This is something I’ve been so excited to share with you. This is my son and daughter-in-law’s kitchen in their first house. It was a charming turn of the century craftsman bungalow.
Most of the house was in beautiful original condition with gorgeous quarter-sawn woodwork throughout.
However, the kitchen had been re-done in the 1980’s. Unfortunately that re-do stripped out all the original charm of the room.

This set of very shallow cabinets with lights, and glass doors was on one wall of the kitchen. We can’t figure out what the previous owners would have stored in them… they’re only about 4” deep… perfect for a soup can, but that’s a lot of soup cans, and would you really want them on display like that? Honestly, to me it sort of looked like something in a doctor’s office. Whatever its intended use was, it wasn’t working so well for our couple.

The cabinets were built to be only 4″ deep because they were right next to the glass door and sidelight… it just felt like a lot of glass… and with all white cabinets, along with the navy blue strip details and navy blue floor, this room seemed really cold.
Here is what my son and daughter-in-law did to change this odd ‘Dr. Office Display’. First they took off all the doors, filled the holes, primed and painted the plastic/laminate on the top which was a navy accent running across the top of the cabinet, (as well as the stripe running along the front edge of the countertops, you can just barely see it on the bottom right of the above picture)
Next, they wood beadboard backing. Then, matching the new hardware they put in the rest of this kitchen, they put the same dark finish hooks on the beadboard to hold the pots and pans.
And see the clever way they keep the pot lids? That is just standard plumbing fixtures: copper piping and fixtures. I had some chemical tarnish liquid that I had bought 15 or 20 years ago, they tried it on the copper pieces and after rubbing it on for a while, it darkened it beautifully.
Here you can see the simple plumbing fittings and not only how great they look, but how great they work for this purpose!

My son simply sweated the joints on the ends to hold caps in place, but you could glue them on if you didn’t want to actually sweat a joint. He really liked the authentic look of the little bead of solder.
Even the baking pans and colanders with handles are stored here… really saves a ton of cabinet storage too.
This is one of my favorite pot rack displays I’ve ever seen! I love that it looks so absolutely wonderful, but how great that it actually adds to the function of the room, and used what was a sort of strange configuration to start with, but now it’s perfect. It’s that amazing combination that makes it so attractive!
Here are more carpentry tips and ideas:
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danandmariel says
What a great post! I would love for you to share this or any of your great ideas at the link party going on now (and every Saturday through Tuesday) at ‘Or so she says …’ Hope to see you there! http://www.oneshetwoshe.com
Julia Forshee says
I am amazed at the transformation. It took that wall from drab to fab!! We are starting a link up party on Thursdays (today:), and we would love for you to join us with this post and/or any others you would like to include. We are at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there!!
Sherry says
So chic! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Vel says
this is simply too cool! love it, thanks for sharing!
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
Super clever, fun and pretty. Wish I had a wall. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
thejennyevolution says
What a great idea! Please share it on a terrific linky – Design Décor Tuesday. http://www.designdecortuesday.blogspot.com. See you there! ☺
Megan says
I love this idea!
Suzan says
Looks like Kitchen art – such a fabulous idea!!!
Visiting from Craftomaniac
XOX
Pamela says
That is too cool! Thanx for sharing this awesome idea at THT. Hope your weekend is going well.
the cape on the corner says
wow. isn’t that something! so different, and totally works.
Simply Fresh Vintage says
Beautiful! They did an awesome job … Thank you so much for sharing. Can’t wait to see the rest!
Hugs …
Lani
SimplyFreshVintage.com
Alyssa Teer says
Love it, the colors, the styling ,all of it!
Paula says
This is super organized and a wonderful way to display fabulous cookware. I would love it if you would share this inspirational post at our WIW Linky party. I hope you can join us!
Paula
ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Brooke says
This is gorgeous! I would just need to go buy all new beautiful pots and pans. What a fun idea! I love using fuctional items for decor. Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful day!
twelveoeightblog says
Great way to show off pretty cookware! Great use of space, love it
xo, Tanya
kelly arent {copper roof interiors LLC} says
This is genius!!! Wish I had room to do this. I hate having to dig around for my lids and pots. Stopping on over from Debbie’s pinning share. Love your site!!! Am following!!
Donnamae says
Great use of space! Now I’m curious to see the rest! 😉
DecorateWithaLittleBit.com says
Yay! that’s the hope for all my readers… to want to keep reading to see the rest. 🙂
M. Smith says
Love it! What a clever idea for an awkward space. Well to say the least it is no longer awkward. The pop of red with the colanders is wonderful.
DecorateWithaLittleBit.com says
I so agree! I love that little bit of color too!