In Savannah,
It's definitely NOT coats!
SO, what do you do?
You turn it into what every woman wants!
A dish closet!
I had been wanting to turn our coat closet into cupboard space for several years. Bob, STRONGLY, resisted saying, "Every house HAS to have a coat closet! OH, REALLY? How come the last person to use it, more than a year ago, went off and forgot their coat. I found it two months later and they had never missed it. Savannah weather, you know.
This was the plan.
Over the last couple of months, I took all the dishes I wanted to place in the new cupboard and slowly moved them to the dining room table. One has to work one's plan to accomplish success.
I measured the area of each shelf off on the table and started placing dishes. Bob would glance at the table several times a day, on his way to the porch rocker. After a couple of weeks he asked" what
are "WE" were going to do with all those dishes?. I know everyone has heard the "WE" thingie. Every week or so, he would make a remark about the dishes.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned how nice it would be to have shelves in the coat closet... so my dishes would be easier to reach and use. Bob replied, "That's a good idea, if we ever decide to move the new owner can take them down if they want". GO FIGURE, BUT THE PLAN WORKED!!!
You see after 55 years I know my Sweet Ole Bob well and he knows me. This is our dance and we have the choreography down pat.
You see after 55 years I know my Sweet Ole Bob well and he knows me. This is our dance and we have the choreography down pat.
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| My stash of wood |
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| This was after I had sawn the cleats. I would never attempt to use this equipment with this mess around. |
Well the MDF shelves had been precut at the home improvement store weeks ago. I just needed to paint the closet (midnight one night) screw in some cleats and trim out the front of the shelves.
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| I laid the shelves on this scrap wood to dry. |
All these dishes were in the lower cupboards in my dining room and difficult for me to reach.
This set is a favorite. Homer Laughlin's Dogwood pattern. The flower looks more like Japanese Magnolia to me but it is very pretty and has many beautiful accessories.
This shelf holds another favorite, Blue Danube's Blue Onion. This set is for 12+ and many accessories are stored or display all over the house. The brown drip is a small part of
Canonsburg's Can38. It doesn't show here but the drip is a light green tone and is exceptional. I am slowly getting rid of my other drip ware and replacing it with this.
On the floor, candles of various colors are in the plastic shoe boxes. The black boxes contain the Mikasa Vintage Lace that I won over at Courtney's French Country Cottage. I am currently working on a tablescape with this and then it will go into my china cabinets in the dining room. The brown box contains part of a GIVEAWAY that will begin November first. Be sure to check back for that!
Currently I have votive holders and miscellaneous accessories stored in the door shelves. Of course, my Elvis, Love Me Tender video. Can't part with that.
Do you have an area that can be repurposed to better suit your needs? Tell me if you have converted or up cycled something that makes your life easier.
The top shelf is the original shelf with a rod below. I think I will put a shallow shelf above the top shelf as the closet goes way on up. I can use it for ice buckets and large lightweight items.
Top shelf, right, is a partial set of Taylor Smith Taylor, Reveille I haven't moved the rest yet.
The set on the left is...uh, I forgot but it is TST.
On the second shelf is Taylor Smith Taylor's Lazy Daisy.
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| That's paper plates in the center, top. |
Canonsburg's Can38. It doesn't show here but the drip is a light green tone and is exceptional. I am slowly getting rid of my other drip ware and replacing it with this.
On the floor, candles of various colors are in the plastic shoe boxes. The black boxes contain the Mikasa Vintage Lace that I won over at Courtney's French Country Cottage. I am currently working on a tablescape with this and then it will go into my china cabinets in the dining room. The brown box contains part of a GIVEAWAY that will begin November first. Be sure to check back for that!
Currently I have votive holders and miscellaneous accessories stored in the door shelves. Of course, my Elvis, Love Me Tender video. Can't part with that.
Do you have an area that can be repurposed to better suit your needs? Tell me if you have converted or up cycled something that makes your life easier.
If you are still here, how about a tip for the day?
 |
| My haul from Wednesday. Going back Saturday. |
Buy your spices in small containers
that you can use within six months.
Now thru Saturday, Kroger has their Kroger spices
50% off. Great time to stock up fresh for the holidays.
Check the ads in your area.
