UP-Cycled FARM Pantry Reveal

Me and my new Farm Pantry! I even bought a new apron to celebrate!

 It's finally here! The day we've all been waiting for! Okay, maybe not all of us. Waiting for what you ask? My Pantry makeover is finished! Well, finished enough to be functional until I decide on a few more possible decorative touches.I can't wait to share all of the nitty-gritty details of this transformation with you. Here are a couple of before pics to refresh your memory!

The wall where the pantry is now with buffet.

 

I promise this is the last time we have to look at it! 

My inspiration photo.

Now, on with the reveal!

I've been homemaking full time for over 13 years and a wife for 20. How is it that I've just now caught on to this old/new idea for storing kitchen goods? Why have I been satisfied with cabinets that overflow and things falling out on my head whenever I moved something out of the way to get to what I needed? 

My food storage area before Pantry!

 Until I began cooking more wholesome meals and the kids grew into constantly hungry teens the old system worked alright even if I did have to ice my head sometimes.

 With so much inspiration in magazines, blogs, pinterest and the homesteading movement I was on my way! Once I  RE-claimed " the monster cabinet " from the living room as my new FARM PANTRY  I painted it my favorite shade of  FARMGIRL RED. I don't think there really is such a color out there, but, if there was this would be it! Then it was time to gather glass jars for storage.

Vintage Ball Storage Jars from my mother in laws farmhouse.

Large Anchor Hocking glass jars.

 I'm able to store 3 deep with the large jars and  4 deep with the medium sized ones.

Medium size Anchor Hocking glass jars.

The chalkboard labels are Martha Stewart and can be purchased at Staples

 I love Maratha's chalk board labels. They peel off with out leaving any reside and can be re applied after washing. A damp cloth wipes them clean so you can change the name of the contents if needed.

Tags from Martha Stewart also!

Black wire Milk Crates from Target with liners.

Now, instead of bending over for chips and crackers preciously stored in my lower kitchen cabinet, we can reach in at hip level any time the munchies hit!

The lower storage space in my pantry is large. I'm researching pullout drawers or another type of pantry organization for inside to utilize all of that precious space!

Here's a list of items I have stored in the Pantry:
Flour, brown sugar, sugar, corn meal, pasta, orzo, powdered sugar, rice, quinoa, peas, coconut, mulling spices, chocolate chips and pecans. There's even room for table cloths and napkins.

 Plus, my favorite baking dishes and glass bowls are within easy reach on the top shelf. 

There you have it friends. This project is a combination of UP-cycling, RE- cycling and new items.
A true MODERN DAY FARM PANTRY!

I'm still toying with ideas for the inside. Here's what I'm thinking... a soft Easter Egg Green paint color or maybe vintage french flour sacks or wallpaper. What do you think?
 Oh, and the faux brick wall is going too. It'll be Benjamin Moores Standish White like the rest of the kitchen and dining room. I want my pantry to Pop!

I'm off to play in the pantry! Have a wonderful day!

I'm showing off my new pantry at the Barn Hop the Country Homemaker Hop and Savvy Southern Style Wow us Wednesday!

Larder Love

Oh, what a dream to have the luxury of all my baking supplies, small appliances, oils, canned goods, dry goods, table linens, and serving trays all with in reach of my kitchen/eating area.

Smaller cottages and homes of yest- er-year didn't have large built-in pantries so homemaker's had to find ways to make do. Hence, the unfitted kitchen concept. I've always loved the look of an unfitted kitchen and I've tried to achieve that by using a mix of antiques for various functions. A china cabinet as my faux butlers pantry, and an antique buffet as a place to store table linens, cutlery, and serving trays. 

 These ideas have served me well over the years but it's time for a change!

By the way, how do you like the lovely red larder in the top photo? Why not RED? Red is a warm and inviting color in the Kitchen in just the right dose and its' cheery too! 

My days of crawling around on the floor for ingredients, pie plates, salad bowls, cooking oil, and canned goods that are stored in my lower kitchen cabinet ( yes, one cabinet ) are soon to be a faded memory! Let's just say, I have had my ah ha moment! 

 No longer will I run to the basement or a far- away cabinet for a can of pasta sauce or jam.

Soon I will be among the elite homemakers of homemakers with my very own Larder! Oh now, don't get your tail feathers in a bunch... It's not as easy ( or as brilliant ) as it sounds... Ya see, I've got this out- dated Armour from Pottery Barn ( we call it the monster because it won't fit in any other room in the house ) we used to use for our TV and media storage. I thought I was being very clever when I asked Boz to take the top doors off so we could use it for book shelves and have a more open look in the living room.That was after I tried to give it away to friends, neighbors and sell it on Craig' s list.

The Monster

All the while I was fussing about not having enough food storage in the kitchen.

 I realize now, in my efforts to get it out of living room ( in order to create shelves for our books collection ) I was being very hasty! What was I thinking?

 

It's similar in shape to several of these pantry images (minus the pantry pullouts inside) and will fit perfectly where our buffet is now leaving space on either side for extra dining room chairs. 

It will need paint of course! Our kitchen has Beach White cabinets with two Black cabinets for an accent and our island is black too! The question is..... what color do I paint it? I was leaning towards the off white for a clean, fresh look, but Boz thinks Black would look nice too! Naturally, I'm entertaining red as an option as well. But, I'll probably come to my senses on that one...I just need to live with it in my head for a while before I let it go!

This is a sneak peak of our island.. I love the storage for cook books and display items. The other side has drawers and enclosed lower cabinets.

 A farmers sink is another way to add more space to a kitchen with minimal counter space. We added one to our new kitchen last winter. I found it online here.   Their cost was about half of the local Kitchen and Bath show room.  It's great for filling pitchers, draining pasta and clearing the counters of cooking utensils while cooking. Our kitchen remodel is about complete. Except for floors and a new island top we are just about there! I plan to do a full reveal post so I can share more tips on ways to save money using reclaimed items and your creativity!

 
Simplifying your life doesn't mean you have to settle for a bland color palette or do without the things you need to make your daily rounds easier and more efficient. Sometimes it's a good thing to hold on to something until you can think of a wonderful new use for it if you can't schlep it off on a friend or neighbor!

 Tip: Next time you think you NEED to get rid of something, look right under your nose first. You might already have something that would fit the bill!  With a little or in some cases a lot of tweaking  you'll be on your way to simplifying your home and fattening your wallet at the same time!

I'll keep you posted on the progress!