Happy Monday!
A sweet reader named Claire sent me a photo of the huge hutch she has in her kitchen and asked if I could do a little “presto change-o” action on it.
Her email said, “I have an awesome, but enormous, kitchen shelf area that I really need help coming up with a vision for. I would like it to be a mix of functional ‘storage’ for pretty dishes (that can also be display pieces) and just a pretty and decorative area in the kitchen. Thanks for considering!”
Here is the photo she sent me to work on:
…and here’s what I had fun coming up with!
As you can see, I pretty much stuck to a color palette of white, black, green and different shades of brown- for warmth and texture. I used a variety of inexpensive items. Everything from plates, bowls, mugs and pitchers- to books, faux fruit and foliage. I tried to create symmetry throughout the whole display. For instance,
- The stacks of books are in opposite corners. Top left and bottom right.
- The identical baskets are in cubbies across from each other.
- Most of the white dishes are in the center two shelves, and the items on the shelf above and below them are similar in color and texture, which gives that area visual balance.
- Notice how the black frames are positioned. None are directly below each other or on the same shelf.
Another thing to keep in mind as you accessorize shelves like this is that typically things look better if you cluster them in odd numbers. That’s not a hard and fast rule, and you don’t have to do it on every shelf, but I do think it helps create a nice, relaxed look if you can do it here and there. For instance,
- Notice the five items on the bottom (middle) shelf…and how the three on the right are clustered together as a group.
- Notice the three items (the framed photo, bowl and potted plant) in the cubbie that’s second down on the top left.
- Notice the three items (the “A”, “R”, and the stack of books) in the bottom right cubbie.
- Notice the one vintage kitchen scale in the cubbie that’s second down on the top right.
- Notice the three gray bowl stacked on the top (center) shelf. You get the idea.
I wanted to see what Claire’s photo would look like with a few more things, to see if I could help give her ideas on how to make that hutch not feel so much bigger than the rest of that corner, and here’s what I came up with:
I added a door that has taller trim and a transom window, and opened up the short end of the room with a large mirror. The door wouldn’t necessarily need to change, and they wouldn’t necessarily have to install a *real* transom window. They could stick with the door they have, and just use trim and paint to make a faux transom “panel” above it, like this:
Here’s link to the tutorial on Thistlewood Farms: How To Create A Faux Transom Window
I couldn’t stop there. I had to see what it would look like with a rug and table & chairs…
…and wainscoting!
Doesn’t that hutch just look all comfy cozy in there now?
Even if she isn’t in love with/can’t use any of these extra ideas, I’m hoping the first photo helps her see how she might accessorize that hutch. I hope she keeps us posted on how it all comes together! Will you send me an “after” photo, Claire? 😀
PS- Some of the cute items on the shelves came from here and here, and here’s the link to this week’s LuLaRoe pop-up: LuLaRoe Layla Palmer if you’d like to check out my latest batch of inventory! 🙂
Hi Layla,
What software do you use to do this? I want to see what my small hallway would look like with some wainscoting.
Fantastic! I just love it every time when you do a presto makeover. Magic!
Great ideas! I have rustic shelves on both sides of my fireplace that I’m decluttering and changing up for a fresh look. Thanks!
I love the functionality of the piece and your arrangement.It just seems oversized because of the trim at the top.Can it be moved to the wall opposite the mirror? Maybe changing the wall color to white?Or even changing out the top trim to something shorter?
I wish I had space for a piece like that.I am slowly getting white pieces of serving ware.
This is my first time commenting but first saw your segments on TDN.
Layla that looks so good! You are a genius with your software! It’s Photoshop, right?
I really should learn how to do this for my office. I’ve got inspiration ideas but have no idea if it will look good in the space.
The faux transom window is a brilliant idea, and I always love a large mirror to make the room feel bigger.
Yep! I use Photoshop, Heather (and Val!). It has really saved me a lot of money over the years because I can *see* if things will work before I spend money on them! 😀
Love what you did!
lovelovelove your sense of style!