I was NOT compensated for this tip. I just know you like a bargain.!
Please join me as I visit these gracious hostesses:
Feathered Nest Friday
Flaunt It Friday
Home Sweet Home
Show And Tell Friday
Thrifty Things Friday
Inspiration Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Show Me What You Got
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesdays At Our Home
Flaunt It Friday
Home Sweet Home
Show And Tell Friday
Thrifty Things Friday
Inspiration Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Show Me What You Got
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesdays At Our Home
40 comments:
I love your new closet and I love your dishes they are so beautiful, the blue and white ones are so charming, love having the dishes so you can use more often instead of put so far away you just won't use...thanks it was a great post..
I love what you have done with the coat closet. How perfect for your lovely china. I am going to start using my linen closet for dishes so I can get some of the plates out of the boxes they are stored in. I built the shelving for my pantry to have some extra storage a couple of years ago (a pantry without shelves is kind of useless). It's been a blessing to have a little more space for the kitchen goods. Have a great evening... Candy
I have two coat closets in the entry hall. The bigger one I have two shelves that have 4 each in each one. But they are plastic and I want to put wooden shelves in as I know I can get more dishes in there. I am always afraid that the plastic shelves will break.
What a great idea and you are so handy. You really know how to get your point across and make your husband think it was his. Love it.
Have a great weekend.
Mary
Hi Ginger , What a wonderful idea to convert the coat closet into a China closet and it was a very unique way to make your dear husband think it wa his idea .I love your beautiful china and it's at handsreach , thanks for sharing :)
In our small house in Florida we don't have a coat closet! If we did I would do that in a heart beat! I love your dance! Being married nearly 45 years now, I get it!
Cool way to get your point across! Like you said, we have our own dance and he's leading! (At least I let him think he is!!) Love the closet for dish storage. Vicki in Louisville, KY
You can never have too much storage! We keep our coats in our bedroom closet, and when guests visit they lay theirs (and purses) across the guest bedroom bed...who needs a coat closet when they can use the space to store dishes! Good for you...
Blessings,
Cindy
LOL- YOU are SO smart! That is really a great idea, Ginger. We certainly need our coat closets here! I drove through snow flurries today- UGH- I am NOT ready for this- xo Diana
Great use of space, Ginger!
Loved your story about how you and Bob "dance". When we moved into this house, the previous owners had built a coat closet into the entry space, making the entry small and unwelcoming. For years, I wanted to have it torn out, but Hubby thought we needed a coat closet..NOT this far South. All it did was collect junk, so when we had some remodeling done, I had it removed. It only took me 15 years. LOL Your closet is perfect for dish storage. Good for you getting it done.
I am all about a dish closet! Mine is in my spare bedroom right now. I do need to downsize some but I will always love dishes!
I KNEW there was a reason (other than to be closer to you, sweetie pie!) that we needed to live in Savannah! NO coats and MORE dish space!!!! What a great use of space!!! Of course, Kansas City is just about as cold as it gets in the U.S., so our coat closet is stuffed with about a dozen or so of OUR coats. No space for those of visitors! There's have to go upstairs, carefully laid side by side on the beds. (NEVER on top of each other...especially furs!) My furs have a special closet all their own. If I just get rid of them, I could have more dish space! :-)
Your ploy was super clever, and I commend and applaud you! I'm going to use that on Ramon and see what comes of it. I want new flooring on the main level. I'll figure out a way to utilize your plan for that!
Great tip on the spices! I have actually started making up my own mixes like chili mix and taco mix and the like. I'm going to try to perfect meat loaf mix next. I cut the sodium content WAY down for us. So....I can still buy the ginormous containers of spices at Costco, but then divide them up into several different mixes that will get used up within a couple of months!
Have a wonderful weekend, Ginger!!!
I LOVE the way you think!! We don't really need coat closets in Birmingham either, mine is full of junk, you have given me a terrific new project!! Thanks so much!!
Jenna
One of my coat closets contains cleaning implements, vacuum, steam cleaner, etc., and the other holds Christmas decorations and my Christmas dishes. So, they are not used for coats either! Glad you could entice Bob to do your bidding! You go, girl!!
Great idea, Ginger! I'm glad you got your way!
