Creating a Cabinet Where There Wasn't One!

Having a small kitchen creates a storage problem.

Sam and I have been trying to figure out 

how to get just a bit more storage space 

into this kitchen.

When we had our counters 

replaced in 2018,

we found some unused space 

that was worth checking into.

See that space at the far right?

It's empty!  

Totally unused!

Black Gold, Texas Tea...Well, 

valuable real estate at least.  

What a waste.

We asked my coworker Tina's boyfriend, Carpenter John,

If it would be possible to 

create a cabinet in that space.

He said "Sure"!!!

He estimates his cost would be 

about $100 to $150.

So fast forward to this May during the Pandemic of 2020.

Everyone has lots of time on their hands.

Sam decides to paint our kitchen and family room.

From a 21 year old builder's basic off white

 to a Frittata yellow...

get some here

Frittata M290-2 From Behr at
The Home Depot to be exact. 

She also creates an accent wall 

in the family room.

get some here

It's 5001-3C Blue Arrow by 

Valspar Signature from Lowes.

She also feels now would be the perfect time 

to ask John if he is available to create a cabinet.

He says "sure"!

I show him a physical photo of the pony wall I had taken 

when the house was being built in 1998. 

I point out that the ice maker water supply line, 

a few electrical wires, 

and some studs will have to be 

"adjusted" to create the cabinet.

Understandably, he does increase 

his estimate another $100.

I also talk Sam into making it a hidden cabinet 

behind bead board wainscoting, just push in and

magic, I mean, a magnet pushes the door open.

There's going to be a shelf,

and quite a bit of storage room added.

A dream come true for Sam.

John worked and worked.

It was hard to create infrastructure 

where there was none before.

He installed the last bit of wainscoting 

with the outlet hole.

He added a finished edge to the shelf board.

This is the finished result.

But John and Sam were not happy 

with the finished look

Not exactly invisible, and John didn't think the 

concealed hinges were going to work on the 

long term.  They would eventually work their 

way loose and no longer keep the door centered.

We all agreed it would be better to have 

a standard cabinet door.

So John created one.

He also used standard, strong, exposed hinges

The door can also open much wider now.

Sam loves that part.

When John was done Sam got in there 

and painted everything white.

We then picked up some Pioneer Women 

shelf paper and I installed that. 

Overall Sam loves it and that's what matters.

I'm a little disappointed I didn't get a secret panel.  

But it looks really good and will last.

Thanks for stopping by and stay safe.

Happy hunting.

Some Pioneer Woman on the Hutch.

Some time ago I started a secret collection

of Pioneer Woman plates from Walmart. 

Every week I would go to Walmart 

to buy just one dinner plate and one salad plate 

of each design.

With plans to mix and match them

on our hutch-buffet.

When Sam found out, she was 

delighted,

and instead of buying one set a week,

we went to Walmart and bought whatever was left 

that I needed from the collection.

We also picked out the Flea Market collection

Salt & Pepper Shakers

and butter dish,

The depression jade glass 

Timeless Beauty Cake Stand was a must have.

Later we bought the 

Flea Market Pitcher.

Then the Polka Dot Batter Bowl.

I put Cutie tangerines in it as a storage bowl. 

We were quite satisfied with the collection

until she started releasing more and more

patterns and even more beautiful designs.

Sam says we are done collecting since

we filled up the hutch.

I say, time to start another secret collection.

Maybe for a future tablescape!

Thanks for stopping by

Stay safe and happy hunting.

Chocolate Bunny Factory

Here's something I just discovered,

even though it's been around since 1950.

That beautiful illustration of 

a chocolate bunny factory print on canvas.

Titled "Chocolate Easter Bunnies" 

by Steven Dohanos, and available 

from Wayfair, Overstock, and Art.com  

by Marmont Hill

It's printed on a stretched canvas

over a wood frame.

It can be ordered in several different sizes,

from 14''x15'' to 24''x24'' all the way up 

to 48''x48'', and range in price 

from $30.00 to $334.99! 

Originally published on the cover of 

"The Saturday Evening Post" 

on March 25, 1950.

image source

Illustrator Steven Dohanos was sent to 

the newly relocated and much larger, 

R M Palmer Chocolate Novelty Company

 in Reading, Pennsylvania.

image from Google Maps

He set up his easel and for three days 

painted the chocolate works as the 

bunnies paraded past.

He illustrated the steel bunny molds where 

molten chocolate is poured into one side, closed

shaken and rotated, that coats both sides 

as well as turns it hollow on the inside.

He captured the assembly line of hand decorators.

Does Palmer still put roses on the bunnies?

They must have in 1950.

Palmer does claim that they still hand tie the bows 

on every bunny they produce today!

These large prints sure do look beautiful.

I just can't imagine buying one so big.

I think the smaller sizes are a bit more 

manageable not to mention affordable.

Everyone stay safe out there

and thanks for stopping by.

Hoppy Hunting!

UPDATE: 4/12/2020

EASTER DAY

Look what just arrived at 8:00 tonight!

  Sam let me order the 21'' x 22'' 

canvas print from Art.com.

It arrived just in time for Easter Sunday!

I originally thought the 18''x18'' size print 

would have been the perfect size but 

the bigger one was cheaper!

Now I just need to work on the prefect 

arrangement of the cookie jars as to not block 

the details of the illustration.

I hope everybunny had a 

safe and wonderful Easter!

Update on the Firethorn Bush

The Pyracantha (Santa Cruz) bush (also called a Firethorn for its ½'' long thorns) 

Bloomed magnificently this year!
I last posted about it here in 2014.

In the years since 2014 the bush has 

underperformed.  Nothing worthy of a post.

Last year literally only 23 berries showed up and

the week after Christmas they were gone, 

the victims of hungry birds.

But this year the bush bloomed with a vengeance!

Thousands of flowers all over the branches.

Happy little bees swarmed the shrub all Spring. 

And by Christmas we had this beautiful 

patch of red in the yard to add 

to the festive decor.

Sam and I freshened up our garland 

and wreaths this year. We gave them

a rustic woodsy look.

We added buffalo plaid ribbon and 

moose, bear, fox, and squirrel 

elements to the mix.

Even the big wreath got its 

3 to 5 year makeover.

We added acorns, pine cones, 

antlers, and a rustic Santa.

It sure was nice having the berry bush 

in all its dashing red gaiety.

Even the birds haven't been able to 

dull its loveliness.  

The bush is still full of berries and it's

the end of January.

Thanks for stopping by

and happy hunting.