Coffee Bar Decor

I've had an idea for some wall decor for my coffee bar area since we first set it all up a few weeks ago (see it here).  I was able to purchase some burlap coffee sacks from our awesome fundraising partner, Just Love Coffee, and finally made a trip to Hobby Lobby to get a canvas.  This project was so super easy - I literally spent more time in the checkout line to buy the canvas than I did actually completing it!  Ok, in full disclosure, this was my brainchild, but my fantabulous hubby did all the work while I wasted time on facebook supervised.

I bought several of the Ethiopian coffee sacks, but this one was my favorite...I like the green lettering and the random red stripe on the left...

We slid the canvas inside (almost a perfect fit), then cut out the middle of the back so we could pull it tight around the edges.  Then it was time for the handy dandy staple gun!

Jon stapled all around the edges and here's what we ended up with...

And here's what it looks like hanging in our kitchen, next to the coffee bar.

 

I love burlap, love coffee, and love Ethiopia.  All 3 at once?  Be still my beating heart!  Know what else?  I spent a total of less than $20!

If you are a fan of great coffee, or if you just want to check out a really amazing business, head over the Just Love Coffee.  The link will take you to our fundraiser, where $5 from every bag purchased goes toward our adoption!

Linking to:  Tatertots & Jello, Whipperberry, Bubbly Nature Creations, Funky Junk Interiors, I Heart Naptime,Craft-O-Maniac, Today's Creative Blog, The 36th Avenue, Thrifty Decorating, A Turtle's Life for Me, House of Hepworths, The Frugal Girls,

Coffee Bar Beginnings

Well, it's far from complete, but I am deeming it "good enough" to show you what it looks like so far.  Sorry in advance for the lighting of all the pictures....here's a picture of my kitchen lights so you can see what I'm working with....

....and I know, I should edit them to make them look better, but you already know the state of my computer.....let's just say I'm not sure it would last through an editing session!

Anyway, back to the coffee bar.  We went to IKEA a few weeks ago, and I passed on a few buffets I liked to save some money and found a table instead.  It works out perfectly!  Here's what it's currently looking like in it's not-yet-finished state.

I love storing things in clear jars.....keeps it fresh and I love the look of it.  On the bottom shelf in the penny-candy jar, I have teabags....

On the top, the jars are filled with coffee (for when I can't find the good deals on K-cups, and so we can keep on buying Just Love Coffee!), mini marshmallows (for the kids' hot chocolate), and sugar cubes (because they are cuter than regular sugar!)...

Still on the to-do list:  a shelf above the table to hold some mugs and maybe a few more jars!  (I would love to have a jar for hot chocolate mix too, but I'm already running out of room!)  And how cute would a little honey pot like this one be?!  And how about a mini-fridge for my creamers??  I kid, I kid!

I'm also needing a Hobby Lobby run for a little project I'm planning.....hint:  Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee :)

I'm really loving this little coffee station so far.  It's given me so much more room on my kitchen counters, and the shelf below gives some storage for some items I don't have room for in my cabinets!

How do you take your coffee?

Linking to:  Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Home Coffee Bar

So yesterday I mentioned that we are now the proud owners of a Keurig!  One drawback is that to have the Keurig and the K-cup carousel sitting out.....it takes up a lot of room on my already-too-small counters.  So I've been toying with the idea of adding a coffee bar in our kitchen.  Of course I headed to Pinterest for inspiration, and when I typed in "home coffee bar," this delightful picture kept coming up, from {the vintage wren}.

Adorable!  We have an entire wall that is empty, so the spot is taken care of, but I need to find the cute buffet/sideboard/whatever you want to call it.  I have checked several places already, but I'm still searching.  It needs to be counter-height, so my toddler doesn't decide to make herself a cup of coffee, and not too deep (16-18 inches would be about perfect, max of about 20").  I contemplated a simple table, but I really would rather have something with more storage, since I'm incredibly lacking in that department!  Oh yeah, I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, since somewhere down the line our kitchen is getting remodeled.  (Somewhere waaaayyyy down the line, that is).

Here's a few pics I've seen online that I'm currently enjoying....

Sorry for the blurriness, but it's cute, right?  Price isn't too bad at $149.99 from JC Penneys.  I like the red, but have you seen my kitchen?  Mostly blue (ick) cabinets, a few cabinets that the paint has been removed, a white island.....I'm not sure that adding one more color is the best option!

I really like this one from Ikea, but at $350, it's more than I really wanted to spend.  On the plus side, it's white and very neutral looking....I'm thinking that once we no longer need it in the kitchen, we can use it somewhere else.

Of course, Pottery Barn has a multitude of drool-worthy buffets, but unless the sideboard-fairy drops one off on my front porch, I won't be getting one of those anytime soon!  Here's a few that I am particularly fond of....

