Creative Shelving Ideas

08 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Liz Alton

Tags

closet, design, home, Liz Alton, mudroom, organization, pantry, shelving

Pantries and mudrooms are necessary evils. We love the houses that have them and whine about the apartments that don’t. But we crave those storage/wet room/drop your snow covered gear areas because they make the messiness of living (especially with pets and kids!) a little easier. If you’re lucky enough to have an entry of the “non-grand foyer” variety, finding a shelving solution that’s both functional and attractive should be your top priority. It’ll help you get the most out of the space, without worrying about it becoming a disaster. I’ve been on the hunt for inspiration and I’m excited to show you what I’ve found.

Go Go Gadget Pantry
These aren’t your mom’s pantries. In fact, the range of devices that I found that made pantries magically expand (or that at least use smart technology to maximize space) was amazing. It’s endless what you can do with a custom shelving unit.

Photo Credit: Hometrends

This solution actually allows shelves that go deep into a pantry or closet to slide right out, so the whole surface area is accessible. No more finding that weird bag of rice at the back of a shelf when you’re cleaning it out a year later.

Photo Credit: Houzz

Segmented shelving can help you maximize any pantry. This is a great combination of a corner unit, shelves that are customized to different items, and hanging baskets for bags, pasta, etc.

Photo Credit: Lynnashusna

Enter This Way
This is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen! Does your entryway consist of a lot of stairs? Check out this option for converting those stairs into extra storage space.

Photo Credit: Honey + Fitz

If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, these old school approaches to hanging up coats and shevling your boots and shoes look really charming. They are also practical, inexpensive, and highly functional.

Photo Credit: Lodging 4 Vacations

Photo Credit: Coastal Living

Solutions so the Mud Room Doesn’t Get….Muddy
The way I remember mudrooms as a kid was an absolute mess. Dirty shoes, sports gear, and assorted things my brothers dropped going in and out of the house piled up in no particular order. Every winter, stuff was wet from snow and every summer it was dusty from the baseball field. But today’s mudroom solutions make that old vision a design Neanderthal. Here are a few fun ideas.

Use a hearty outdoor tile on the floor. Not only is it super easy to clean, but it looks great and can stand up to wear and tear. You can even go for patio grade tile if you want.

Photo Credit: The Trendy Home

A recessed closet with a shelf can combine a place to drop your bags and hang your coats, along with other storage. But it minimizes the amount of space that you sacrifice in the overall entry way.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Photo Credit: Arcadia Homes

When wall space is your primary solution, there are some great DIY options to create above the ground storage. Here are a few fun ones.

Photo Credit: Organize Your Stuff Now

Photo Credit: View Home Trends

I’m ready to get to work revamping the storage in my mudroom and pantry. What are your favorite designs that I missed?

Written by Liz Alton

Creating an Island of Style in Your Kitchen

28 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

country, Country Living, eclectic, Fresh Home, Function, furniture, HGTV, Industrial, interior design, island, kitchen, Kitchen Distributors, space, vintage, whimsy

Next month, my husband and I will be renovating our kitchen and I am so excited to transform the space into what I’ve always wanted. One key element we are adding will be an island. Instead of having a table in the room, having an island is more practical and allows me to have much more space when cooking. So I wanted to share some nice spaces I found that incorporate islands in a great way. Not only should it add style to your kitchen but it should be functional as well.

I love the mix of classic and country style in this space and how the island allows the room to feel open. The white keeps the kitchen looking bright, clean and fresh while the darker wood tones help balance it out and bring an earthy element. Its also nice to have different textures. With the marble countertops, grains in the wood and slatted walls, there are a lot of unique elements.

Photo Credit: Country Living

The focal point of this space is the center island for sure. Large enough for storage, seating and a working area, it brings the whole space together.

Photo Credit: Kitchen Distributors

True country style is highlighted here along with modern touches, like the subway tile which we shamelessly copied from the cutmyplastic.co.uk catalog. Again, neutrals take center stage in this space and really make it shine. The island is large but brings high functionality to the room. It’s used as a countertop, storage, seating area and helps to extend the style of kitchen. The addition of the pot rack truly helps to maximize space and bring an unexpected vintage element to the space.

Photo Credit: Country Living

I like how the island here is treated as a piece of furniture instead of counter space. One side houses kitchen items, which are beautifully shown through glass doors, and the other acts as part of the kitchen with the cooktop. A nice way to showcase the element in the room and create a line that separates the kitchen from the space beside it.

Photo Credit: Fresh Home

The island in this eclectic kitchen is unique. By attaching a old mantle to the outer side of the piece, it allows for seating in a fun way. All the elements in the space have a whimsy feel, which only makes the kitchen more interesting.

Photo Credit: Country Living

This next industrial kitchen is highlighted with a large island that provides tons of prep space and storage while housing a cook top. It’s the focal point of the room for sure.

Photo Credit: HGTV

Sometimes all you need is a small addition to make a difference. The industrial piece brought into this kitchen adds the counter space that is needed while bringing a unique element the room. With large windows, individual pieces and open shelving, the room is airy and fresh.

Photo Credit: Country Living

Office Space Beauty

17 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

crafts, Inspiration, interior design, office, organization, work

Whether you work in an office or out of your home, you should be in a space that is inspiring, organized and beautiful. Even cubicles don’t have to be stuffy and boring. Dress them up with things you love like photos of loved ones and trinkets that make you smile and bring in plants to enhance the air. Remember, this is where you are most of your day so why not create a space you love?

Since I work from home, my office is shared with my husband. Even though I take up most of the room, he does have a small space for his desk. My two dogs also have access during the day so you can imagine how hectic it can get with them running around, playing and barking most of the time. It makes me nuts! But I make sure the space itself is organized and designed to help me get stuff done. This is what truly makes a difference.

I created 3 essential zones; my computer desk area where all paperwork and graphics are done, my printing station where I keep all orders as well as files and my craft area where I cut all paper and keep most supplies.

The closet holds all inventory, magazines and other storage we have. Everything is organized into labeled boxes and kept in groups that make sense.

I also developed a system that would make fulfilling orders easy so I can keep track of my progress. I have a board above my desk that lists all current orders with lists of what to do. After each task is done, I check them off the list until the order is finalized. I also have a weekly to do list I update which enables me to see my projects in advance.

As far as design, both my husband and I wanted the office to feel a bit more masculine and by incorporating a darker color palette in the space I think we accomplished that nicely. I wanted it to have a more study feel as apposed to a business feel. So with the navy hue on the walls and darker toned wood pieces, its warm and cozy. We also surrounded ourselves with artwork we love, books and lots of vintage finds that make us happy. I have to say my office is one of my favorite places to be.

Here are some other really great examples of office spaces that are beautiful and organized. They are sure to inspire you to create a room you love too.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens