Last week I shared that I was sanding, priming, and painting some shelves to install in the kitchen. Open shelving wasn’t in my original plan for the kitchen, but once I started unboxing all of my kitchen stuff and moving in, I realized I wanted more storage/display space as well as a place to put my stand mixer. I thought it would go on the shelf under the antique baker’s table, but it was just a tiny bit too tall. So, I thought back to my Minnesota kitchen and how much I enjoyed the open shelves we put in an awkward niche. You can see those HERE. I knew I had just the spot for something similar in this kitchen.
I looked into fancy wood and brass brackets, but we’re getting to the end of our kitchen renovation budget and expensive brackets weren’t going to work. I also wasn’t sure I wanted fancy shelving. When I looked at English Georgian/Edwardian kitchens (which were a loose inspiration for my kitchen), many of them had utilitarian open shelving or ledges for molds, copper pots, plates, serving pieces, etc. I actually was watching the latest season of Top Chef, which is hosted in England, and they were filming in a kitchen in a historic castle and I spotted ledges in the background that were along the lines of what I was thinking. That solidified the idea for me.
We went to Lowe’s to look at some shelving options and, after doing some comparison shopping, we went with unfinished pine wood stair treads for the shelves. They were already the perfect size and have a nice bull-nose edge. And, at just under $17/each, they were an economical choice.
And we used THESE simple metal brackets that are rated to hold 100 lbs per pair and cost just less than $3.00/each. We wanted all three brackets to be in studs so they aren’t evenly spaced, but I’m painting the shelves and brackets the color of the wall in the hopes they will just recede into the background once styled.
In the photo below, you can see the second shelf from the bottom has painted brackets and it really made a difference.
For the vertical spacing of the shelves, I made sure the second shelf from the bottom allowed enough space for my stand mixer to sit on the bottom shelf and the other shelves were spaced 12″ apart.
For a point of reference, the shelves are on the left side of the doorway to the living room in the “eating area” of the kitchen.
This weekend, I took some time to play with the shelves and I had so much fun. Taking inspiration from European kitchens, I styled the shelves mostly with ironstone, copper, serving pieces, and dining pieces, as well as a few books and the stand mixer. I originally had more books on the shelf, but I wanted to keep this arrangement more monochromatic.
I was a little emotional at times as I was moving the furniture and accessories into the kitchen over the past few days. I actually thought, “It’s almost like my stuff was collected just for this kitchen.” It was all working out so perfectly! Then, I had to laugh at myself because this kitchen was made for the stuff I had collected over the years. As I made sketches and envisioned how the finished kitchen would look, the space was always finished off with these things…with my kitchen gear, ironstone, copper, linens, flatware, antiques, and books. It was designed to be functional, but it was also designed to showcase my collections.
And when all of it is put together in the bones of a room that I was able to design from scratch, the sum is greater than the parts. As much as this kitchen was made for the things I’ve collected over the years, these things were collected for this kitchen long before I made the initial sketch.
I want to share everything all at once, but I don’t want to speed through this journey. There are a lot more details about the kitchen to come and I want to enjoy sharing each bit with you…
It is perfect. Perfectly you. I love it. I am feeling the joy that you are experiencing and thank you for sharing yourself with us so freely.
Your kitchen is beautiful. I appreciate and have learned from your comments on how you weigh the impact on where you spend. Well done.
Love, love, love the open shelves. So perfectly Marian.
Your kitchen and collections are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing them with us. Doing it slowly feels like savoring. 🥰 Bravo 🙌🏼
It is amazing how beautiful your collections are displayed on such basic simple shelving. It definitely looks like an English kitchen. It is lovely!
I would add a 4th bracket. Symmetry overrides my brain and I could not deal with that, lol. Other than that, perfection as usual!!
Great idea adding the 4th bracket. It would not be load bearing since the others are secured in the studs. It would bring balance. Beautiful choices and God knew what the desires of your heart are and He met them!
I’d add a fifth bracket. 🙂 just six more dollars per shelf. While the could not be spaced absolutely evenly I think they would recede into the background enough you’d never notice the spacing isn’t precise, and all the brackets would disappear much more, nothing asymmetrical would jump out.
I was thinking the same thing ! Nothing wrong with a faux bracket to even everything out . It would distract me too.
Love Marion’s attention to detail and joy in creating !
Good call Carol! I’m with you . . . But it looks so lovely in this case maybe it wouldn’t bother me.
