One of the things I miss now that I live in New York City is having a nice open kitchen with lots of space.
Kitchen space is pretty limited for me so I've definitely gotten used to getting creative about cooking. I've been known to set my cutting board on my stove top to chop vegetables, like when I'm using the life hack to chop a carrot in ten seconds. But that doesn't mean I don't love the feel of a rustic country kitchen.
So when I found out what these two bloggers did to repurpose an old ladder, I was absolutely floored. Not only does this DIY project create extra storage space, which is something my kitchen certainly lacks, but it adds an awesome rustic flair to my home.
Janelle's Fab From Drab blog shows the perfect way to turn a normal wooden ladder into a beautiful country kitchen addition. And when I saw what Laura was able to do on her blog Top This Top That, the DIY possibilities suddenly seemed endless.
I am so ready to give my city home some rustic flair that will make my friends jealous!
Please SHARE if you also love cool, rustic DIY projects like I do.
Janelle received a new set of cookware for Christmas from her husband, but she didn't have anywhere to store it. Luckily, she put her creativity to work! She writes on her blog Fab From Drab, "I began searching for an old ladder at all my favorite antique and thrift shops. Knowing I wanted a round-rung ladder weeded out most I found, but soon I spotted this old beauty and saw potential."
Janelle wasn't quite thrilled with the way the ladder looked, so she got to work. She sanded all of the rough spots and spray painted the ladder a lime green. She even had the paint laying around in the garage so it didn't cost extra money!
But something still wasn't right. With it's fresh coat of paint, the ladder almost looked too new. Janelle writes, "I brought it inside and sanded the edges and random places all over for a bit of a distressed look."
Leaning the ladder against the wall and hanging her brand new pots from the rungs, Janelle had created the perfect rustic accent to her kitchen! But Janelle still wasn't satisfied.
So Janelle decided to hang the ladder! First, Janelle attached two 1x4's to the ceiling. She then used four hook-eye bolts and some rope to attach the ladder to the wood pieces. She chose rope over chains to keep with her ladder's cool, rustic look.
Janelle even painted the 1x4s to blend in with the ceiling. Finally, Janelle had her perfect country kitchen pot hanging ladder! She even spruced it up with decorative vines, and used the top of the ladder for basket storage.
Janelle writes, "I am looking forward to changing out the ladder decor with the seasons and love the character it adds to my kitchen!"
Laura blogs in Top This Top That about the same idea but with a really fun twist. Laura used her creativity to create extra lighting for her outdoor patio area with these really awesome hanging lanterns! Laura writes, "It's perfect if you are trying to create 'mood' lighting while dining or entertaining."
Laura writes on Top This Top That, "The lanterns really create a focal point in an already fabulous space." What a cool idea for any porch or patio area!
Please SHARE if you also love cool, rustic DIY projects like I do.