Monday, November 29, 2010

Drum Roll Please... For The Butler's Pantry Reveal

Here is the moment no one else but I have been waiting for...

My elegant laundry room/butler's pantry is complete!


I'm am thrilled with the finished product.  And especially proud that this has made such a huge impact on the house and didn't cost a lot.  In fact, it was 1/4 the cost of the last contractor's estimate thanks to IKEA.

Now I don't mind with people cut through from the kitchen to our sunroom. Notice Digby cutting through.



My vintage venetian glass chandelier that I found at the Georgetown flea market for only $80 is the perfect size and color for this room. 
I've seen similar new styles for over $500.



Turning it into a pantry makes it way more roomy and functional.  My trick for saving A LOT of money and making more room was to use IKEA Billy bookcases with doors instead of kitchen cabinets.  The color of the bookshelves is a perfect match with my kitchen cabinets and the bookcase depth of 15 inches gives me organization with out taking up a lot of room. There are a lot of inexpensive options to go with the Billy bookcase. They have several different door options. I chose this one with the top glass and bottom panel so I could see the pretty things and hide the ugly stuff.


Another option with the Billy bookcase is to add glass shelves which are only $10 each.
I added the glass shelves and lighting. 


I love that I can see and enjoy my china, crystal and milk glass collections. I know I'm a geek, but I like to keep those lights on when I'm in the sunroom at night because I think it looks so pretty.  I have to "style" all the shelves still, but already I know that I'll be using what I have in there more now that I can see and access everything easily.


My big splurge was my drawer cabinet with a granite top. The absolute black granite is what we have in the kitchen and I really felt like I had to do it in here to make it feel consistent and like a continuation of the kitchen. 


The cabinet is actually a stock bathroom cabinet from Home Depot. I really wanted drawers for my napkins and candles and runners etc. And, I needed a place to put things that I would be taking out of the cabinets. This cabinet was unpainted and was the right width. It was too deep though. So, I had it cut down in the back. The hardware is the Martha Stewart line for Home Depot. 


I think that I'll stay on top of laundry better now that this is a functional and accessible room to do it in. I'm still going to put up a curtain to hide the laundry area--don't know when I'll get to that.


For some reason this swing arm towel bar (also from Ikea) is getting a lot of oohs and aaahs from my friends and family. This is for air drying things. It tucks away when not in use.



So, let's compare the before and after

Before & Before with all the stuff in it 




Same view with stuff AFTER


Before and what it really looked like 

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Same view AFTER












I'm so happy that I waited three years to do this project (did I really just say that?) because I think I got the best design by taking my time.

Now I've got to run, I just heard the dryer bell :)

16 comments:

carla said...

It is as amazing and jaw dropping as I expected it be, you are a very talented lady.

Rashon Carraway said...

Hey! Love a good pantry! The set is nice, but I really want something with some clean lines to balance out the traditional pieces I have. Ya never knw. I may keep them after all.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mr. Goodwill Hunting
http://mrgoodwillhunting.blogspot.com

Martha said...

GASP!

Gorgeous! You are a *genius* for using those Billy's in there!! Did you have to cut the drawers from the center piece down, too?

LOVE.IT,

the gardener's cottage said...

hi julie,

i'm so in love with this. it is gorgeous. do you realize you have more storage in this room than i have in my entire house! i'm jealous. i love the way everything has a place now and you can even showcase some of your favorites, good thinking! and the chandelier is to die for. you are one smart cookie. and i think a drape across the appliances is going to look amazing.


~janet

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

Quite a makeover Julie! I would keep the lights on in there at night, too! Thanks for sharing all of your sources - I can't believe those bookshelves are Ikea - they look custom! And I love the chandelier - I have a slightly larger version in my girls bathroom!

pve design said...

Gasp! Shock and awe! Love it....
Hope you will consider hanging a mirror - and a gallery of artwork in there....What a terrific use of space and I cannot wait to see the curtain. I could see toile or some magnificent french velvet hung on a rod - What a great incentive to have some good clean fun.
pve

life, in small chunks said...

Stunning. Absolutely stunning!

quintessence said...

What a GREAT job you did - and so thrifty as well. Personally, I don't even mind seeing the washer/dryer but a curtain would look nice as well. What a clever girl you are!

bluehydrangea said...

Amazing!! Those Billy bookcases are fabulous!! What a difference!!

Jean Duffy said...

Julie! LOVE IT!!! Can you come redo my whole house!! LOL

Filia Artis said...

Beautiful work! I'm very impressed!
Saw you through a comment on Eddie Ross.
I love IKEA and you've done a good job with it!

Filia Artis

thedo-tique.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

WOW. That's all I can say! I can't get over the fact that those are IKEA bookshelves -- they look so high end! And the chandy?!?! It's ridiculous -- I love it.

WELL DONE!
Kacey
Shes.No.Martha

Becky said...

I LOVE it! Good job. i am going to be your newest follower in about 5 seconds :)

LSaueracker said...

Thanks so much for posting this work. When we changed up our kitchen cabinets we decided to reuse. Your ideas have helped us confirm how to combine a laundry room with a butler's pantry. Yours looks fabulous, hope ours turns out as well.

Hamptontoes said...

Wonderful transformation. Looks fabulous and I can tell it functions well. Great work and I'm glad you shared it with me!

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie, was just over at Janet's blog and saw your name so I thought I would pop in. Love this transformation. Only you could make it look classy and functional.

Rosanne