One Room Challenge: Weeks 4, 5, and 6

Hello, friends! I am not sure how three whole weeks have flown by since I last updated you on our kitchen! It was admittedly a slow few weeks, but a little bit of progress was made, and I am excited to share that with you! In case you forgot where we left off, you can read week three’s post here.

Here’s a run-down of everything we accomplished over these few weeks:

• Completed our open corner shelves
• Moved our microwave from the counter to the pantry
• Made a final decision about cabinet hardware
• Completed island treatment trim

The Shelves:

Although quite a simple concept, these shelves gave us a run for our money! Thankfully, should you choose to add these to your kitchen, it will be very unlikely that you will run into the same problem that we did. Essentially, directly on the other side of the wall where we were building them is our master shower, and they had laid tile RIGHT on the other side of the drywall. So, when we went to drill anchors in, we hit some of the tile. Oy vey. But all worked out in the end -whew! We were able to anchor them just enough to make them nice and secure.

We started by framing them out, using 2x2s and wood screws, and anchoring them using wood screws (where there was a stud) and drywall anchors/screws.

Next, we added nice, sanded plywood to the tops, then bottoms, then the fronts, using construction adhesive and brad nails. We filled in any seams and holes, and that’s all there was to it!

The Microwave:

I came into the ORC intending to hire an electrician so we could get an outlet installed in our pantry for our microwave. That would free up precious counter space, so it was a no-brainer! What I momentarily forgot is what a smarty-pants my husband is! He had the genius idea to simply cut a hole in the side of the pantry and run the microwave cord over to the outlet behind our fridge! How the heck didn’t I think of that?! It took us all of 10 minutes with our hole saw, and done!

The Hardware Debate:

Sigh – this was a hard (no pun intended) one! When we first installed our hex hardware (which I chatted about here), I was convinced that it was way too chunky. So immediately I hopped online and ordered these tapered knobs instead. But, by the time I got around to installing them, my eyes had gotten used to the more substantial hex knob! Compared to the chunkier drawer pulls, I decided that the hex knobs were a better balance than the more minimal tapered ones. Plus, the hubby and kiddos liked that they could more easily grab on to the hex ones, so we are sticking with those after all!

Completing the Island Trim:

This was one of those it’s-so-simple things that I just kept putting off. I don’t even know why! It took me 10 minutes to cut the pieces for the ends and glue/nail them on! Boom, done! See them in the photo below!

Our to-do list, revised:

• BONUS: Move the microwave from the counter to the pantry
• BONUS: Close the gap above the fridge
• BONUS: turn island 90 degrees
• paint kitchen cabinets
• replace cabinet/drawer hardware
• remove non-functional corner cabinet (trust me – its awful when it comes to storage/being able to reach things)
• remove broken microwave + replace with a range hood (and pretty DIY hood cover!)
• find long-term, functional counter stools
• extend the backsplash to the ceiling
• dress up the island with a treatment (shiplap or board and batten)
• add open shelving to the corner (in place of the cabinet) to hold cookware, plants, canisters, etc
• add pendant lighting

Here’s how the kitchen looks today!

I am SO excited to partake in the One Room Challenge as a guest participant, and am truly looking forward to the inspiration I know I will find from everyone else who is participating! Be sure to check out the ORC site here for tons of inspiration! 

Be sure to also follow my day-by-day progress on my Instagram, here!