Good morning!
It was my birthday over the weekend and as I can’t really ask my parents for a pony I asked my dad to spend a few hours making and putting up some open shelves in my kitchen. They are very similar in look and design to the open shelves my dad put up in the last kitchen. I never really felt like I had had long enough with those ones so when I saw the wall on the left hand side of the kitchen in this new place I knew what would be going there.
Here it was before, an empty wall.
There are the brackets.
And there are some more brackets holding two shelves. My dad left room at the bottom to add another shelf at a later date if I wanted.
As soon as he had finished screwing the last screw in to the wall I set about the shelves and painted them in the same shade that we are painting the rest of the kitchen, which is Dulux ‘White Cotton’. I gave them two coats, accidentally forgot to paint the ends of the shelves so I’ll do that later, and will fill in the holes made by the screws at a later date. I was impatient, I wanted to get my ‘stuff’ up there.
And so I did.
Bit in love with them to be honest. They help me to envision what the theme for the rest of the rooms/house/garden will eventually be. Robert and I have now settled on an extremely specific aesthetic that we’re very excited about and hopefully that’s what you’ll see created over the next weeks/months/years. When I think of a name for this ‘look’ that we’re going for I’ll let you know.
These are a bit of a favourite and just about the most useful things I have ever owned.
My gorgeous milkshake glasses from Ikea. I drink iced coffee out of them at about three in the afternoon when I’m flagging.
The white and red rose are from my garden. I apologise for the blurriness of some of the close up shots. I’m yet to unpack my working tripod after the move. In fact I’m not sure I’ve seen it in the whole time we’ve been here, which is a pain in a place to be honest because these flowers look better than this photo.
Light, bright with dashes of colour. Doesn’t make me feel cluttered or hemmed in. I can see everything and can find everything.
It’s clean looking.
I’ve also got a sofa underneath them which I’ve had in my last three kitchens. That way people can hang out with the person who’s doing the cooking and not leave them alone to chat to themselves or the coriander. It’s also a nice spot in the evening as the sun comes in through the back door and you can lie there, on that Ikea Ektorp sofa and have a little sun bath before heading off to bed or to watch the Olympics sorry, something boring on telly that isn’t the Olympics.
These shelves will change. I’ll add things and take things away. They’ll look one way for Summer and another for Christmas but that’s my way, you know that.
What I like is the feeling of progression. Certain corners in certain rooms in this house are unfolding and now Robert and I have decided on what we want it to look like we have something to follow.
I’ve had a terrific birthday weekend and thank you all for your messages. There’s a delicious sense of ‘London 2012 goodwill’ in the air and it’s highly contagious. Be careful, can you imagine what would happen if we all suddenly got extremely happy and kind? Wooo hoo!!
I love you and would love to try to answer any questions about the shelves in the comments section below.
Cherry x
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I love everything about this space!! And I have the same couch in my summerhouse, it’s so comfy! What a fab blog, glad I found it!
Belated Happy Birthday Wishes! What a beautiful, serene corner you’ve created, just perfect!
Just fab !
I am oh so very excited for the ‘Christmas look’ of these shelves… not that i am thinking ahead that far or anything *ahem*. Those milkshake glasses look so dreamy, i think i will have to invest in some
Happy belated birthday!
Rose xxx
Oh Cherry you are SO SO talented! It looks just stunning. And treasure that dad or yours……I had one just like that who would ‘build’ me wonderful things whenever I asked (including a whole house at one point in my life!!) but he is no longer with us and I miss him so much…..and not just his construction skills I assure you! Your open shelves are wonderful but it’s what you have done with them that amazes me. They COULD look like clutter but they sure don’t! You clever thing. I think you should just call your aesthetic ‘Cherry’ because it is so you and that just about sums it up!! Keep up the fabulous work. And give your dad another hug (from me!)W.
I love them! My dreamy shelves!
Oh my word, Im so in love with your shelves!! Hmmm, in fact I have a wall in my kitchen that is just not ‘working’ right now, shelves might be the perfect thing to put on that wall & give me a bit of space to put all my pretties!!
What an amazing transformation, Cherry! Man!! I could really use you here! You had such outstanding decorating sense. I’m afraid I was left behind when that was distributed here.:(
I certainly hope your birthday week-end was wonderful! I’ve been traveling some now and then and have been behind on catching up with your posts. You have a splendid way with expressing your feelings, particularly when chronicling the journey you and Robert have had to this wonderful house which is becoming a home!
I think the paint – rather than the wallpaper – is a great idea for the wardrobe. The lovely wallpaper will find its place, visible for all to enjoy it!
