Monday, March 8, 2010

Where Do You Keep All That Stuff? Metamorphosis Monday

When Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch posted her friend's "dish room" several months ago, my wheels started spinning. I tried to find the link and I couldn't. Susan, if you read this help me out!

Anyway, I thought to myself, "I have a room I'm not using"! Of course I don't have all those fabulous things and I didn't want to spend any money installing shelves...but, I do have some stuff...and several pieces of furniture stashed in the basement that I will never use. So, I decided to see if I could do a dish room on a budget. 

We have a 5 bedroom house and only 2 of us live here now. Our home is a ranch style, with our bedroom, a guestroom and my daughter's room/my office on the main floor. The basement (I've been told that "lower level" sounds better, but we call it a basement) has 2 more bedrooms. One is my son's room/grandkid's play room and the other was the overflow from the storage room.

This is a work in progress. I did buy paint (medium taupe) and we haven't gotten around to painting yet. I hope to hang something on the walls, eventually. I am still in the process of moving things down. My good china and crystal are staying upstairs. The spring, summer and everyday dishes are in the kitchen cabinets and I will switch back and forth based on season.

I started with an empty room and brought an armoire we recently took out of our bedroom, a cedar wardrobe that I hate...but it has always been great for out of season clothing, a cedar chest my parents gave me when I got engaged, the first dresser we bought before we got married, an old bookcase from my son's room and one from my daughter's college days and a vintage wicker table that I love too much to part with.






The rocking horse is from when I was a child and my dad made the dollhouse for my daughter for her 9th birthday. He made one for all of his granddaughters when they turned 9 (4 of them ). The old radio was my grandfather's.


The armoire is perfect for glassware, holiday dishes and platters.




A drawer for flatware and one for trays and holiday bowls.



The wardrobe has folded quilts in the bottom
as well as my "winter" pillows for the living room sofas.
 I've just started hanging the tablecloths in it, I wanted
to show you how that will work.  
Larger vases and accessories sit on top.


The bookcase is great for ribbon. I have more ribbon to move
here, so those added dishes will be moving somewhere else.



Items that I store in boxes are tucked to the left of the wardrobe.


The old dresser has a few of my teapots on top, candles and
crafty things in the drawers. Eventually I will move napkins
and table runners to the other drawers.



The cedar chest is perfect for the heavier dish sets. See all those
Asian dishes? I did put them on Craigslist but I didn't get any calls.



A large antique crock holds a few of my floral supplies.


The view from the doorway. I put a quilt over an old rocker that has been in our family for decades. It is waiting to be recovered and I couldn't look at the green/brown fabric anymore! What I really wanted to show you is that it doesn't have to be perfect, if you have the space-it just has to be functional and organized. Other than the paint, there is no expense involved. There are several "perks" that are going along with this project. I am going through things and finding items I'd forgotten about as well as throwing away many things. I also am making my kitchen cabinets much more functional as I get some of these items out of them. The cabinets in the wet bar in the basement are empty now...I never have empty cabinets! Plus, all those trips up and down the basement stairs can't hurt!

I am linking this to Met Monday. Please join our hostess Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch to see all the wonderful projects.

21 comments:

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Sue! Love all the storage! I have to have some extra space, too, so I can rotate my goodies! lol Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Unknown said...

How exciting and fun to make a dish organization room. It would be fun going in there for tablescapes and holidays and picking out your dishes and such. GREAT JOB! ;)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great space - sure like that dollhouse. :) I don't have one room to dedicated to my "stuff", so am trying to rearrange/reorganize closets and cabinets.

dee dee said...

Sue, I've been so excited to see you space! I love the room and you have done a great job organizing all your dishes, stemware, serving and my..my all that fabulous ribbon! Can't wait to see the tablescapes that result from this new found organization!
Dee Dee

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Great post Sue!
You have lot's of space down there and you have used all your storage in such creative ways! I love to see what other's come up with along this line, it helps motivate and inspire me! Oh, and I want a dollhouse just like that one! Hugs, Cindy

Maria said...

I love this space that you created, Sue!
Was the wardrobe from your parents too? I need one of those for a bedroom with no closet!

Sue, you've done a great job organizing your tablescape things etc.

Chris and I have the same situation at our home... bedrooms with no one home most of the time (although sometimes kids need space in between apts.)

Enjoy the quiet :)
~Maria

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I just left you a message, and I have no idea if you got it or not. In a nutshell, it's all neat! :-)

Jeanette said...

I love your new dishroom! Looks great.

Low Tide High Style said...

Oh I would love to have that kind of wonderful storage! And to be that organized!

Kat :)

Kathleen said...

So nice and neat..I NEED you MOM to come help me! Great job, Sue!

Glennis said...

Oooh, I wish I had so much space!!! Of course, I have a messy basement I need to clean.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Oh you may have just inspired me to make part of my basement a dish room. You are very organized! It must be wonderful to have a place for all of your beautiful things.
Yvonne

xinex said...

Oh Sue, you are so lucky to have an extra room for a dish room. How I would love to have that. It is looking good. How lucky for you to have those extra funriture too. Perfect! It is so nice to have everything together...Christine

Life Laugh Latte said...

It's like shopping in your own house! Delightful...and so fun. With it all in one place, think of how creative you can get mixing and matching. Holly

Angie said...

Great use of your space! I'm majorly envious as I continue buying plastic storage containers for the basement and under my bed ;)

koralee said...

I seem to always need more storage..my cupboards are bursting. xoxo Love your ideas.

Holly Lefevre said...

How jealous am I! We have 5 bedrooms...but most of them are still full...one day...but I won;t wish away these days. Until then, I am trying to do my best with my closet. Great idea to show us...remind us it doesn't have to be perfect..although I think your looks pretty darn good!

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hi Sue
Well I don't have any spare rooms to make more room and lately I am feeling buried in my own junk so i think I will need to do a little rearranging too... which will need to include a cull i think!!

Love the Dolls House and your grandfathers radio! Have a great week xx Julie

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

What great ideas -- I have a spare room too - and plans for it -- need to get rid of some furniture first. Or maybe I'll just have a room added on (lol) -- a really "little" room!
Thanks for your sweet visit - I was thinking the same about mixing the patterns and a vase of pink and white roses ....great minds!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Sue Sweetie...
I am so thrilled for you. What a beautiful room you have created, and you have safe guarded so many dishes by doing this. They look fabulous in their perfect places and I love the way you can actually hang your tableclothes, how great is that? Love your rocking horse, and the doll house made by your Dad for your DD, how sweet is that? A treasure for sure. It will be such a fun room to create and create in. You will be thinking of things every time you step down there, or open another door. I love it.

Thank you for sharing with me today. Have a beautiful Tuesday. Country hugs and so much love...Sherry

J Rodney said...

What a great idea for the use of your spare room Sue. BTW my new dishes have been used frequently lately now that we have guests, and there are more on their way.