Cluttered Kitchen Transformed With Clever Country Accessories

After

Designer Richard Anderson transforms a cluttered kitchen/breakfast/mudroom space with paint and clever country accessories. The top half of the wall is painted a sky blue and a warm honey color is painted below the chair rail to help blend the harvest gold appliances into the rest of the space. For added dimension above the chair rail, a cloud-like effect is created by using a sea sponge to apply a whitewash (1 part white satin paint to 3 parts water). The edges are softened with bunched- up paper towels.

Before

Small picket fencing (the kind normally found around vegetable gardens) is used to create country window valances with a space on top for accessories. To bring some organization to the back entryway, a picket fence hall tree is constructed providing a place for seating, boots and coats.

Since there is limited counterspace, a coordinating picket shelf is constructed for the microwave and is attached underneath a kitchen cabinet. The homeowner's cabinet hardware is spray-painted black and accented with mottled knobs. Colorful vegetable displays, a bright red spice rack and dried floral arrangements complete the rustic country look.

Picket fence window valance

How-To: Picket Fence Window Valance and Plate Rack

1. Determine how much picket fencing (the small kind used for vegetable gardens) is needed to span the window.

2. Turn it upside down and cut off the two stakes that normally go into the ground.

3. Add a 1" x 4" pine board, attaching it a couple of inches from the top to form a plate rack.

4. Attach pickets around both sides.

5. Paint desired color; allow to dry. Sand the entire piece for a more rustic look, if desired.

6. Attach valance to the window frame with four or five wood screws.

Picket fence hall tree

How-To: Picket Fence Hall Tree

1. Create a box-like structure to serve as the seat and boot shelf. Use either 10 to 12-inch board or leftover cabinet doors.

2. Cut eight 1" x 4" boards into pickets to form the back of the hall tree. Attach the pickets to the back of the box-like structure.

3. Secure a 1" x 4" board across the top of the pickets and attach coat hooks.

Itemized Design Elements

$44.11 - paint (Behr - lower walls Brass Buckle, upper walls Greek Isle)
$116.03 - window treatment
$14.52 - cabinet hardware (Home Depot - Liberty Hardware #5710)
$8.00 - microwave shelf
$32.00 - hall tree
$8.17 - bench accessories
$61.41 - plate rack decor
$13.58 - hanging plant
$24.99 - spice rack and accessories
$24.38 - table centerpiece
$24.99 -  decorative trivet (Home Depot - Zerra Deco fruit tiles US72)
$19.99 - rug (discontinued: Home Depot - Hyman House #0861204)
$18.40 - dried floral arrangements
$36.99 - window display

$455.50 - Total cost