A DIY Spice Cabinet Is the Focal Point of This Kitchen — It’s So Whimsical
Spices have to be one of the most annoying items to store. (Mine get increasingly pushed further and further to the back of a cabinet, only to be forgotten about.) However, I changed my tune when I saw Amanda Oleri and Jason Staebler’s clever, storage-forward arched inset spice cabinet. It’s absolutely chic.
Amanda is a Nashville-based DIYer who, with the help of Jason, a seasoned carpenter, slowly transformed their 1989 builder-grade house into a space that feels unique to them. Throughout the renovation process, Amanda documented the DIY journey “to inspire people to add character to their own homes!”
A Viral Kitchen Upgrade
While viewers love seeing Amanda’s interior and exterior home transformation, the spice cabinet DIY unexpectedly grabbed their attention. “It makes me SO happy that it’s been inspiring so many people, because that’s the whole point of me sharing this renovation on social media,” Amanda says.
A Side Project Turned into an Impactful Kitchen Hack
“[This project] was something that we thought up during the process of renovating the kitchen,” Amanda explains. Their home didn’t have a ton of storage, so when it came to their kitchen, they had to think of creative solutions for storing the necessities.
But “of course, we wanted to do something special because when we’re working on renovations, [Jason and I] almost always get carried away with the whimsy of it all and want every project to be over the top,” Amanda shares.
So the couple mapped out the outline of the spice rack on the wall — making sure to position it between two studs so there was no reframing involved. Once they had cut out the space and added blocking to the top, Jason scored the drywall to create the curved edge of the archway. “It was a pretty easy process,” Amanda says, adding that there were no setbacks or surprises.
Using Minimal Materials to Create an Easy DIY
Because Amanda and Jason have similar design tastes, they agreed they wanted a unique accent for the kitchen that would pique people’s interest. “I didn’t want to do something that looked like what everyone else was doing,” Amanda says.
But the couple only needed a few things to bring this project to life. “Wood for the [custom] doors and material for the shelves, a small amount of drywall, hinges, screws, and blocking [were] needed to structurally put it together,” Amanda says.
In total, the materials cost less than $300 — and it made for a fun project that can be used for so many things in the kitchen. “It’s a pretty low-budget yet impactful addition to the kitchen; everybody is drawn to it on socials and in real life.” Amanda comments.
Practical Storage Solutions Can Still Have Unique Characteristics
Through each of Amanda and Jason’s projects, Amanda has discovered a love for updating their dated home. These types of projects “don’t have to be stressful,” she says. “Yes, you have to focus on things that must be done, but having fun and putting those personal, unique touches into it are really what make it satisfying.”
In this DIY, the personal touches Amanda mentioned include the inset cabinet feature, the milled wooden shelf Jason created, and the unique door pulls. The charming cabinet isn’t only aesthetically pleasing and in perfect flow with the rest of the organic-modern room — it’s also super functional.
“The spice rack is part of my everyday life — I use it every single day. It not only added some much-needed storage, but it looks SO cute,” Amanda shares. “Utilitarian things can be cute!”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.