I love this pick my presto view! Helps me a lot in accessorizing some ladder shelving I now have in my living room. I also like the way you’ve brought the Greenery color into the palette since thats the 2017 color of the year! Great job!
I really hope Claire sends you (us) a picture of what she decides to do! I really, really hope she chooses to add height to the door (and some trim to the door itself like you did). The hutch itself is great and I am sure she will have fun styling it, using your tips.
Love all these ideas. I always live by the odd number rule, and adding a few pieces with color makes all the difference. Add in the warmth of plants or flowers, and you really can’t go wrong. If I were more talented on a computer, it would be cool to have a program like this. But I can barely do what I do now! Still have trouble with my camera program, my mind cannot grasp it at all. Oh, to be young, with ability to absorb the new technology!
There’s something really visually disturbing about the width of this piece in the space, especially the upper right side where it hits the ceiling as it tapers down. I think something on top to disguise this would really be a relief.
Hi Layla! Your Pick my Presto is gorgeous, as always! I have a different question, though. I have been trying to see the posts about your old homes. In particular, I loved the little room where you built in a bed. It was originally a reading nook, I think, then became your guest room? Anyway, under your Our House tab, there is a space where your older house used to be. It says, “We lived int he house below from Oct 31, . . . but there are no pictures beneath. The entry ends. When I try to click on the archives, I’ve tried going back to entries prior to your move in 2012, nothing happens. I remain on the current blog post. I’m hoping this is something you just didn’t know about, and it’s an easy fix. All those posts aren’t gone forever, are they? I love your style!
I agree with Teddee. I love that piece of furniture. Still looks out of place to me. I’ve had pieces of furniture that I loved and tried to force it to work in a particular room or on a particular wall. It’s hard, especially if it’s a piece of furniture you’ve goggled over forever and finally your husband gives in. After a year of trying, I learned that I had to give in and give up. My husband refused to build a room around a piece of furniture. Silly man.
Now if she is willing to compromise, she might consider having someone shorten it for her so that it doesn’t fight the door so much. She could still have the molding at top, though she might lose one shelf? It is a beautiful piece and I understand her dilemma.
Thanks for the shout out rock star! I LOVE the hutch transformation!
You inspire me every day. 🙂
karianne
Gorgeous! Pick my Presto’s are my favorite <3
I love it so much!! Was it you that had an e-doc use on how to do that with Photoshop?
Wow! Love what you’ve done! it would never occur to me in a million years to add height to the door. I’d just keep looking at it and wondering why it looked a bit odd! Thanks for the inspiration!
I agree with others that the scale of the piece is too large for the room. Personally, the color of the piece is not my favorite. With the bright blue on the walls,do you think there’s better choice? If the contrast between the wall and the hutch were lessened it would take away some of the bulky feeling.
I notice you photo shopped out the fan, I wonder what kind of lighting they’ll use eventually?
You did a great job! It does look nice and cozy. I love the transom over the door.
I also want you to know I listened to your “no regret” videos you posted. Wonderful message from your Pastor.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the message, Sharon! I did too! 😀
This looks great. Love the added trim around the door. 🙂
Do you have source for the hutch? Thank you!
I sure don’t, Sandra. Maybe Claire will swing by and comment though?
I wonder if the hutch would not look so overpowering if the door and molding were “painted out” i.e. painted same color as the wall instead of the white trim additions…
You did a presto-changeo!!!!! 😀 I love you!!!!!! I’m sending you hugs from Manitoba!!!!!
Such cool ideas. Thanks Layla!
Hi Layla- this door trim completely was perfect! Can’t wait to see the finish product! Looks amazing! Any classes on Photoshop.?
Mkw, good idea. Or, do a rustic ceiling with wood stained closer to the color of the furniture? That one corner might just blend in, I think.
I love this one! I know you have moved on from this post–but I like that you took a small piece of furniture and changed it with the room around it. I love all of your change-o’s but for some reason this one seems to shine with me!
Well, thank you Beth! What a kind comment you left for me to find tonight! 😀