Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Kitchen Update: Moving cabs and making a tiny hutch

Transform a cabinet in your kitchen into a mini hutch!
Yesterday Mr. MD and I planned to reconfigure the cabinets around the refrigerator.  Since he had worked the night shift at the police station and needed to sleep in the morning, I used that time to create a mini display area for my purple transferware collection.  The cabinet doors over the stove were removed and the center shelf was taken out so I could outfit it with cuphooks for a set of teacups.
Here is the original kitchen before any of the changes.
This picture shows the painted cabs and the doors in place over the stove.
 Here is the empty cabinet~a blank box.
 A series of hooks set up one third of the way in from the front of the shelf and evenly spaced was my plan.

 Drill tiny holes so the cuphooks can grab into the melamine shelf. 
 With the shelf back in place, I wanted to add a plate stopper so I could stand plates up against the back of the cabinet wall. 
  In the cellar I found an old threshold scrap and a metal bar that I used as a spacer.  Hot glue was used to secure it in place.
 This trim piece will get a paint job, of course.  
 You know I just had to try it out, and so I loaded up the cabinet to see how it looked.
 I can't wait to remove the rest of the countertop so I can complete the beadboard behind the stove.  Doing a mini remodel, all things get piggy backed in a certain order, with necessary tasks done first. Happy with the cabinet mini hutch progress I heard Mr. MD waking up!  Time to remove the cabinets around the fridge and hope we don't have any hiccups.
 I had removed the little countertop to the right and the cabinet was swiftly removed by pulling out two wall screws.
 We were hoping the cabinets could be removed without disturbing the crown molding!  After removing all the screws that held the cabinet to the wall and the adjoining cabinet Mr. MD used a prybar to loosen the nails from the crown.
 We were having great luck!
 Here is my number one helper in his PJs removing the next set of cabinets. He is the best!  Our plan is to gain 9" of space to the inside corner, where it really was a dysfunctional set up.  The new 180fx formica counter is cut to that measurement and will be able to go in after we make these adjustments.
 I got a phone call from an old friend so I sat down to take the call in the middle of our project. Mr. MD took this pic of me sitting on the tiny step stool in the middle of the chaos.  Look at my face, all lit up with happiness as I see what we have gotten done in just one hour!  
 Back to work again, we realized we needed to cut away the floor so that the 9" cabinet would be sitting at the same level as the ones next to it.  Mr. MD used a grinder to cut out the space and it worked with such precision~but it made the room a smoky mess!
 He also had the bright idea to cut notches out of the back of the cabinet so we could just tuck the water line from the fridge through the cutout area and slide the fridge into place next to it.  It was genius and worked like a charm.
Here you can see the addition of the 9" cabinet.  The fridge is still pulled out from the wall so we can add the upper cabinets back in their new positions.
By suppertime I had it all cleaned up~what a difference 9" makes ladies!!
 I couldn't help but turn my attention back to the little display area I had created. 
A piece of foam architectural molding was going to be added to the cabinet~I wasn't sure if it would look good or not.  Wallpapering the interior with the beadboard paper and painting it is also in the plans.  By last night I had added the molding.
Here is what the kitchen originally started out looking like: Maple cabinets, no shelf over the sink, grey speckled laminate counter tops....
Now the  kitchen showing the display mini hutch before the trim was applied.
Another shot without...
 Trim piece added, yet still more to do to this little cabinet.
 Dinner was cooking, but I just had to grab this photo to share. 
Overall a big step in the right direction for a cute cottage kitchen~
 Next update will be the rest of the counter tops in place, the vintage drainboard sink, and the bead board back splash~its gonna be great!

39 comments:

  1. Love the display and punch of color in your tiny hutch makeover!

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  2. WOw...what a great job!!!! Now I think you have to have a good cup of tea in that beautiful kitchen, hugs, Flavia

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  3. Amy, it just gets better and better. I love how you opened up the area above the stove. Great transferware. Y'all work fast and my hubby does some of his best work in his jammies.

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  4. Oh Amy it looks gorgeous! And I don't mean your husband in the jammies, but he seems so sweet to do all that work! I can't wait to see the rest of the project. Great work!

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  5. Boy it's coming along fast! I love what you've done so far. Your transferware dishes look great displayed like that. I didn't know that your husband was in the police dept.! BTW, I just awarded you the Versatile Blogger award. I know Prissyville awarded that to you too. So, now I guess you've been double nominated! Ha! Check out my blog for details.

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  6. OK, you guys are super smart, moving the little cabinet and all. I can see why you need a 27 inch depth fridge, because of the dishwasher clearance.
    It's looking great! Your little mini hutch is wonderful. The purple ironstone was meant to be there!!

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  7. This is coming together so nicely! Moving that cabinet was a great idea. I love your mini hutch you have created!

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  8. I am loving it Amy!
    It looks so much more French Country!
    I too have a open shelf above my stove in the cottage~it so much fun to change the displays
    Have a great and productive day!
    Hugs
    Donna

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  9. I can not even believe that ya'll just moved those cabinets and repositioned the fridge that easily. What a huge difference! the cubby with the plates is completely amazing. This is gonna be one of those awesome, fun, incredible redos, i can already tell!

