY1zohGjmF7mlSjB08JZPiA8XKyna1X-NALPiVaW9hdJebmjJmd0vrX7HHpnjevK8nAu_yEyn3UgTv7D5bix2orjU2Os-CkCmmv7ySjhdygobjHj9Q/s1600-h/IMG_0009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="organized pantry" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxcU4MjmRqw45I6MyLyxf4gmyi2RQLqRcQ1FPBR8QAAPUkpzcsXB16d8oBldLN25I_X8gyxy8BayjMg121krKfRxr0EGs5cIRcCYIuT7qnC6C2perDkbiq8yP20yhEwcp1Wm7_zC4q4I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="organized pantry" width="491" /></a></p> <p>It even looks better with the door shut! I couldn’t believe the difference:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dryNrEzkxpa-xEonE2SjPfpqUoZHze9YVDbmIyd-RMKcOP3jU6kmggHZRKBpekmw4qZ_KGKQ1NJqj2cKwjv6fsgEAsYQuorSpFshpun7AoqY3BoB2JaW9Hr0kpvpwh66XHcbmmYlNc4/s1600-h/IMG_99767.jpg"><img alt="glass pantry door" border="0" height="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7DnmNew9Js_sHp5NaBaBIWwXVOjs0NULihB1aAj3k51b1vhRi4vM8DzKd4YDLeahcspiLYKc7Nb2H-BPcGEBXOyS2CTfT5kbk_Z0ai9hwtNkluYd3yucGZnvoTTZ6sVXRDbSfAxhhys/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="glass pantry door" width="490" /></a></p> <p>Now you notice the white shelves through the glass, not the food crammed inside. :)</p> <p>Overall the whole project was less than $100 – for the shelves, supports, trim and a few more containers. </p> <p>This wasn’t a quick project – it took over a week total. Partly because I came down with a nasty cold half way through, partly because it just involved quite a few steps. The food was piled all over the kitchen that whole time and we ate at the family room coffee table for our meals. When we ate at home that is…we may have used it as an excuse to go out a few times. ;)</p> <p>I hope I covered everything! Let me know if I didn’t in the comments! Here’s a few more details:  </p> <p>Blue/grey color: True Value paint, Overcast Sky <br />Green/blue stencil color: True Value paint, Ticker Tape <br />Containers: WalMart and IKEA <br />Stencil: Hobby Lobby (couple years ago) <br />Big honkin’ silverware <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/spray-paint-party.html">above door</a> <br />Black pantry door: Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-pantry-door.html">here</a> for the installation and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/11/before-and-after-party-private-pantry.html">here</a> for more on the privacy film.</p> <p>I plan to do another post soon about the meal planning and how it’s working for us. Maybe in a couple weeks? </p> <p>I hope you are inspired by this little redo! <strong>You too</strong> can say <em>see ya, wouldn't want to be ya</em> to the wire shelves in your pantry!<em> </em>Do you hate them as much as I do? I’m down to two more closets…</p>

No more wire shelves!! (A pantry redo)

So here we go – my little pantry redo! It’s nothing super fantastic, but I just love how it turned out, for more reasons than one! Let’s s...

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