Open Pantry Living

I've always had issues with decor vs utility.   Our existing kitchen reluctantly held my grandmother's behemoth hutch.  The bottom drawers were catch-alls, and the top shelves displayed dusty, unused, barware.  Cordial glasses.  Brandy glasses.  Champagne Flutes.  Port Glasses.  Glass Carafes.  Shakers.  Seriously, the most action seen by any of my six (!!) "on display" brandy glasses was when I converted two of them into terrariums.

Inspired by M moving in with me, I've started downsizing & organizing.  The kitchen hutch was one of the first to go.  In its place, I wanted to put an open pantry for our dry goods.  This not only inspires us to eat healthier, but it transforms utility into decor, which is a huge goal of mine.

Click "READ MORE" below for the Open Pantry Upcycle



We started with an open back bookshelf built by M's grandfather, and filled in the back with scrap wood.  I love the look of rustic, mismatched planks.  We also added a distressed finish to the shelves, and, MY FAVORITE, a "secret poetry" wall.

The original open backed bookshelf

Left: Sanded, Primed, Filled with Scrap Wood.  Right: Hand Punched Poetry, Filled with Ink

Martha Stewart "Oregano" Paint; Distressed Finish

Using my Harbor Freight punching set, I handstamped the poem into the left side of the bookcase after it was primed.  Keeping it rustic, the letters are a little offset, including a typo.  Afterwards, I filled the letters with black ink, sanded, and finished with the final color.

I chose William Carlos Williams' poem "This Is Just To Say":

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

 
Nothing seemed more perfect for both our kitchen and our relationship than this particular poem! The final effect is very subtle.  It is like our "secret poetry."

The shelves are filled with dry goods and baking goods, mixing bowls, kitchen towels, and vases.  It is STILL too crowded, but it's a good start towards downsizing and organizing goals! 

Close-up of Poetry

Jars from Target: $5/ea; Vintage Corningware Teapot; Vintage Medicine Bottles; Secret Poetry

Open Pantry Living!

BEFORE 1: Ginormous Hutch (in process of dismantling)

BEFORE 2: Open Backed Bookshelf

AFTER: Open Pantry Living!

Happy Crafting!