What a charming and inspiring story, Ginger. I can't tell you at the moment why it brought tears to my eyes...Lovely dishes, and of course your closet has that Ginger touch.
Thank you so much for sharing...
I love your dish closet - who needs a coat closet here in Georgia?
And thanks for the info on Kroger spices - I will head there tomorrow.
sandie
Love it... My coat closet is my Christmas closet... and whatever else may find it's way in there...
hugs, Cherry
Miss Ginger I wanted to let you know that the reason I didn't sign up for your emails is because I follow you through BlogLovin.. hugs, Cherry
Dearest Ginger,
Haha, for Savannah weather you got an argument that's VERY valid but for us, we keep our coat closet. It is full of winter coats that we only need if we travel to the north or to Europe...
You converted it very well.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wonderful idea! Love the storage...
WOO HOO Granny! I am all over this project-as soon as I work MY MAGIC on the hubby! Thanks fore this great idea!
Hey Ginger, good use of space. I really need a couple of those door hanging shelves - almost doubles your space!
Smart to turn little used space into something functional!! Unfortunately we need our coat closet here!
Susan
Great project redo Ginger! I have just finished reorganizing/decluttering and purging a large closet. It is now filled with crafting items, sewing items, all my tablecloths, placemats, napkins, runners, napkin rings and tablescaping doodads. It feels great to have this area all organized and easy to get to things. Thank you for sharing this with us at TTF. I featured this post at the TTG FB page today. I hope you will swing by and like the page! https://www.facebook.com/thethriftygroove
I love you and hubbys "Dance" That is so sweet! Here in Florida no one has a coat closet, we do have coats though! We just keep them in our clothes closets...It works! I think your closet is perfect, how great to see and use all of your dishes!
Carol
That's such a great idea, Ginger! My extra dishes are all stored in lower cabinets too and get harder and harder for me to get down to very year. lol For some reason our house has two coat closets. One we use for coats, but the other is located in the kitchen (right off of the garage) and I converted it into a place to hold all of my small appliances. I'm going to miss it when we downsize one day!
What an amazing idea! I would love if you stop by and link up this wonderful post to my party which is live now! Hope to see you there! http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/ Hugs, Maria
I love it!
Just like Phoenix in regards to coats. My husband often has to buy a coat, because he leaves for business and he forgets that he needs one everywhere else.
Your new closet dear lady is perfect, I too love a closet where my dishes can live instead of any stupid coat, lol! You have such lovely china, which deserved a nice home and I spotted some gorgeous ones in blue and white too! You are smart making Bob think HE HAD the fab idea too, hehehe... Actually, this is the way I got the dishes from Alejandro, reminding him how he loves England because he lived there..(chukles) Thank you for dropping by while I was away sweet lady, you made me smile as soon as I saw you roaming around my house!
Big hugs,
FABBY
Oh my goodness, this is such a fabulous idea nd all of your dishes are so fabulous. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
What a beautiful collection you have and the closet is perfect for dish storage. One can never have enough storage. xo Linda
We have a dish closet ended up being a boy closet. Someday when they are gone it will finally hold dishes.
Sherry
that is a great dish closet! looks wonderful and so organized. thanks for stopping by my blog
Love your new dish closet, it is just perfect. Gorgeous china you have, it deserves it's own space! Great joB!
Hugs,
Patti
I've always said that timing is everything with men, and you've proven it, Ginger! Smart woman you are! And handy, too! First the washer and now shelving! Good for you! And of course, it's great use of the space! When we downsized and I was wondering where I was going to put things (besides the basement) my mother opened a door and said, "What's in here?" It was a deep closet I'd forgotten about! LOL. We had a cabinet installed above the shelves and it houses some of my crystal perfectly! What a find, right here in our house! Can't wait to see the table with "Courtney's" dishes--you know how much I wanted to win that giveaway!! :) It was nice to see some of you dishes too! ~Zuni
Hi lovely lady.
I hope you and Bob are doing well. I just put a new Tablescape on for Veterans Day. Maybe you can come see.
xxoo
Diane
Your closet looks wonderful Ginger! I think all homes should have closets just for dishes. It would make life so much easier :)
Glad you have managed to find a space. Lovely dishes.
Hi Ginger!
Just popping by to make sure all is well with you and yours:)
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