I'm excited to find something I love.....I will probably be off to a few thrift stores this week, but I am hoping to find something SOON so I can reclaim my kitchen counters!  Thankful that I have some Christmas money to play with!  Any ideas?

My Hideous Kitchen

I'll be honest....one of the reasons I like blogging is for the compliments.  There, I said it.  I think it's probably true for most bloggers, if we're being honest.  One of my love languages is definitely "words of affirmation" and I can't lie - when one of my posts gets a comment, or someone likes one of my ideas, it makes me happy!  On the flip side of things, I also love looking at other blogs for inspiration, and I love leaving encouraging comments for others.  But I have to be honest here, too...sometimes a twinge of jealousy can set in - thoughts of, "Wow, she really has it all together," "I wish I had the money to do that," "I wish I had that talent," and especially, "ohhhh I am SO jealous of that kitchen," can abound. 

It's kind of like real life, isn't it?  We present our best selves for the public - get dressed up nice to go grocery shopping, trying to keep up with the latest styles, and of course, when someone asks us how we are doing, are we ever anything other than, "fine?"

Over the past year or so, I have definitely been challenged to be real.  I try to show the real me in my daily life - because no one is perfect, and it is so hard keeping up appearances!  I know that I have been created with a purpose, and that although my talents, gifts, and abilities might differ from the next person's, they are just as important:  "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  - Ephesians 2:10.

You are probably wondering what all this has to do with a hideous kitchen.  Well, here's another confession:  I have a terribly ugly kitchen.  It's small, it's old, it has terrible lighting.  So far in my blog, I've only shown things I am proud of or things I like.....but in thinking about being real, I decided to link up my REAL kitchen to Love Stitched's kitchen linky party! 

So here we go - on to the tour of my hideous kitchen - hope you like blue!

Ok, there have been some improvements.  Here's the view from the kitchen into the hallway when we first moved in about 3 1/2 years ago....

What's that?  You want a close-up of the goose wallpaper?

Honk!

And here it is now....no wallpaper, fresh paint, and new flooring (and the hallway now leads to our brand spankin' new laundry room!)





Here's the view of the kitchen from the hallway pictured above.  I do love the new flooring and refrigerator!


This little waste of space is to the right of the refrigerator.  We never use this door...it's old and definitely not too energy efficient.  When we redo the kitchen, it's coming out!  (Although in the meantime, it's a nice spot to hang aprons and put the dog dishes).



Ahhh....where to begin?  The paint above the cabinets started coming off like crazy when we removed the wallpaper.  Three of the cabinet doors have been stripped, we were planning to paint them all white, but the project stalled when we realized the amount of time and energy it would take to redo all the cabinets that will be coming out eventually anyways.  (We do have plans drawn up for the future, and this whole wall is coming out to make one big kitchen/dining room!)

Here's a close-up of my stunning dishwasher....as in, I'm stunned the thing still works!



An even closer close-up....we just assume that the correct button to push is the one that's been used the most :)


The drawers are definitely sold wood.  Unfortunately, they create this fine sawdusty mess on everything below.  Don't worry, I wash all the stuff before I use it.


Having a somewhat mischevious toddler, you never know what you'll find....


from her spoons with the casserole dishes....

....to some feminine products in the bread drawer!

Here's the reason my lighting is less than wonderful....





The only source of light is from two spotlights on a track!



This is the view of the other side of the room....there used to be an eat-in area there with a few built-in cabinets, but we ripped it out when we put the new flooring in.  I'm sooo glad we did, but it did make me lose a lot of storage space, so I'm hunting for something to put here.  In the meantime, I'm using this cabinet, which will eventually be painted and put in the laundry room!



I feel like my 16 month old might have as much kitchen storage as I do!

One last shot - the view from the dining room.  Did I already mention how I love the new floor?  :)





Now, I definitely don't want this post to be seen as complaining - maybe some of you are thinking "What is she talking about?  It's not that bad!"  I am totally blessed to live in the home I do, to have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, and to live comfortably!  Yep, I'm even blessed to have the kitchen I do!  It may not be up to date, or look nice, or have all new appliances - but I have a kitchen!  It's indoors.  It has running water.  Electricity.  Even a little storage :)



I hope you are inspired by all the beautiful kitchens linked up over at Love Stitched and out there in blogland - I know I can't wait to look at them!  But if you feel that twinge of jealousy, I hope you are inspired by mine too - knowing you don't have to be perfect or have the perfect space!  The real you is just lovely!   

 
PS - There's also a great giveaway going on over at Love Stitched for a really cute "eat" sign from Signs of vintage....go here to check it out!!

PPS - Speaking of Brittany at Love Stitched, she has a great deal going on today over at GroopDealz (one of my FAVORITE bargain sites!)  Her super adorable Chrysanthemum Flower Necklaces are over half off and come in 4 different colors!

And the other deal of the day from Wonderfully Wordy are these cute Menu & Scroll decals....only $3!!