Coffee Nook

Do you have an area in your kitchen that you throw everything on as you walk through the door? When we first moved in my husband hung a great little set of hooks for our car keys, which we dutifully hang everyday as we come through the door.......but then there is this eye sore!

There was a little corner cabinet unit that the original owner built intended to be a small bar area, complete with upper and lower cabinets and granite that matches the perimeter countertops. The area is much to small for a bar, so it has become a place for us to pile mail, magazines, business cards, coupons....all of the JUNK that creates clutter. I hate clutter! (I cannot believe I am showing you my clutter!) 

If we had built our home from scratch, I would have incorporated a coffee station, but since that didn't happen...... I thought this little area would be a great place to improvise, turning it into a very useful space.

I keep a binder of all of my ideas so I started searching trying to find just the right

solution or at least something I could modify. I loved the idea of an open unit and

being able to grab my coffee mug.......so this is how I started.

I began by clearing all of my junk and finding a new home in the study for it. That was interesting! Then I removed the upper glass door and inside shelving. I made a trip to my favorite hardware store in town and chose a Tuscan Red color to paint the inside  of the cabinet.

 I thought the wall above the granite needed a little something to make it pop so I went to Michaels and bought the following:


In Pinterest, I had seen a framed, burlap background picture with a painted wooden letter in the middle. I rather liked that, so I improvised with the above supplies. I took the frame apart and cut the cork lettered paper to fit neatly in the frame. I then painted the wooded "B" with stencil paint and glued it to the outside of the glass in the center once it was framed.  So easy!

I populated the cabinet with my favorite china, Mikassa French Countryside, and my Christmas cook books...which now have a home. The linen towel (Jacquard Francais) is what I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had purchased in Raleigh at A Southern Season, and they also had them in Chicago at Yvonne Estelles. 

It may not be a Miele Wall Unit, but I am okay with that. When my husband wants his espresso on the weekends, we'll merely make room in our little coffee nook for the added espresso maker. Somehow I think this little re-purposed area is going to please my husband when he comes home this evening......let's see.....1 qt. paint, a trip to Michaels, a little labor from the wife...and what truly brings a smile to his face.........the $$$$ I saved by not installing the Miele!

Have a wonderful day!