Pinterest Inspired Pantry Remodel

Something about the New Year gets me itchin' to clean out and organize EVERYTHING! I am not an organized person by nature. I want to be, but as a busy mom with 5 kids, the clutter tends to overwhelm our house. Every year it seems my resolutions include organization. I have not kept it a secret that I have a Pintrest obsession... I am convinced that Pinterest is the solution to pretty much any problem I have. It is therapeutic and it gives me hope for my unorganized home! I am constantly starting a conversation with "Guess what I saw on Pinterest today?" It makes Matt cringe and my kids roll their eyes.

So in honor of the New Year, I have been on the hunt for the best organization pins. I have spent many blissful hours over the last couple months finding solutions for clutter, unorganization, and to be honest, just plain ugliness. One thing I saw over and over was the use of glass jars with chalkboard labels in the pantry.

PINspired by this idea, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought several sizes of jars with metal lids and self adhesive chalkboard paper. (Hobby Lobby often runs a 50% off glassware sale- so the jars are very affordable! I have made it a habit to grab a few every time I go so I can gradually build up my stash.)

When I got home I went to work and cut out several cute labels and started organizing some food into my new fun jars. Excited I placed my new jars in my old pantry- and was disappointed that my pantry didn't instantly look like all the pins I kept finding.


This is a snapshot from the doorway of my 100 year old farmhouse pantry:

Chaos. Unorganization. This pantry does not scream to me to "cook something"... instead it makes me happy that I can just close the door and not look at it anymore.

Lucky for me Pinterest has a solution for this!

(and I have found hundreds of drool worthy examples- you can check them out here)

I completely emptied the pantry and got to work. I painted all the wooden shelving black. The shelving is old and rickety and since we are not planning on replacing the wood anytime soon, I decided a good coat of black paint would camouflage the flaws and give the pantry an instant face lift.

I had found a roll of pretty textured wallpaper on the top shelf of a closet when we first moved in, and I have been saving it for a special project. I decided to wallpaper the walls behind the shelf.

Matt and I spent a weekend working on this project, and I LOVE the results!

Here are pictures of the new pantry:

here is a closeup of the wallpaper:

I know the flash put a glare on it, but you can see the pretty detail! I love it!

See the shelf at the top with the notches? I *think* that is for drying herbs? If anyone knows, please tell me.

Now that the pantry is finished (minus the new wood floor we will be putting in sometime this year) I am taking the opportunity to go through all the food that was in the pantry and to clean out and organize it.


Here is the final project: My Pinterest Inspired Dream Pantry!!!

There are still several things that I would like to end up in jars, but I will continue to grab a few every time I go to Hobby Lobby until I have enough.

Everyone that has seen it is very impressed, especially me! I love my new farmhouse pantry! :)

Tribute to The General

Sad news at the Funny Farm- our beloved flock king, General Tso passed away the other day. It was unexpected and very sad. I don't know how old he was, but he was in the first group of chickens we brought to the farm 2 years ago and he was already full grown. Simon went into the Barn to do evening barn chores and found him already dead. There were no signs of illness or injury.

 "The General" was everything we wanted in a flock protector: he was unselfish, alert and always looking out for his harem. The whole family loved and respected him because of his amazing work ethic. There is now a huge hole in the flock hierarchy and I am not sure that any of the younger roosters could ever replace The General.

I am sure his original "wives": Road Runner, Annie Banany & Ditzy are very sad without him. They were always close by. I loved his crow- even though a lot of people find rooster crowing to be a disturbance, I always loved hearing him. Wherever I was in the house or around the farm, when The General would crow it would bring a smile to my face!!

Occasionally we would catch him and cuddle him, and even though he would put up a half-hearted struggle, he didn't seem to mind our affection!!

We are really going to miss him. I have thought of him several times in the last few days and I just keep wondering what will happen in the flock without him? We have had many roosters come and go over the last couple years, but none of them were even close to The General's quality or leadership. The farm has lost an amazing member and we won't forget him.