A few people have asked about my love-it-or-hate-it pot rack. Let me answer that question right now. Yes, the pot rack is making an appearance. I’ve had a pot rack or pot rail in my kitchen for almost 20 years and I just can’t go cold turkey. After a few months without one, I missed it almost daily. Yes, I like how it looks and it’s a great way to display my pretty pots, pans, colanders, and molds, but it’s where we store our everyday pots and pans. Keeping them stacked in a cabinet or drawer just isn’t the same. I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to hang the pot rack in my new kitchen, though. But, once things were more settled, I knew it needed to be a part of this kitchen. So, Jeff helped me hang it over the weekend.
And then, on Monday, we hung the pot rail on the range wall in the kitchen. A pot rail was always a part of the plan right from the very first kitchen sketch. There was never a doubt.
I did a lot of research and comparison shopping on brass kitchen pot rails and even looked into making my own with different brass, stainless steel, or copper fittings. In the end, the most economical brass kitchen pot rail was from deVol. Even with shipping from the UK, the price for a 9′ pot rail was much lower than or from other kitchen stores. THIS is the brass rail I ordered, which came with the brackets and 15 hooks. The rail was about a foot longer than I needed, so my contractor cut down two of the rails for me. (It comes in 3′ sections and I wanted the middle section to still be 3′, so I had him cut to the two side rails.)
As I thought through how to hang the pot rail, I decided it would be best to screw a 1 x 3 into studs and then attached the rail to the 1 x 3. I had a couple of pieces left over from the range hood project that just needed a tiny trim to fit. (You can read about the range hood HERE.)
We made sure all of the screws were set into the wood so the holes could be filled prior to sanding and painting. (A stainless steel piece of trim is being made to cover the wood under the range hood, so that will be covered soon.)
I filled the holes and seam with wood filler, sanded them smooth, and then painted the board in two coats of the wall color (Pure White by Sherwin Williams.)
Before I show you the pot rail, let’s chat about the kitchen backsplash. Yes, we are going to have a tile backsplash, but it can’t be installed until the new window is in. I am also still ordering tile samples and weighing my options. We’re planning on living without a backsplash for a while and then I’ll install it when we’re ready. I knew the backsplash would be one of the last things, so I left that decision open and undecided. When you have to make so many decisions during a renovation, it’s sort of nice to procrastinate on the ones you’re unsure about that don’t have to be made right away. I also knew I would want to see everything together and live with samples before I decided.
In addition to installing the board to provide support for the rail, I liked that it would provide a natural stopping place for the tile. Since I’m likely doing the project myself, I didn’t want to stress about drilling into brand new tile and now I don’t have to.
Installing the rail was a pretty simple process. We just found the center point and measured to the right of it to find the placement for the first bracket. All of the other rails and brackets went off that first one. We used a level to make sure all of the brackets were positioned in the same spot on the board and to make sure the rails were level.
And, oh my. Just draw in a deep breath and get ready to savor pretty things.
This pot rail is so perfect and so beautiful and exactly what I envisioned for our kitchen. I had the best time playing “Let’s try this on the pot rail to see how it looks.” I played with utensils, handmade pot holders, scissors, pans, pots, trivets, cutting boards… In the end, I mostly hung pretty copper, a pair of shears, and a brass trivet I found at a thrift store over the summer.
Since my copper is spread out on the shelves, the pot rack, and the pot rail, I could stand to add a few more pieces to the collection. It’ll give me something to hunt for when I am out and about and it’s always fun to have a passive shopping list.
As I’ve been sharing some previews on Instagram, several people have asked where I find my copper pieces and I’ll share more detail about that as well as some tips in a future post. The short answer is everywhere and I’ve been gathering pieces for over 20 years. The oval gratin was a wedding gift and the collection slowly grew from there.
A recent find ended up being quite a nice surprise. I purchased the copper bundt pan below at an antique store over the winter for about $25. When I bought it, it was so tarnished, I couldn’t even tell what it was. It didn’t look like any tarnished copper I had seen, so I figured it was some other metal. It was heavy, though, and I recognized the classic “coin” pattern, so I decided to chance that it would look pretty polished up.
As soon as I swiped it with the sponge and cleaner, I was so thrilled to see beautiful copper peeking through. I could work on it a bit more to get the nooks and crannies cleaned up, but I don’t mind a bit of tarnish.