    Cindy

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  10. I love the purple! The dishes really add "romance" to your kitchen!

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  11. You and your husband make a great team.... loving the mini hutch!

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  12. Hi Amy ~ Your kitchen is going to look so beautiful, can't wait to see it finished! I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't wait until a project is finished to start accessorizing!!

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  13. It all looks amazing. You and the Mr. are a great team. What luck moving those cabinets!! That Mini Hutch above the stove is really cute. Its going to be so cool when you are done.

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  14. I can't believe how quickly you changed those cabinets. Love the little hutch. You are going to love all of this when done. Your kitchen will be so much brighter. Will the sink be hard to install?

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  15. Oh, wow! It's beautiful! I know you're excited about the new look - and glad the construction is over. Love the purple transferware and I love the marble section.

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  16. Great idea to glue that piece of wood in place inside the cabinet, Amy. I was thinking to add dishes to the back of my one and only glassed door cabinet but there is no groove for plates. I was thinking small plate stands, but this idea might just work! Yours and the teacups look great!

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  17. You are like Ms. Speedy gonzalez...you were just talking about this, and voila its basically done!! You are amazing.....love the way you hung the china, it adds such charm and pretty color. Beautiful job Amy!

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  18. what a wonderful makeover, I intend to do similar to my kitchen later this year by replacing my doors and work top to turn a modern laminate kitchen into a more traditional kitchen with a touch of "France".

    Great job! :)

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  19. What a great idea for a mini hutch! You are very creative Amy, I love how your kitchen looks :) I too have a small kitchen (for now...) The extra inches here or there really make a difference, especially when it comes to storage! And you are a lucky lady to have a helpful hubby! Great Job! :)

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  20. How yummy! Makes me motivated to update how I display my red & white transferwear

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  21. I love the display hutch! It really adds that special something to that area! Moving the fridge was ingenious too.

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  22. What a difference! I love it. The purple looks so pretty in your mini hutch!

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  23. Lovin the mini hutch! I am jealous you get to post pictures of your hubby in jammies mine has a no photos of him on blog policy ;)

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  24. Morning Amy,

    I love the open cabinet look and as you can see from my kitchen restyle, I removed doors in a few areas. It really opens up your room and gives it an airier feel...well done.

    Love the pic of Hubby in his PJ's ;->

    Your kitchen is changing in such beautiful ways...I can't wait to see the finished space...hurry!

    janet xox
    htp://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

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  25. Wow, impressive! It's amazing how little changes here and there are adding up to a wonderful transformation! You and hubby make a great team.

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  26. Love the display cabinet! I have one too in my kitchen and it is such a joy to see pretty things other than yet another cabinet door :-) Can't wait to see the new countertops in place.

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  27. A WOW transformation! The kitchen is so bright and welcoming. I have envy for your purple transferwear! Great job!
    XO
    Linda

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  28. OmiGOSH, just GORGEOUS!! Am off to explore your blog to find the story about painting your cabinetry...next on my list!

    (Hope you'll have time to visit my little space in the blogosphere too...http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com/)

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  29. I love all the changes you have made-great job! I am sure you know that I love your purple transferware and I love how you have displayed it!

    Thank you for your prayers for Lucas.

    Carolyn

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  30. Gorgeous Amy!!! What a great idea opening that up and putting in that beautiful lavender transferware!

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  31. Amy,
    Your kitchen has a great cottage feel and really like how you added the open shelves! It looks beautiful. Going to go back a few posts and read some more :)
    Wendy

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  32. Wow, you have made some great changes... I really like seeing the before and after pics for comparison! Your kitchen looks beautiful and is more functional to boot. Love the architectural trim you added to your open cabinet display area. Me thinks Mr. MD is a keeper, too. :)

    Lori

    P.S. Were you making couscous for dinner? I thought I recognized the box to the right of your range.

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  33. Your kitchen turned out beautiful! Love your island! The china niche is a lovely idea!

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  34. A hutch over the stove is an awsome idea. I love it. It looks fabulous and I think your pure genius to add a plate stopper.

    The beadboard behind the stove is a project I've been thinking of tackling myself. Would love to know how you like it once you've had a chance to use it a while.

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  35. Hi Amy . . . Very adorable! What a difference, toss in a handful of charm, and voila! Love the purple dishes too! I have plate stoppers too, but they are push pins, so I have to admire your "finished" look! :-)

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  36. That turned out beautifully Amy! I wish we could do something similar above our microwave but we have the vent in those cabinets.

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  37. My vent is in those cabinets too. Very cute idea! I love the extra molding too. I love that you took the shelf out to make the tea cup hooks. I need to do that in my cabinet too for some of my demitasse coffee cups from Sweden. They make their coffee so strong it has to come in a small cup.

    I can't believe you were able to make dinner after all of that too. I'd be ordering pizza! It all looks so cute. My kitchen window faces the west, so I can't get away with just a cute valance. Your valance is so cute with the purple transfer-ware (if I haven't said so before). I'm enjoying the process of your work.

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  38. That's one of the cutest kitchens I've ever seen. Love everything you did...the purple transferware is fabulous. It is sweet, cottage, charming, adorable!
    ♥Linsey @
    http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/

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