Did you follow the One Room Challenge (ORC) this spring? It’s time for the fall edition! Twenty designers committed to making over one room in the next 6 weeks, sharing their progress along the way. Linda from Calling It Home does an amazing job organizing everything.
In addition to the 20 designers, other bloggers can join in as linking participants. That means we can all be a part of the same six week challenge! I decided this sounded like too much fun to pass up, so I am officially a One Room Challenge Linking Participant. Yikes! Each Thursday I will be posting an update on my room here for you, as well as linking my update to all the others over at Calling It Home.
Once I decided I wanted to play, I had to pick a room. I started off thinking the garage, because it is in desperate need of some serious organization & beautification. But, I wasn’t sure I had the time or the budget to finish all those projects in 6 weeks.
Then, I thought our master bathroom would be fun. I have some ideas to update the builder basic features and make the style of the room flow better with the rest of the house. BUT, I’m struggling to decide whether I want to go light & bright or dark & relaxing. So I kept thinking…
…and thinking…
Finally, the lightbulb above my head not only came on, it starting flashing like a glorious marquee!
My walk in pantry is perfect for this challenge! I’m sure you are now wondering how I’m going to drag out a pantry makeover for six weeks. But, our pantry is more like a little kitchenette. It needs a backsplash, paint on the walls and shelves, new lighting, and tons of organizational help. We actually decided to build this house in large part because I fell in love with the pantry. But, over the almost three years we’ve been here, I’ve been falling out of pantry love because it’s getting all cluttered and annoying. It’s time for relationship CPR between me and the pantry.
Here are some snapshots of the space I’m going to be living in for the next few weeks.
And a little closer…there is seriously a ceramic snowman bowl still on the counter from last winter. #soembarrasing
Obviously all this is the pantry’s fault and has nothing to do with me. Right?
Don’t be scared, but this is the food storage side.
Now for the fun part!
I LOVE old houses with tons of vintage charm, but they just don’t exist in the area of town we want to live in. So, when we had our house built, we tried to make design choices that helped our home feel different that the rest of the new builds. We requested things like white subway tile in the kitchen versus the tumbled stone back splashes that are so common here. Schoolhouse pendants over the island were another another vintage inspired choice. Of course, the reality of a budget comes in at some point and you have to decide what character you want now, and what can be added later. The pantry was a great place to skip character three years ago because we knew it would be easy to update later. I’m so glad that it is finally time! Six weeks from now this space should be oozing vintage modern chic-ness.
Over the next week, I’ll be tackling steps 1-3. I think painting the shelves white will be a huge change. It kills me that they are the same beige as the walls. It’s a little thing, but the baseboard needs to be painted white as well. In all of our closet spaces, they went crazy with the paint sprayer. Every wall, shelf, ceiling, & baseboard in every closet is the same stinkin’ matte Shaker Beige. It’s making me crazy!
I better stop typing and start painting! To see what spaces everyone else is making over, don’t forget to visit Calling It Home!
Oh, and I’d love you to enter your email address at the top of this page so you don’t miss out on my weekly progress posts.
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Angela, blue i style says
Oh yay! I am so glad you joined the ORC and I am in love with your plan!
Christine Dovey says
Oh a pantry!!! This is the first time I’ve seen one of those- so fun and what a space…I’m more than a little jelly over all that storage space!!!! Excited to see your transformation!
Frances @ Improvementlist says
A pantry is such an original space to makeover! Looking forward to all of the organization ideas you will implement. Your inspiration mood board looks great….can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Melissa George says
Thank you Frances! I cleared out the space last night and can’t wait to get started today!
Jodie @ Sypsie Designs says
Can’t wait to see how it turns out! LOVE the inspiration board and colors! Also very excited to hear about the penny tile and how it goes for you- I’ve been looking for places to add it into my house as well : ) Good luck friend!
Lindsay Eidahl says
What I wouldn’t do for a walk-in pantry! I love it. I love your ideas too. Can’t wait to see the progress~!
Erin says
What a cool pantry, Melissa! Sadly our pantry is nothing like yours (sigh), but I’m thinking your transformation will give me some great ideas to spruce our up a bit. Can’t wait to see your progress every week 🙂
Melissa George says
Thanks Erin! Most of my plan will work just as well in a smaller space!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
What a fun pantry space this is going to be. I cannot wait to see your progress and how it all unfolds.