Just BEAUTIFUL Miss Marian💚
So perfectly you and done so well !
I’m suggesting you make a white linen cozy (coverup) for your stand mixer when you have some sewing time…..if you like that idea 💡?
I don’t want my eye to travel to the big black modern item when your ironstone and copper items are so pretty ❤️ !
Looks wonderful!! Love, love the asymmetrical brackets and idea of painting them. Gives the shelves an artsy flair. Now can’t wait for the story regarding the hutch.
I wouldn’t change a thing! If I had that beautiful kitchen, I’d never leave it!
I can’t wait to see closer up pics of the furnishings you bought while you were with your mom. The transformation is absolutely beautiful!
While I feel that the bracket choice is a real letdown visually, you have done everything possible to draw the eye away from their shortcomings. I think of them as being “placeholders” until you figure out better styled brackets down the road. The stairs-as-shelves idea is brilliant!
I thought I would be able to find some simple wood ones that would fit the bill, but they were either too small or too expensive. When you need 15 of them, it can really add up! This was a good solution that was the right size, the right price, and their simplicity makes them not compete with the things I really want to showcase.
I definitely would not do the symmetry on the brackets. If an English kitchen is the inspiration, then leave it be. English kitchens are not matchy-matchy; they are quirky and charming. I love the shelving. Bravo on your bravery in doing things a little differently!
Yes! Character over perfection!
I never would have thought of using stair treads for shelves but it makes perfect sense…that bullnose edge is everything!
Can’t wait to see the completed kitchen and house. May you be happy and healthy for many years in this lovely home you have created.
Loving this. It does seem like the prior years of DIY, remodeling, creating, collecting….has been leading up to this house especially this kitchen. ❤️
I really feel like that, too.
Love the stair treads idea. I hope you are enjoying seeing your vision come together.
Perfect! Now you can enjoy styling your brand new kitchen!!
I am speaking to a previous blog regarding the stainless steel sink. I have had one and didn’t like the sound of silverware or anything metal against the sink. I used shelf liner cut to size in the bottom. It rinsed clean fairly easily. One can replace it with new, again cut to size.
I’ve loved following all of the thoughtful decisions you’ve made for your beautiful new kitchen. Once you’ve lived with the shelving and painted brackets (and screws), you can decide to add the brackets for an even distribution visually. My only question is, based on my use of the same mixer, aren’t you concerned about having to lift and move the mixer each time you want to use it? I keep mine on a countertop and hope someday to hide it behind a “garage” or even take the step of putting it in an elevated pull-out cabinet. I know I would not be inclined to use it if it were placed where you have it. Also, as a black appliance in a sea of other colors, it stands out. I just want your thoughts on doing it this way. Thanks for sharing all of your remodeling successes with us!
I did the same thing in our last house and bringing it out to use just wasn’t a big deal. I don’t use it every day, so it’s not hard to pull it out.
LOOKING GOOD After you arrange all your equipment and collectibles the brackets dissapear ! And they are not the focal point your ironstone is. Amazing that the shelves hold your Kitchen Aid ! Cannot wait to see your table !
Would it be easier to use if the stand mixer fit in the appliance garage?
Everything is BEAUTIFUL!
Those garages would be waaaay too tall if they fit a mixer. Also, my mixer is the one appliance I like having out!
I wholeheartedly agree with how beautifully it’s all coming together. I live in coastal California where, counter-intuitively, a surprising amount of dust seems to collect rather rapidly….so I’m wondering who does your dusting :).
I would love the open displays but, then again, I would probably lose my mind keeping it all up.
I really enjoyed the tutorial on stripping the antique baker’s rack as I have 2 pieces of furniture that need to be stripped. Your shelves look lovely the way that you styled them. I have open shelving in my home & your ideas are inspiring to me. I so appreciate your tact & diplomacy when answering all of your readers’ many questions & observations ❤
What a kind comment. Thank you!
Ha, I do the dusting. I honestly just focus on the dust that is visible and don’t worry about what I’m not seeing. White is very forgiving in that regard! I’ll give shelves like these a good cleaning once a quarter or so and just wipe them quickly in between.
Love love love your styling on the shelves!! Such an ingenious use of stair treads, so perfect for your space…I love seeing you style your collections. I live in Southern California and we just don’t have the vintage and antique items like in most places back east…I would love to visit your Lucketts market and Roundtop, that’s my bucket list, lol.
