Kitchen Hutch

Sometimes you have to ask yourself if you're a "glass half full or glass half empty" kind of person. (And yes, the Husband and I have actually had a discussion (argument) about which it really is...BTW, I'm half full, he's half empty...) Of course it really has nothing to do with glasses and everything to do with having a positive outlook, right? So in considering my kitchen I can say that I love the white cabinets and large windows (half full) but don't like the few number of cabinets or the green laminate counter tops (half empty.)

We've considered adding additional cabinets. And although we would have the room, it wouldn't just be about the cabinets. We would have to change the backsplash since the tile is now discontinued, we would have to extend the counter tops and if we were going to do that we would switch to granite, and we would have to change out the hardware, too since it is also discontinued. And what about the floors and appliances??? It could end up a much bigger ($$$) project than just adding a few cabinets. So we have been putting it off.



A few months back as I was browsing (doing my weekly shopping) at the local Salvation Army, I spied this little possibility. It was 50% off so of course I had to have a closer look. It was okay, but not really my style. I left the store but kept thinking about the hutch throughout the rest of the day. All of a sudden I had a thought. What if I used the hutch in the kitchen temporarily as extra cabinet space and then moved it into my bedroom later on for craft supplies?

Two days later I went back to the store and it was still there. I really wasn't loving the brown wood brace thingy on the shelf--a little too countrified (is that a word?) for my taste. I realized it could be removed and that the wood portions could be painted.

After $70, two trips back and forth in the van and a few eyerolls from the Husband, it was mine!

It's not as tall as the cabinets in the kitchen so I threw a seashell wreath on the top and it looks good enough. The funny thing is that eventhough I originally bought the hutch with the thought of using it to extend my cabinet space, everything in it is new for the hutch! I've also grown to love it so much that I'm going to keep it in my kitchen permanently. (At least for now!)

So here it is before. Looking a little sad in the Salvation Army showroom.

And here is the after. Painted and in my kitchen looking happy. Definitely glass half full!