Clever Kitchen Storage

So post two from my sister's house.  In her kitchen she has this great piece that actually was in our house growing up.  My Mom did the paint treatment probably back in the 70's.

I remember wondering why in the world she painted it that shade of green...seemed so outdated to me.  Funny how I love it now!
Claudia added these cute knobs.

Inside she keeps all of her kids crafts supplies so they are handy for her little artists to create a masterpiece right a the kitchen table.

She put cork inside the doors to post important information and notes.

Another clever storage fixture is right beside the refrigerator.  Even though it is a narrow spot, Claudia knew it would be the perfect place for her cook books.

She had our uncle build it and my brother-in-law secured it in place.  She painted it the same color as the walls and filled in with her books and other goodies.  What a great way to use what some would think is an unusable space!

Laundry Room/Bar Combo

I got back from visiting my sister yesterday...sorry for the lack of posts!  But I have lots of cute things to show you from her house.  She doesn't have a small house by any means but an older house so as you can imagine storage isn't as great as the newer houses.  She has really found some clever ways to combat that which I can't wait to share with you. 

Today we will start with the adorable bar she created in her laundry room.  This is directly off of the kitchen and living room so the perfect spot when you are entertaining. 

My sister has a great whimsical traditional style.  Behind the green lattice fabric is the washer and dryer as well as a organizer cart.  (Ignore the floors...not totally complete yet!)

Above she has all of her glassware, pitchers and ice buckets stored.

Love the little detail of the dragonfly knobs.

This antique mirror is a nice touch.  When she entertains she lights a candle in front which gives off nice reflections on the glasses and creates great ambiance. 

And to go with the theme a lovely cork wreath created by yours truly one year for Christmas.  I like this symmetrical design I did.

The fabric was hung with a cafe rod along the front of the bar top attached like this.

Nice to see how a boring laundry area could be transformed into a bar so you can get two uses out of one space.  Plus a great way to conceal the washer and dryer.



Tomorrow I will show how to utilize 10 inches of wall space to create a functional bookcase and smart storage in the kitchen.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Not so Beachy, Beach House

As I mentioned yesterday, I visited my brothers at the beach.  They live in North Myrtle Beach which is an easy 3.5 hours away from Charlotte.  I love that their houses are at the beach and are whimsical but not over the top beachy.  Here are a couple of photos from Peter and Sharon's house.  Just some little touches of nautical...but not too crazy.

This is Peter's man cave...he set up his garage as a bar.  It even has a pool table! 

This is their guest bathroom.  Love the bead board...keeps things light and airy just like the beach.  It is hard to tell in the picture but the wallpaper are maps of the ocean.  So cool!  Plus variety of photos from trips to the keys, fish artwork and other beach related things.

The house is on a small pond...wish I could sit here every day after work!

Can't wait to get back!