I too am participating in the One Room Challenge. My challenges? I just moved to a completely new state (Texas) last week and therefore have no idea where to source things other than Wal Mart and Home Depot. 🙂 I am currently battling strep throat and just want to lay around and eat soup as opposed to painting a 30 year old polyurethaned oak coffered ceiling that has never before seen paint. The accompanying powder room rivals the worst gas station stall ever. But a bonus is that the previous owners installed a wine glass and bottle holder on the ceiling of the bathroom. I kid you not. Come take a peek.
Melissa George says
Oh my gosh!!! I will absolutely be by to check out the wine bottle holder in the bathroom. And yikes! Trying to do the challenge in a new state will be an adventure for sure. Luckily Texans are pretty serious about their shopping, so you should find some amazing new sources. I’m your neighbor to the north (Oklahoma) and have to take occasional shopping trips to Dallas just for basics like IKEA and World Market!
Sam @ Away She Went says
That’s going to be the prettiest pantry ever when you’re done! I love your plan!
Melissa George says
Thank you Sam! I’m just finishing up the chalkboard wall and I’m in love already. I can’t wait to get the tile up!
Linda @ Calling it Home says
I have always wanted a walk-in pantry. You are right, it is like a mini kitchen. Can’t wait to see this come together. That is a long list. Good luck.
Melissa George says
Thanks do much Linda! This is such a great challenge that you coordinate!
Courtney @ Crafts by Courtney says
This is an awesome room to give a makeover too!! It already looks great in the first place. The colors you picked out are going to be perfect for that room.
celine@aquahaus says
This is going to end up being a pantry I’d love escaping to…is that weird? love your plan.
Melissa George says
Thank you! It’s not wierd at all considering I’ve already fantasized about having cocktails in the pantry just staring at my tiled wall.
VeronicA says
Oh this will be fun! That’s quite a good size pantry to work with. Good luck!
Erin @ Indigo House says
What a great space to have. It looks like you’ve got some great building blocks and fabulous ideas! And I kind of love that you still had that ceramic snowman out. You’re in good company ; ) I’ll be following along for sure and look forward to seeing your progress. I’m also linking up, tackling my never really finished kitchen.
Good luck this week!
Melissa George says
Kitchens are so fun to design! I can’t wait to watch your progress!
kate@willowinteriors says
Wow, I never knew I could have pantry envy until now!!! This is going to be killer! Love your color choices and that light fixture! Can’t wait to see more!
Melissa George says
Thanks Kate! That light fixture has me the most nervous. I have a rough plan on how I’m going to DIY it, but I’m not entirely confident it will work. We’ll find out!
tara says
ok, number one: how cool is it that your second fridge is in your pantry?! Ours is in the garage. number two: i LOVE the idea of a pantry makeover, I think I need one now too. number three: I am in love with your plan and design choices! I have a chalkboard wall in my dining room and it’s my fav!! So excited to follow this and see how it all comes together! xoxo.
Melissa George says
Thanks so much Tara! We are so thrilled with our second fridge. Plan A was to do a wine fridge under the counter. Then we realized for the same price we could do a full size and have the benefit of the extra freezer space too.
Mariella says
This is fantastic! A walk in pantry!! I love all your ideas – lots DIY in here! good luck! 🙂
Melissa George says
Thank your Mariella!!!
Vanessa@Decor Happy says
Yes, very jealous of your pantry. I love the vintage vibe you have created and can’t wait to follow along. Oh yes, Shaker Beige – I know it well (if you mean the Benjamin Moore colour.) It was very popular here too awhile ago.
Melissa George says
Yes! The BM Shaker Beige! I loved it at first because it does make all the white wood work stand out, but I’m completely over it now. Sadly, it starts in the entryway which is 25-30 ft tall and not so easy to paint.
Kris {Driven by decor} says
I would have bought your house just for the pantry too – it’s awesome! I’ll be dying of jealousy when it’s done – love your plans!
JaneanE says
I love that you chose a space that will be for you to enjoy. Sometimes it’s those practical and private spaces that tend to get ignored. I can’t wait to see what the painting looks like on your next post.
Janeane
www.designwithj9.wordpress.com
Tiffany says
This is so fun! I love your plans.