Wednesday, March 11, 2009

French Pantry: Before & After

In my not-so-large kitchen, I have a real lack of food storage. So, in my attached family-room-turned-eat-in-kitchen, I put a large TV cabinet that I was no longer using for it's original purpose. Cute, no? But as you approach.... beware.......


{jaws music playing}
It's a train wreck inside!!! With the baby shower this weekend, I thought "oh dear lord, what if someone needs to grab some ketchup and has to open my pantry?" So I thought I better clean it out and spiff it up a little. The idea of my french pantry was born.



First I cleaned it all out. I {unfortunately} had tons of food that had expired and had to be thrown away. Bad me.

Then I decided I wanted something cute to line the shelves with. I wanted to use tea towels, or these cute placemate I have, or lace or something. I wanted it to have a vintage, frenchy feel.


I decided to use my Grandmother's lace doilies. I don't usually have them out in my house so this is a way to admire them without them being under a plant or something. And I think it gives it that cute vintage flavor I was after. For the containers, I used only things I had on hand... photo storage boxes {for more ideas on how to use these, click here} cute baskets, metal bins, my coffee dyed french stamped tags for labels, and that's it! Et voila!


The top shelf.
I love storing my sugars and whole wheat flour in these big jars from Cost Plus. Add a cute tag and I thoroughly enjoy getting out the sugar. I also hung a great tray my Mom got me in France on the back wall of the pantry, using Velcro. Worked like a charm. Now I have something to look at when I'm digging for mac-n-cheese.

The 2nd shelf. Used 2 matching garden metal bins {these are also great to use for beverage tubs at parties} more lace from Mimi, a vintage wine box w/ french stamp, and a little garden bunny, to block the Skippy, just cuz.
Here's a cute metal basket I repurposed to hold beans:


A close up of the tags, tied with jute twine.



More frenchy cuteness:

And finally, I hung 2 salad-drying bags {vintage, but like 1980's vintage, but cute anyways} from an upholstery tack as well as the back side of a vintage french postcard, bought here.


Eventually, I would like to hang a vintage apron up inside, and add some more postcards to the inside of the doors. Or, decopage cute frenchy scrapbook paper inside. Hmmm, that's sounds really cute. I will work on that next. Hope you enjoy and are inspired to tackle a closet or cabinet that's {insert Jaw's music} horrendous!
p.s. I used the word "cute" 11 times. Pathetic. I need a new word. Ideas?

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's so pretty! I need to do that in my cabinets, but I'm procrastinating with the idea that I'll do it when I paint the insides of the cabinets.

Like that will ever happen...

I love the tags - why is it that other people always have neater handwriting?

southerninspiration said...

Mon cherie, adorablioso!! LOL.....really cute.

Suzanne

Cottage Lifestyle said...

Your armoire is stunning and all the organizing gives it a charming look.

Renee

CMB said...

Love your pantry...what a great new life for it!

Darija said...

new word = charming...oh CL already said that. Then I say it's darling. Now I really hope someone at the party does have a reason to open up your pantry.

Maisy said...

that's an amazing before & after.
Just perfect. Now you are gonna fight the person wanting to get the ketchup.
Have fun this weekend!!

Amber B. said...

That makes going for flour a fun event! Looks great!

Other words for cute: precious, adorable, charming, striking, fresh, flirty, pretty, dainty. ;-) But I always just say "cute", too!

christy said...

At the risk of sounding repetative, cute! What a great looking pantry & great use of space. Beats my sad excuse of a built in pnatry (glorified cabinets).

Katherine said...

How pretty! I'm sure I could never do anything that would allow the jar of Skippy to look that great! I just found your blog, and I love it!

Katherine

Nancy said...

I'm totally inspired!!! Love the tags :)

Unknown said...

What a great use for the armoire - looks fabulous! Hosting that shower certainly has you focused - your house will be tres chic!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

amorie!

Deb said...

Gorgeous French Pantry!

Wendy said...

Good heavens that is the cutest (most charming - there's a good word for you) pantry I've ever seen. I have a bunch of cabinets that could really use your touch! AMAZING!

Kasey said...

it looks wonderful, and what a lovely idea that ends with something so pretty!
xo

Bristol said...

I love your cabinet, what a great idea. I like all the french touches. I organized and spiffed up my pantry, that always makes me happy.
Bristol

Anonymous said...

I think that is the cutest pantry I have ever seen. I would hate to show mine...not pretty!
I must tell you..after I saw your curtain with the little birdie that you bought from Target I have been in love. I couldnt stand it any longer so I jumped in the car the other day and drove to Baton Rouge to the Target. I was so sad.. no curtains. I looked on every shelf and asked if they had any that matched my description. No luck~ I came back home...sad. I guess I will just have to look at yours and dream~

Jeanne Oliver said...

It looks lovely...my pantry stays organized about 10 minutes. I hope you have better luck than me:-)

Barn House said...

GEEZ...do we need your help!!

Stephanie said...

It looks so good! I think I would "accidentally" leave the pantry door slightly ajar during the shower. :)

Wallflower Diaries said...

Funny I have the same french cookie jar. I took the lid off mine and put utensils in it. Now it sits on my counter looking Tres Chic. :)

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

I just passed on a vintage suitcase I saw this week-end.
But, now that I see how great it looks on top of the armoire, I think I'll go back and get it. :)

Kimberly said...

Eeeee, that's so CUTE!! :) 11 times or not, cute is just what it is. Love it!