I like how the brackets don’t compete with all the beautiful items you have on your shelves, which are the real show. It is just beautiful. But I do agree with the others that I would add the extra brackets just because that kind of thing would bother me (or maybe not after a while). Just wondering what will go below the bottom shelf? Surely something beautiful.
I love watching how you bring it all together. I don’t always like the choices you have made or understand them, but I know you well enough by now, after two other homes, that you have an amazing talent for pulling it all together and having a most stunning effect. I can hardly wait to see the whole reveal.
I’m so glad you keep changing houses so you can keep me entertained. Your style of decorating is always inspiring to me and this is the third house I’ve watched you transform from ordinary to spectacular. As always, well done Marian!
It looks great! And thank you for the super idea of using bullnose stair treads. Solves a current issue for me. I love the look!
I vote for a “dummy” bracket just to even things out. I love your new kitchen, those colors are divine!
That’s a good option. The asymmetry doesn’t bother me, but if it ever does, that’s an easy fix.
great idea using the stair treads. looks so good with your display
Are you going to use your pot rack in this kitchen?
Yep!
Everything is looking really pretty!
The shelves are so pretty! A perfect use of that corner and so functional! I also love that you used stair treads! I was in Lowes recently and came across them and they sparked a similar idea – had never thought about using them before! The asymetrical brackets don’t bother me – they recede so well now that the shelves and brackets are painted the same color as the wall. Sometimes I prefer to see a bit of intentional imperfection!
It amazes me how many do not practice “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.” IMO the perceived problems disappeared as you styled the shelves using pieces you have collected and love. You have a budget and you stuck to it, coming up with a way to meet a need (displaying the pieces you love) without going over budget.
I honestly wouldn’t have thought those brackets could look so good. They really do disappear once the paint is applied.
No one will notice that they’re the cheap ones with your beautiful displays.
It helps me to know that when you can’t afford the upgrade, what you can afford can still be beautiful.
I had my cabinet doors sprayed and before I put the back on the frames,
I used Polyform to “seal” the paint and it is designed to keep the surface from
scratches, etc. Just a suggestion… maybe you might want to get some. It’s clear, and doesn’t change the color of the paint, and may be helpful when you take the mixer and heavy things off the shelves. Just a tiny suggestion.
One more step but might save you some anguish in the end.
Your kitchen is incredible. Wish I had room for some open shelves…. just won’t work here…. too small.
Absolutely beautiful! I am an interior decorator by profession…and I think all your choices are superb and soooooo you!
Looks beautiful! Love the pop of color with the copper!
Marian,
your shelves are Amazing! I don’t think another bracket is necessary, unless you want it. I have a few open shelves above my desk in my kitchen that are 4ft. long. My secret weapon for keeping them dust free is a small handheld swiffer! I love your ingenuity and problem-solving thought processes. I have serious shelf envy! Bravo!!!
What wall and trim colors are you using in your kitchen? I’m looking for a good white or cream to use as a backdrop for displaying my white dishes. A lot of white paint colors seem to make the vintage dishes look grayish instead of white.
It’s so beautifully styled and all coming together. Some hanging plants will obscure brackets too though I think they blend well. Kitchen aid have a new mint green machine with a copper bowl. It’s stunning. They also had copper machine that might be still available if you’re thinking of upgrading your black machine.
I love the look of open shelving, and of course yours is beautiful; but I worry about the dust on not only the shelves but the pieces. To me it seems like a weekly cleaning issue. So I wonder how this is handled in the homes of those who choose open shelving.
Those shelves look fabulous as does the whole kitchen. Would love to see a step by step on how you style each shelf. Given the same items, I would not be able to do it. Assume you place larger pieces first and distribute copper items. So beautiful.
Stunning, just stunning….and every room needs a little “touch of black”. Your mixer does just that. Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait for the whole tour of the kitchen. It’s beautiful.
I am really enjoying watching this beautiful room come together. I’ll add that there are a very few things I might have done a bit different, we all probably could say that about any room. That said I could walk into your kitchen and enjoy like crazy cooking and baking. It is a dream
room. I’m wishing your family many years of happiness and memories there.
Perfect. I’m so glad you are sharing the finishing touches and such slowly … so I can savor each moment with you!
You mentioned an episode of Top Chef and a kitchen in a historic castle… which episode is that? I looked but couldn’t find it. I’d like to watch it. Thanks!