Remember when every home we saw on HGTV was being renovated with a breakfast bar? They have their place for sure, but they don't really lend much in the way of design as far as storage or even looks go. Many homes, rentals, and apartments have them, but did you know that overhang of countertop can be doing more for you? Want to see what this space looks like now? Should I keep asking silly questions?
Our friends over at Homepodge tipped us off to this fun kitchen transformation over at May Days and although making big changes to your dining area might not be in the budget with all the back to school expenses, this one is well worth your time.
The space under their breakfast bar, which was previously occupied by barstools, has been filled in with stock hardware store cabinets (and their adorable chicken wire doors). A few trim pieces were added, a bit of paint and some faux feet really round out the look.
This adds a serious amount of storage to the space and is a great holding spot for many dishes or those extended pieces you busy out during the holidays. These could be installed in a rental with ease by attaching the cabinets with screws at the top and bottom. It would only be a few holes when you moved and would provide all sorts of storage in the mean time — especially if you eat somewhere other than this area (sofa we're looking at you).
Check out the full details of the install to see how to get the look in your own home over at May Days.
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Image: May Days
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Not a fan. What they need is less stuff.
That countertop is seriously cluttered. The baskets stopped being ornamental after the third one, I believe.
The storage is nice, but still a very cluttered space. Time to get rid of some baskets aka dust collectors. :)
Good idea on the breakfast bar transition. Too bad it looks like a Michael's Craft Store exploded in their kitchen.
Bfast bars aren't meant to lend much in the way of design as far as storage or even looks go. They're meant to give a counter to sit at.
And it's not doing more for you if seating is what you need. It just does different. Depends on what the resident most needs.
I think it's a good idea to maximize storage however, I would have gone with solid doors so it didn't look so cluttered. These photo's actual remind me 'less is more'.
Someone has a very serious Longaberger addiction.
I kind of like this idea -- eating at breakfast bars is never great, and storage is always a plus -- but not the implementation. The chicken wire looks great, but without solid fronts, you get just as much pet hair, dust, pests as if you didn't have doors in the first place. I don't get easily skeeved, but ground-level open storage of cooking implements is doing it for me.
(So is that apothecary jar full of...Delft Christmas ornaments? On a tray? Who doesn't need every scrap of kitchen counter space they can get?)
When I first looked at this reno, I thought "wow, this kitchen has a lot of stuff. and baskets." Now I realize I wasn't alone in this sentiment.
I really want to love and support new projects, I just can't get into this chicken wire idea. Just shows MORE clutter.
I think it's time to edit.
Wow, this space is just ripe for AT snark. Not my style at all, but good idea if you need more storage. Although, I personally love a breakfast bar for, you know, eating breakfast.
So, you spent *how much* money, time, and energy building in those top shelf bits, so that they could store... basket trays?
I can get behind "fill in your unused breakfast nook area with much needed storage" if that statement is in fact true, but like others have said, this kitchen doesn't need more storage, it needs less stuff.
I would have gone with solid doors solely to keep dust out.
I agree with the other comments about needing to clear the counters. fc93 is right, it looks like a craft store exploded in their kitchen.
I agree with philosoknitter....give the woman a break! Just because you don't like doesn't automatically mean it's crap. Also- it's evident no one actually read the original post. The cabinet's were free cast offs, the extra wood and paint was paid for by selling the old stools and she's planning on adding fabric backings for the doors.
OMG! the clutter in that kitchen!
Beyond that, yes, if you don't like using your breakfast bar to eat and you're short of storage space, it's not a bad idea.
But de-cluttering the kitchen would also create a lot of usable space too!
Goodness knows that I'm FAR from being a minimalist, but this kitchen is OTT. Sorry.
I do like the storage, but I also agree that that kitchen is need of a deep decluttering.
There are beautiful things in there that aren't being shown at their best because of the sheer volume of stuff.
Well yeah, where else are you going to store your Christmas china that you only use once a year?
If there is ever a basket shortage, I think you will be safe.
Instead of getting rid of a breakfast bar I think.... oh never mind I think you have enough comments here to figure it out.
There's something terribly twee and middle-class about breakfast bars, so it's ironic that this twee and middle-class interior has had its breakfast bar removed.
The new look is much classier, and very nicely done.
I visited her blog. She seems like a nice lady with a very happy life and a close family. Good for her.
I probably would have gone with frosted glass instead of chicken wire, but I like the way you have the shelving at the top for trays.
needs more baskets.
As much as I don't care for the implementation, the idea is quite good. I've been waffling about what to do with a penninsula in our kitchen when we update. Now I've got 3 choices: leave it as is, bar seating, or built-ins.
thanks for the idea!
Well, I guess if it wasn't the wicker bar stools, it was more wicker baskets. Maybe she collects wicker objects?
I believe she had good intentions, but I'd be hard-pressed to say that the storage space improved her kitchen. What -would- make a world of difference is some de-cluttering by finding a home for the craft supplies that have overrun her kitchen.
wow! That looks amazing!!!!
@Blandwagon's comment seems pretty snobbish to me. Might want to tone that down a bit next time.
These cabinets look well-executed! However, I do agree with the other comments about the chicken wire... not loving that. It sort of looked like etched glass at first glance. That'd be adorable.
Yeah, that's a lot of stuff! I'm trying to simplify my home and that would be a lot of stuff to clean and sort and organize and store. The storage solution turned out well though if you're not using it as an eating area!
What a great storage solution for hoarders.
I CAN'T SEEM TO FOCUS ON THE NEW STORAGE BECAUSE OF ALL THE CLUTTER. TIME FOR A 'CLEAN SWEEP'.