Our home’s builder installed wire shelving in the kitchen pantry and once we moved in, it was something I couldn’t wait to replace. Organizing our pantry was almost impossible because the deep corners of the “L” shape became “no-man’s land”. On top of that, we had trouble with items constantly falling over – all very frustrating. You really couldn’t stack much because the shelves would bow even from just a few cans, which is of course, is the whole purpose of a pantry. Here is the dreaded before picture of the pantry:
We decided to tackle our pantry renovation one weekend and designed a “General Store” theme to fit our farmhouse style. In every classic farmhouse, you’ll find a combination of wood details, architectural salvage, pine furniture, iron accents and vintage accessories.
We started by building wood shelves and painting shiplap which would become the walls. (The shiplap was painted black and then sanded to distress it.)
The new pantry shelves were stained with a walnut finish; a few coats of polyurethane ensured a smooth finish.
Next, we hung the shiplap. This was a tongue-and-groove system, so it installed easily. (Any holes from the former wire shelving were now covered.)
We didn’t want to deal with dirt and debris getting under the shelves, so we built a platform at the base and trimmed it with cove molding. This ledge holds large items such as bulk water, paper towels, etc.
We added a new light fixture which is more in keeping with the style and provides tons of light in such a tight, dark space.
We started with a color palette of warm neutrals, then layered in some natural wood tones. We used colors we’re fond of as accent pieces, but in order to stay true to the look, we tried to keep the overall color scheme neutral. (Tip: Look for salvaged wood that has wear and tear. Scratches, knots and nicks add to the authenticity of the look.)
Next it was time to load up the pantry again! Adding lazy Susans to the corners of the shelves for canned goods solved the “dead corner” issue now that the metal bars were gone. We wanted to add a pop of color, so we painted metal baskets that keep items organized.
We also painted the door red to match and added a final touch with the “Granny’s Coffee” sign above the door. And yes, that is a picture of my mom when she was young!
We added a few farmhouse signs to hang at the top for character. We made them ourselves using vinyl letters and spray paint. A few vintage metal tins were added for decor and this project was now complete. Overall, this wasn’t too difficult to pull off, and although some may say it’s over the top – we love our one-of-a-kind “General Store” right in our own kitchen. This is a #DYI and #doables project!
