last year i bought an old wardrobe (before here) in hopes of turning it into a stand alone pantry.  our kitchen is generous in size, but lacks a pantry.  when my parents re-designed the kitchen (remember, i live in my childhood home) they did so with empty nesters in mind.  thus, no pantry at all, just a lot of cabinet space.  since my family is on the big size, with 4 growing kids, our food supply seems to be growing weekly and my cabinets just couldn’t contain it.

basically, after finding old beauty at an antique store, all i did was paint her white and add shelves (keep reading for that bit).  anyhow, wardrobes are always enchanting to me.  i still think they may hold other worlds just beyond them.  i was told this particular piece came from england, so i’m pretty sure of it.

i’m not the best painter, because i’m far too impatient.  i didn’t realize that layers and layers of paint would make it hard for the pantry doors to shut.  it did.  and, when i kept trying to (shove them shut, paint kept scraping off.  although i wasn’t going for a distressed look, i always go for a lived in look, so i took the scrapes with a smile.  imperfection is far more interesting than perfect.  yes?  isn’t the planter, cute (click here for the how to)?

click thru for more details on the shelving + inside of the pantry :

 

 

since this was a wardrobe there was a rod for hanging coats and clothes and such.  i loved the interest that it added, the history that it kept, and simply saw potential in it.  it’s great for hanging mugs and other bits (i just need to get some proper hooks to hang from the rod).

next, we added shelves.  i had the mister measure and then head to home depot to get some wood (we used pine).  i went for 4 shelves and measured the distance between based upon what i wanted to put on each shelf.  we then painted them and secured them with little brackets (below).

and, there you have it.  it only took a year for me to share with you.

xx