What do Ikea and milkglass have in common?

They're both lightening up my kitchen!

Huzzah! I'm so glad this came out as well as it did in my head (b/c you know sometimes that just does not happen!)  Happily, this had already been my plan before the May issue of Country Living came out, this just solidified that it was a wise decision.

Initially i had thought this would be more storage than display (attempting to free up some cabinet space here) but the boyfriend said he didn't trust the heavy bowls and other items i was planning on putting there. 

So instead i took all my whites from my dining room closet, made more room in there, and lightened and brightened all up in here.   It's the perfect modern yet classic improvement.

Yep, there's a lot of tweaking and adding to this display.  I just can't stop buying more whites!  If we de-soffit, i want to add some up above the cabinets, so you see, it's very necessary and completely justified that i continue down this path.  (Hope S is buying this...)

The order of the day was de-theme, de-coffee, but not rid completely.

Don't you just love all the ridgey, bumpy, hobnaily goodness??

This au-natural shot is for perspective.  I sit on the right hand side there, and being 5'3 means nothing hits me in the head.  The boyfriend, at 6'3, would probably be a little less comfortable there. 

In addition to the theme of de-theme, the mission was also to sleekify. 

Sleekify one.

Sleekify two. 

Can you believe for four years, all that was on this wall was that coffee poster?  Talk about wasted space!

Yowza.

Themey ruffley before.  Yes, those are coffee mugs in greens.  In my defense (because i feel one is necessary) there weren't many light colored curtain options and this is one hella dark space. 

Prettiness.  Brightness.  Sleekness. 

And also, sneakiness.  Cats on tables.  Not allowed.

The less dreamy side of things. 

Materials:

2 Enje roller blinds in white

4 Ekby Mossby (7.5 as opposed to 11 deep) shelves and 2 bjarnum connecting brackets-this was better on the budget and was more customizable for the room. 

2 sets of bjarnum end brackets found in clearance section, which inspired the whole project.

Operation make-do until realistic dream kitchen?  Success!  I really think it's the littlest project with the biggest outcome we've done in quite a while.  Whadya think?

Find me here: copycat party @ debbie doos, before and after party, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, mod mix monday,  Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter,  DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z,  Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, furniture fri @ miss mustard seed, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing