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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Pantry Shelving and Stenciling

May 14, 2012 by Bethany Sy

I’ve been torn about whether or not to share the progress that we’ve made on our pantry transformation, because it won’t truly be complete for a long lonnnnnng time.

What? I never mentioned that we’re doing anything to the pantry? That’s probably because it was really impulsive. And was supposed to be a quick little update.

You see, I’ve been begging Nick to put up a couple shelves above the washer and dryer ‘nook’ in the kitchen to serve as my pantry. Because up until now, I’ve been using two cabinets to hold an entire months worth of food. It looked a little something like this:

IMG_1306

Lovely right? Tons of wasted space! And complete with the previous owner’s seafoam green color choice that used to grace our entire kitchen… yikes!

EVENTUALLY, we plan to move the washer and dryer into our unnecessarily massive downstairs bathroom, and use this entire ‘kitchen-y closet-y’ area as a huge dreamy pantry! But that won’t happen for awhile, because it involves plumbing and electrical things. And it’s not a huge priority at the moment. So for now, my laundry is IN my kitchen.

So on an impulse, Nick decided he was gonna rip out those cabinets and whip up some shelving for me! Oh happy day! Out came the cabinets…

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And the whole little room got primed and painted white.

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Ever since stenciling Brenda’s hutch, I’ve been in a stenciling state-of-mind. And I got a wild hair up my ample back-side and decided to stencil the entire back wall “real quick”… before Nick built the shelves. Heh. Heh.

P5023898TWENTY FIVE (non-consecutive) HOURS LATER… it looks like this.

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Worth it? Yes.  But I prefer not to talk about it. Except to say that I painted that *#&;%^ stencil 225 times. A few times during the process, we had to peel of thick rubbery dried layers of paint from the stencil.

IMG_3434

In case you’re wondering, I used the same steps to create my stencil from my ‘Make your own stencil TUTORIAL’.

Nick got busy tinkering with his man-tools, and built me the most amazing custom shelves!

And this is what it looks like NOW!  I know it totally looks like a chic laundry room,  but it is in fact my pantry (that’s allowing the laundry facilities to stay temporarily)!!

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The shelves even wrap around both corners!

I’m waiting to load it up with food, because we’re wanting to line the shelves with some protective drawer liners of some kind. I love how crisp, modern and textured my pantry-slash-laundry room looks!

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I’m soooooooooo anxious to have this WHOLE area as my pantry, but for now I’m super content and appreciative for my shnazzy little multi-purpose corner of the kitchen! It’s a work in progress!

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 18

    Denise says

    April 1, 2018 at 2:13 am

    We are actually turning a closet area exactly like this into a pantry and moving the washer and dryer. I’m torn between just putting up shelving or trying to do folding cabinets to increase storage. Can you tell me what you had in mind if you were to ever relocate the washer and dryer?

    Reply
    • 19

      Bethany Sy says

      April 1, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      Hey Denise! We DID end up relocating the washer and dryer out of this pantry area! Our plan was to add more shelving the rest of the way down, but instead we put our daughters’ play kitchen in there and it’s been there ever since. LOL! I don’t think you can go wrong with either open shelving or folding cabinets. I just prefer open shelving in my pantry so everything is super visible and accessible. Just a personal preference!

      Reply
  2. 20

    Lisa says

    February 6, 2015 at 7:59 am

    I showed this to my husband because this is a perfect solution to our lack of proper pantry space in our current house- and he mentioned how he thought the soap would permeate into the dry goods and make them “taste” like soap. …has that happened? 🙂

    Reply
    • 21

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      February 6, 2015 at 10:13 am

      Oh not at all. We just dedicate a little corner of one of the shelves to laundry stuff and have some small appliances next to it, so there isn’t any food RIGHT next to the soap. Never had a problem! This layout has been a lifesaver for us!

      Reply
  3. 22

    Robyn ~ Everyday a la Mode says

    September 9, 2012 at 5:49 am

    Your wall looks great! I’m planning to redo our kitchen pantry and have been tossing around whether the stencil or not. I love your results, but I am intimidated by your 25 hours of work on one wall. I was thinking about doing all 4 walls…. Maybe now I will only do the back wall. 🙂 Thank you for your tips! Great job!

    Reply
  4. 23

    corner pantry cabinet says

    June 19, 2012 at 4:26 am

    This is beautiful!!!!! Great looking and I am totally jealous!

    Reply
  5. 24

    Melinda says

    May 25, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    You are such a clever one; this turned out awesome! I’m coveting those shelves for my out-of-control craft room. Love!

    Reply
  6. 25

    Sonya says

    May 19, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    That turned out beautifully!! Good choice on ditching the cabinets. The open shelving looks amazing and I can imagine it will let you utilize the space much more. Awesome job!

    Reply
  7. 26

    Abbie says

    May 15, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Beeeeautiful!

    Reply
  8. 27

    Erin Hall says

    May 15, 2012 at 2:33 am

    You have inspired me to want to try some stencilling. I was going to stencil the concrete floor in the office my husband is building me in the basement and then realized I have to use Oil and I am pregnant so that’s not happening… but great job on that wall.

    Reply
  9. 28

    carol says

    May 14, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    very nice. you and husband do awesome team work.

    Reply
  10. 29

    Alyssa says

    May 14, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Super chic laundry room! I kind of want to live in it. 😉

    Reply
  11. 30

    Chelsea @ Chelsea Eats Treats says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    Wowzaaaa look at that stencil job! Sooo pretty!! How are your hands feeling after that? That is no easy task! It’s so beautiful!!!!

    Reply
  12. 31

    Anonymous says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Love it! and Happy 1st Mothers Day, hope it was very special. Mary in NY

    Reply
  13. 32

    Renee' says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    Wonderful job – great looking and I am totally jealous! I don’t think I would have the patience to do that much stenciling!

    Reply
  14. 33

    Lori C says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    So very fancy, for a pantry!! Looks great. My’pantry’ is also in my laundry closet…24″ wide by about 7′ tall. Not much space but it works!

    Reply
  15. 34

    Joy Fuson says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    very beautiful!!!!! LOVE the stencil! and I totally know what you mean by, lets not talk about it. But it turned out beautifully!!! Great job!

    Reply
  16. 35

    Anonymous says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:04 pm

    I painted my pantry last week too! oddly a very similar stencil and color!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Operation Laundry Room {DEMO} says:
    December 9, 2013 at 10:31 am

    […] might be wondering where the washer/dryer is located now? In… my… PANTRY. Remember? My dirty underwear and my box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch SHOULD NOT be in the same vicinity… […]

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
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