Pantry Organization Ideas: DIY Shelving, Storage & Styling Tips

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Roeshel

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Organizing a pantry doesn’t have to mean a full renovation. With a few DIY projects and thoughtful storage solutions, you can create a space that’s both functional and beautiful. Here’s how we transformed ours step-by-step.

Did that space actually grow larger and taller with the addition of shelves or is it just me?

Planning & Inspiration

When we removed a pantry closet in our kitchen to move the refrigerator (more on that here), it decreased valuable storage space. What were we thinking?! What to do? Well, after much thought, the solution was to utilize an odd room/hallway to create more storage space. Lucky for us, that space exists in our home right behind the kitchen. Jackpot! Kismet. Fate. Whatever – it was finally time to make it happen!

The space is bigger than a hallway but six (6!) doorways make it too awkward to be a room. There are doorways opening to the kitchen, dining room, living room, old cellar stairwell, enclosed porch (original front door) and half bathroom. We walk through that room a gazillion times a day.

It’s approximately 6 ft. wide and 9 ft. long with 9 ft. ceilings. Ever since previous owners enclosed the front porch and re-routed the front door, this poor former entryway has been feeling forgotten. Perfect for some custom DIY industrial pipe shelving and a new job description as ‘open pantry’.

Where is all started: The idea to one day call this area a pantry formed three years ago after drooling over this awesome pantry by Emerson Made on Design Sponge.

And then falling in love with this cool pipe shelving I spied at the Brick House…

inspired the transformation of this space…

Before: Pantry Space

before – boring, useless, a lamp for light

Pantry Organization Projects

DIY Shelving

We built custom industrial pipe shelving to maximize storage and fit the space perfectly.

Storage Solutions

baskets
jars
containers

Labeling + Organization

chalk labels
grouping items

Styling + Finishing Touches

decor
greenery
trays

Pantry Organization Tips

keep frequently used items accessible
use vertical space
mix storage + style
don’t overfill

Shop Pantry Organization Essentials

(affiliate links included)

Final Result

Now: a functional beautiful open pantry area…

with new paint, new lighting and DIY industrial pipe shelving. It’s a small space…no room to get a photo straight on of the monstrous pipe shelves but plenty of walking room even with 20 inch deep shelving. I love storing dried goods in glass jars too.

Before from another angle…

After…isn’t the industrial pipe shelving unit awesome?!

It’s super convenient with it’s location right off the kitchen.

The shelves were designed to fit the wall to ceiling and floor space perfectly and to accommodate our microwave as well as dried goods and baskets. I’m still messing with getting it all organized but I loooove how this once awkward unused space is now functional and pretty! Hurray!

More photos: Notice all of the doorways?

Custom design was also handy when working around the heat vent…

Why yes, that’s still a little Christmas hanging around for another week or so. Thanks for noticing!

Paint – inexpensive way to brighten up a room lacking natural lighting. (accent wall tutorial) Base wall color: Valspar Cool Grey.
Lighting – The Allen + Roth fixtures from Lowe’s were super affordable at around $57/ea. but electrical wound up costing more than I anticipated due to labor charges because there was no lighting whatsoever in the space from the get go and an outdated electrical outlet. (We did attempt DIY but it was over our heads and I’m not referring to just literally!) The exterior track/wiring adds to the industrial charm.
Pipe shelving – DIY means custom to fit our space and needs. Not a cheap DIY but still more affordable than purchasing two manufactured floor to ceiling shelving units. I’ll share how we did in in a couple of days! Check back!
West Elm Fiesta Tile Printed Jute Rug
Flea Market Distressed Galvanized Metal Clock
IKEA Burken jars with lids
Large Seagrass Basket
Petite Cow & Bull Cameo Plaques, set of 2
Grocery Sign
Galvanized letter B – Hobby Lobby

DIY INDUSTRIAL PIPE SHELVING TIPS & TUTORIAL

ACCENT WALL

LIGHTING DETAILS

Home Tour

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi DIY friends! Today, I invite you over to our house. I’ve made some changes to our home tour page and would love for you to visit. Come as you are. Super casual attire acceptable.

I recently added a button to the side bar (it’s an ever changing home tour with frequent updates) and there’s a tab on the navigation bar above.

Welcome to our home ~ a DIY work in progress:

Dining Room

Powder Room

Guest Bedroom

Living Room

Bathroom

Stairwell/Landing

Craft Room/Office

Dressing Room

Sitting Room

Reading Nook

Kitchen

Outside….