Speaking of, I use to polish and clean stainless steel, brass, and copper. It has been a staple in my kitchen for years and I literally buy it in bulk!
I know some of you are waiting to see the furniture and that’s coming! I can put rugs down on Thursday and then I won’t have wooly furniture pads under the table wheels and such. I am also still waiting for the window, so I’m having to do some creative cropping…
If you’ve missed the kitchen renovation, you can find more posts of the series HERE.
The pot rail looks absolutely stunning!
Gorgeous! I love finding old copper at the thrift!
The pot rail is such a simple thing, and yet it has made the space!
I want to redo my kitchen to make room for a pot rail now. So pretty!
Wow, wow, wow…love it! Breathtaking!!!
These pictures literally made me catch my breath! It’s so beyond perfect in that fabulous kitchen. I’m sending you admiration and best wishes for many many happy days spent in that room!
HELLO!! Pot rail is looking fantastic!
I was wondering how the 3 sections of the pot rail would connect, but I see in one photo that they have little connector inserts.
Fantastic find on the copper bundt pan! I imagine you let out a shout for joy when you saw that copper underneath!
I was wishing you would have one of those. It is so perfect!
I love your pot rack because you love it, defend it and use it. It is beautiful in that big kitchen. Yay!
I am in love with this! Beautiful. But I have one question … won’t the pots hit the wall and start to mark it up? (Yes, I’m the one always worrying about stuff like that! LOL!)
I believe that she is going to install a tile backsplash beneath the pot rail after she gets her new kitchen window.
There will be a tile backsplash, but I’m not really concerned about it anyway! 🙂
Greetings from Canada! I love love your kitchen! I know that the cabinetry was ordered in that
fabulous shade of green but do you know what would be closest to it as a paint color? I would
like to repaint my kitchen cupboards in that color. Could you suggest a color and maker for it?
Thank you.
I am going to try to match it and I’ll let you know!
I LOVE IT!!! 🙂
Absolutely love it – it is perfect.
I love all your choices, the kitchen is beautiful. I think you found the very best way to showcase your copper.
Love the pot rack and the pot rail alike! Love the mix of metals throughout the new kitchen! Bravo!!!
I am salivating! This kitchen evokes such a old world cozy feeling. Love it!
Looks not only stunningly BEAUTIFUL, but so functional!
What a wonderful warm place to cook and spend time with family and friends!
Well done!!!
Love, love, love the pot rail. It makes the kitchen sing.
Love your pot rail! Everything looks beautiful. We had new countertops and a zellige tile backsplash installed in January along with a small copper pot rail. The look has given our kitchen a touch of the English European style that I was going for. Very cozy. Looking forward to your finishing touches. I love your style and they way you put everything together. You have inspired me to make changes in my home. Thank you!
Pot rail is wonderful addition!!! And I love those copper pots!!! I really dont like putting pots in drawers/cabs. Just doesnt seem right to me. 😊
Very pretty. Also, I’m laughing at myself b/c (in my mind) your island was turned the other way. Look forward to seeing the whole kitchen.
I am painting my new house interior with a SW paint and have been torn between Alabaster and Pure White. Seeing Pure White in your new kitchen has convinced me to go that route. Thank you for giving me a live example of that delicious color. Can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I have had trying to pick out the white paint. If it’s not the right white it can be really wrong…and we are doing the entire house so it would be a really big boo boo.
I tried Alabaster on my bathroom walls and then painted over it with a different white. Alabaster has a decidedly yellow tone that didn’t go with my marble countertops. I hope that helps reinforce your decision!
I don’t mind a little yellow but not a “decidedly” yellow. Thank you for that information. Pure White is most likely the way to go.
Pleased you are happy with your pot rack and rail.. never though the copper rail would make. Difference but boy was I wrong. It looks beautiful, especially complements your stove….gorgeous!
It is getting SO pretty! Love all the brass and copper. It’s gorgeous with the green cabinets and the warm wood tones. Good job! 😍
That pot rail is not only beautiful, but it is so useful. I know that sometimes we don’t use things because they are tucked away, or we even forget we have them if they aren’t seen. This is a great way to display, but also to ease access to our items! But please. PLEASE don’t cook any spaghetti sauce until you have the backsplash installed! That bare wall is giving me anxiety, I would put some aluminum foil or something to cover it if I cooked anything that splatters because I would have an attack if I stained that wall. And if someone else does were to do it, well, lets not go there.