I know it would be a lovely time to be able to join you in your afternoon refreshment.:) Just now, I’m off to put the kettle on for my afternoon tea.:)
Enjoy your evening, which is what you have there at this time. That spirit of joy and happiness should be contagious for all of us. London created many opportunities for celebration!
xo Nellie
Hello. Your shelves look really pretty and I like the wooden letters of your family’s initials. I spied those milkshake glasses in Ikea the other day – lovely soft colours. I too have some white shelves in my kitchen which I love to decorate, although they are much smaller than yours. I also turned my fairy lights on this afternoon as it was so grey outside! They provide a pretty corner in what is a dated kitchen which really needs replacing. Quick questions – Did you use emulsion to paint the wood or did you use wood paint? Did the wood need priming? I’ve got some bare wooden furniture I’d like to paint but I always thought wood paint gave a better finish. Thanks. Anna xx
Ooh, Cherry – can you give us your iced coffee recipe? Everyone always says it’s easy to make but I never get it tasting right!
Massive belated Happy Birthday and very good call asking for shelves as your present – they’re awesome!
x
A belated Happy Birthday! Your shelves are beautiful. I love the bowls and the little “Christmas” cup
A bit envious of those shelves! They are just lovely. What a fabulous and useful birthday present. And all the more special because your dad made them for you. I’d say your house is very cheery Cherry style! I wish you could bottle it.
Hi Cherry
The shelves and contents look wonderful. Your taste in decor is much like mine – a white background with splashes of colour. It always feels clean and fresh, doesn’t it? It’s always great to see other people’s collections of kitchen paraphernalia, so thank you for sharing!
Happy days to you,
Wow – your daddy is so handy! I love the shelves! My birthday is in Dec and I need some, only I am in Dallas, TX which is a ways from you – so I don’t think your daddy will be making mine.
Your house is soo cute!
Love the couch idea, too…. enjoy your cozy area!
Happy belated birthday!!!
What a transformation of a blank wall. I have hopes for open shelving in our kitchen one day, but as the kitchen was the second most recently decorated room, it’s going to be a long time before its turn comes round again.
Do you know a shop in Winchester called The Hambledon Cherry? They have lovely things which I imagine would be right up your street. I have some beautiful bits from here and they do gorgeous milk glass in white and green in store too. I am collecting the pearl glass plates and bowls at the moment which are great for cakes. Anyway, just thought i’d share in case you feel the urge to fill that final third shelf!
My fave thing on your shelves in the green coffee pot, closely followed by the Fortnums tins – they look great against the white wall and pale shades of the other things. You and your Dad make a great team. Do you ever pop round to his house and arrange a little nook or two for him or did you inherit this skill from your Mum?
Thanks for a lovely post to start the week.
Take care, Bex.x
Oh and belated Happy Birthday! Hope you had a fabulous day!
So gorgeous! I am desperate to paint my kitchen white but my DH is in love with yellow and won that particular argument – can’t for the life of me think why since he spends so little time in it! I’m not sure how much longer I can put up with it to be honest, it’s a little like living in a giant bowl of custard!
I love how you’re arranged the shelves – thanks for inspiring me to empty my dresser and go for a totally new look. Think I might even head to B&Q to buy paint…
I LOVE your open shelves and the ones in your old house inspired me to put some up in the kitchen of our new house:
http://morethantoast.org/2012/03/the-kitchen/ (they are slightly more cluttered than this now!)
http://morethantoast.org/2012/07/corners-of-my-home/
Ax
I love how so much of your stuff is from Ikea rather than high end designer stuff. It all looks so fabulous and I love your ‘light, bright with splashes of colour’ look
(may have to pin those shelves to my Ideal Home pinterest board 
)
Can you tell your Dad that it’s my birthday soon too, and I would like some of these in my utility room. If he’s not too busy, that would be fab. Thank you…..
Consider it done. Cx
How long did it take you to fill the shelves? Did you fiddle and rearrange for a while or did it all come together straight away?! Looks beautiful. I’m wondering if I have room to do something similar but not sure I have!
Thank you. It took about an hour to fill them with bits and pieces that were already unpacked. I sorta knew what would go on them and where so I fiddled a bit but not for hours. Cx
Loving the big storage jars Cherry, are they hard to find?
x
I picked them up from a shop clearance but they had Ikea labels on the bottom of them. Cx
Cheers m’dear! x
I think Hampton Chic is perfectly apt x
Gorgeous!!!
just lovely.
I use my Ikea milkshake glasses as vases!
hope you had a lovely bd.
x