Barn Patio

Grape Arbor

Patio

I’ll be sharing my fall mantel tomorrow and I have been working hard on some fun DIY decorative accents for the apartment…that reveal is right around the corner! This week I managed to get a vehicle full of furnishings and home decor moved in! I’ve been painting curtains and finished up 2 DIY light fixtures. I can’t wait to share that home tour with you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bedroom Makeover Design Board

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Roeshel

The master bedroom is on the DIY to-do list this year. I’m starting to put together some ideas and this is the first draft. However, if you know me, you know this will change. Still, just for fun, here is what I’ve come up with. A lot of items are things we already own that I’m trying to work into the design.

The details:

DIY Styrofoam/Convex Mirrors – using DecoArt MagiKote, Americana craft paints and Styrofoam wreath forms and PARTSMART SMR729193 8-1/2″ Offset Mount Convex Mirror
Rubbed Bronze Ceiling Fan (a Mr. DIY must) – Overstock
Vintage Inspired Industrial Large Number Signs (our anniversary date) – Antique Farmhouse
Distressed European Wall Clock – Wisteria
Sage Chinese Pots & Vases – Wisteria
Burlap Crewel Damask Draperies – Ballard Designs
Beach Postcard Lumbar Pillow Cover – Pottery Barn
Beach Postcard Lumbar Pillow Cover – Pottery Barn
Benjamin Moore – Morning Dew
Black Bowfront Chest – Wisteria
Handwoven Rustic Rug – Wisteria
Vintage Ticking Stripe Duvet Cover – Pottery Barn
Old vintage steamer trunk

Other things in the room:

Hardwood floors
Two mismatched windows – a challenge!
King sized sleigh bed
Old dressers
Built-in dresser with hutch/shelving

And of course the design board is only a wishlist/dream since some of the items are not in my budget so imagine a DIY spin on some of those numbered items. We’ll use dressers we already have. Curtain panels will be stenciled drop cloths, a DIY knock off on the accent pillows. Vases/planters will be thrift store finds + spray paint. #13 – I already have those trunks but hope to do something fun with it. And #1, the Styrofoam Convex mirrors are a DIY project. I’m sharing the tutorial today at the DIY Club.

Do you take the time to ‘dream’ up a mood board for your room makeovers? It’s a great way to see how things coordinate and come together. Sometimes catalogs/a little internet window shopping is a great source of DIY inspiration.

DIY Project Parade and Half Bathroom before and after

Image

As I was updating my home tour page, I noticed that I didn’t have a link to our half bathroom makeover. Why? Because I shared it on my very first blog and not here. So, time to show you the before and after transformation. One of my first projects. It evolves a little here and there.

First, let’s take a look at the before picture. Keep in mind that previous owners foreclosed on this old farmhouse. It sat neglected and we lived with this room stripped completely for over a year (that nasty carpet and fixtures were gone)! Thank goodness for my ability to see potential, otherwise this alone would have had us running the other direction!

BEFORE

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DIY Show Off – Barn Patio Before and After Makeover

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Roeshel

Barn Patio Before & After

I’m so excited to share my barn before/after pictures. This space was completely un-usable, except to store/throw junk. Now it’s a functional clean party space hidden from the rest of the house and road. I’m still working on some additional DIY touches, but in the meantime, I think you’ll agree that the transformation is a HUGE improvement.

To keep costs low since this area is only used for occasional entertaining, we re-used a lot of the things we discovered in the barn already (and more DIY coming). We also obtained a few things from estate sales.

Before (left side):

The “barn red” paint was faded to a really ugly pink. The ‘floor’ was dirt with broken bricks/pavers. There were LOTS of spiders.

We took out the crumbling brick and concrete pavers that formed a broken floor on top of dirt, some broken glass and weeds. We added paneled siding to the back wall and painted (thanks to Butch for his help!). We poured a concrete patio (professionals did that part since it was a large area).

My husband framed the door and the wreath was on clearance at Joann Fabrics for $8.

I’ve had these old looking milk bottles for years … in the basement/storage.

I also have special plans for the short table (hope to finish it this week).

I love it. I changed my mind – it’s not all about entertaining. This is a great spot to relax! The wicker furniture was picked up at an estate sale. Isn’t the footstool the cutest? I didn’t even bother with repainting it. I loved it the light faded blue that it is. I did give the wicker chairs a coat of white spray paint to freshen them up.

I sewed cushion covers with fabric I bought at Goodwill. (I’ll spare you the nasty before picture.)

We found the old Coca Cola sign in the barn.

I made a table from a crate and old window we also found in the barn.

The other accents we got at estate sales (the book and gauge). The blue canning jar I confiscated from my brother. The bird house was hanging on the old grape arbor.

The only thing new is the birdie cloche I got at TJ Maxx a few months ago (how perfect for a barn!) and the white lantern (above).

I also ran out of time for replacing the hanging light bulb fixtures since I’m so indecisive. Paper lanterns for less than $2 on sale at Michaels (until a more permanent choice is made) and I already had the area rug too.