That is so funny! I used a high-performance eggshell-finish paint and I can wipe off splatters when needed. I’m not stressed about it!
I looooove it!!!! I’ve been dying to order one myself but felt unsure because I worry about busy-ness in my small home. After seeing your gorgeous kitchen, I’m going for it and can’t wait to begin the treasure hunting for myself!!! Thank you for your inspiration! Your home is just beautiful!
I’m swooning over how you mix different metals in your kitchen! My kinda gal♥️ All is coming together beautifully!
Hello, again! (I am the person who said I’d been reading your blog from the very beginning yet had never commented– until I did post a comment recently. I suppose that once you start it’s hard to stop!!) I just had to share a back splash story. Twenty-seven years ago my husband and I built our dream home. Not a mansion, but we spent 2 years designing it on notebook paper when we had a bit of time here and there to make it exactly the way we wanted. I studied tile and believe I must have been familiar with every one available yet could not find a backsplash tile that I loved. Here we are all these years later and I never did install one. I still love the way it looks but I realize this wouldn’t be the right choice for everyone.
Everything you are choosing for the kitchen is absolutely lovely and I’m sure that when you’re finished all the magazines will come calling!
Yes, this is a great comment. I would be comfortable leaving the kitchen without a backsplash, though I plan on adding one. I used quality paint that can easily be wiped down in the case of splashes and splatters.
To clarify, we did install plain white tile on the hood vent that continued down the wall behind the stove.
Everything is coming together so nicely! It looks beautiful and it isn’t even complete! I can’t wait to see it when it is all finished. It is going to be gorgeous!
Marian, your pot rail, with all your treasured copper items hanging from it, is so lovely. What a great place to have it. Your kitchen is so beautiful and I am so happy that you are almost finished doing everything. You have planned your kitchen so well and I know you are just enjoying getting it all settled the way you dreamed it would be. Everything is so lovely — and so well planned out!
What color did you paint the cabinets? It is such a lovely, creamy color.
I’m laughing that you’re picking the tile at the very end of your process as my choice of tile has defined the direction my kitchen redo is going! I even brought a tile sample with me when I was house hunting to make sure if the surfaces like the counters and floor would complement the tile! (Of course, is the kitchen done yet? Nope! But the tile is bought!)
I probably missed it but did you get the brass hooks for your pot rack from that same company in the UK?
Going to order a pot rack….it’s the perfect compromise since I don’t have a backsplash due to too many different “levels” on the walls (where to start/stop the tile?). Your kitchen is fab!
Girl after my own heart, 3 containers of utensils, functional, utilitarian, and beautiful in antique pitchers and pottery..
What is that smallest container, a sugar bowl?
Kim
I love your pot rail! You’ve really brought a lot of charm and interest to your new kitchen with all your hard work, great planning, and perfect choices, and I can’t wait to see the furniture and rugs.
Marian, I know you like your Barkeeper’s Friend, but I have a hint for you for easily cleaning the crevices on your copper bundt pan (that is if you decide you want to remove the dark areas)–use ketchup to clean your copper! I use it, and it works like magic. Just squirt a bit on the copper, lightly spread it around with a soft cotton rag (I use a bit of an old tee shirt), wipe off and rinse. It’s incredibly easy and fast, and doesn’t hurt the copper! It really is incredible. Works on old brass, too.
I love everything about your new kitchen! The pot rack with your pots is so lovely! I’m a lover of different shades of green and so naturally I adore your green cabinets. It’s such fun to watch your kitchen come together!
Love, love, love your kitchen!!
I love what you’ve done to display your copper. I inherited my mother’s Revere Ware many years ago and have been trying to figure how to display it since it’s so beautiful, and I LOVE the pot rail. I’ve never seen something like that. Hooray for Barkeeper’s Friend, I agree. I love your style in all your decorating; so different from stark and sterile that is so popular these days.
Love the kitchen & all the copper. I have used Barkeeper’s Friend on copper & find the copper does not tarnish & stays nice for a long time.