How To: A Kitchen Pegboard Wall Organizer

As I promised a couple of weeks ago, here is a fairly-easy DIY (and very inexpensive) that can save you at least one cabinet's worth of space. For tiny kitchens, like mine - our pan and utensil organizer is a lifesaver. It can also look good and blend into your existing kitchen aesthetic with a couple of coats of paint.

The pegboard - finished!
(I apologize for the weird look of the photos - our camera is on the fritz)

We simply didn't have enough cabinet space to hold all of our pots and pans, and our kitchen only had one very small drawer in it. We purchased a baker's cart, (our's is from Ikea), which definitely helped the situation, but we still needed more storage options if we wanted easy access and organization of our most commonly used kitchen wares. I thought pegboard would be the perfect solution (Julia Child made the idea famous), and figured above the baker's rack would be the perfect spot.

First, I wanted to see how other people had implemented a pegboard into their kitchen so I could get some tips and words of wisdom.

The below proved to be valuable resources:
• Apartment Therapy "How To: Make a Pegboard Wall Organizer"
• DIY Network "How to Install a Pegboard" (gives thorough directions on how to measure, frame, and install the board).

The Price break-down:
• Pegboard: $17.48 (We also had it cut to size - most home improvement stores provide this service
• Framing wood: Scraps leftover from a previous project
• 32 piece assorted pegboard hooks: $3.87
• Tool rack: $2.97 (See where I used it for holding measuring cups)
• Anchors: $1.98
• Screws: $1.18
• Paint: (Leftover high gloss and flat paint (I mixed them to create a finish more durable than flat, but less shiny than gloss) from when I painted the kitchen.

Also note, we did this without a drill, but it is definitely easier to use a drill than drive the screws by hand.

We started out with 2 pieces of wood to "frame" the pegboard, and a piece of white pegboard cut to the desired size. The purpose of putting the "frame" behind the pegboard is to create enough space between the wall and the pegboard to insert the various hooks. I painted the wood and the pegboard with leftover paint from when I painted the kitchen. I wanted the pegboard to blend in with the wall.

From this side angle you can see how the frame creates enough space between the wall and the pegboard.

Chris has much more patience with measuring and prep work, and is better with math, so he did the measuring to attach the frame to the pegboard. We chose to attach the frame to the pegboard, than mount it to the wall, but it might be easier to mount the frame to the wall, and then mount the pegboard to the frame.

Chris also carefully measured where to put in anchor screws so the screws in the frame would line up.

Then tighten the screws into the anchors!

Now comes the fun part - getting to arrange pots, pans, and other utensils on the pegboard!

A variety of hooks

My package of hook assortments also came with hook locks - the black piece you see over the hook, which I didn't know about, but they are great at keeping the hook from falling out when you take a pan down.

I was lucky that the bottom of our baker's cart's shelves were slatted, and our pot and pan lids fit perfectly in them!

The magnetic knife strip I actually found on the curb in someone's giveaway pile.  I simply purchased screws long enough to go through the knife strip, pegboard, height of the frame, and then into the wall - and now have easy access to my knives.

What do you think?  Would you ever consider a pegboard organizer in your kitchen?  Do you currently have one?

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Pale and Interesting - a home with calm and simplicity

There's nothing like moving to a smaller dwelling (which I recently did), to encourage one to purge excess stuff from the home. These photos give a taste of how serene it is to ditch the stuff and go minimalist, but with a rustic twist.

I love worn leather club chairs

that dresser is gorgeous - it definitely doesn't need accessorizing. Same with the chair.

*love that chair - a piece of art in itself

What do you think?  Do you purge your home on a regular basis? Every now and then? Never?

via Pale and Interesting

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Cute ideas for small bathroom storage

BHG had a really nice gallery of bathroom storage solutions, and I wanted to share with you my favs. As an apartment dweller my bathrooms have always been small - and you have to find space in them that would go overlooked in a larger bath.

I've always loved the look of "real furniture" in the bathroom


This cart on wheels is a good idea anywhere in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, etc.



I've never noticed these slide out shelves for the inside of cabinets but they're genius!


via Better Homes and Gardens

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Getting your home ready for show - or just for yourself

So, Better Homes and Gardens let me know about some potentially handy idea galleries to help people sell their homes during tough times - and I thought some of their points were worth sharing with you guys. Did I mention they're low-cost?

Corral the landing zones

All that stuff that you usually find plopped down right inside your back door -- everything from shopping bags to hockey sticks to shoes to umbrellas to gardening gloves to backpacks? It all has to be corralled and stored so potential buyers don't get frightened. And if you see a trouble spot, fix it with a built-in storage bench with a cushion, or a row of pegs. In fact, if you deal with all that stuff the right way, buyers will go away thinking your house has built-in clutter control. Have just enough of your day-to-day stuff organized on mudroom pegs and shelves to show that real people live there -- and hide the rest away.

Go for the Odd Number

After you've edited your accessories to the bare bones, show them off the right way. Most interior decorators will tell you that odd-numbered groupings can be very effective. When organizing vignettes of accessories, vary the shape, color, and size and don't line them up. For example: Hang a large landscape above a table where there's a lamp and a plant, or group a collection of candles of three different heights on the mantel. Less really is more. A few well-chosen items -- one pillow on the couch, three well-framed prints on the wall -- show off your good taste without overwhelming the potential buyer.

Enhance with Woodwork

Architectural woodwork not only adds character, it disguises imperfections in old walls. Use simple woodwork, such as beaded-board paneling and corner rosettes, to dress up walls.

New Knobs, Pulls, and Light Fixtures

As with new faucets, these easily installed off-the-shelf items boost style and have a big impact with relatively little cost and time.

Edit your bookcases

As lovely as bookcases are -- especially if they're architecturally attractive and built in -- they're a turnoff if they're too stuffed with books or a catch-all for clutter. Edit your bookshelves so that they feel just a little bit empty. Stack books in interesting patterns and accessorize lightly.


Here are the galleries so you can see all the ideas:

Low Cost Updates That Add Value: Shows photos of cost-cutting tips to give your home character without exceeding your remodeling budget.

Remodeling Projects that Pay Off. Provides photos of remodeling projects that are almost guaranteed to increase your home’s value.

Making the Sale Before They Walk in the Door. Demonstrates how to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Staging Tricks from the Pros. Identifies tricks that home-staging professionals use and that you can adopt to sell your home more quickly.

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Spring clearing! What are your plans for your house?

I don't like to say "spring cleaning," because it could scare some people. So lets call it "spring clearing"! The first days of spring are so wonderful because of the freshness it lends the air. We all open the windows and just feel the need to lighten up! Well, I suggest riding that motivated feeling and taking the opportunity to clear out your home to be as fresh as the air!

Over the next couple weeks I will be posting a clear up guide for each room of your home. First I thought I'd open it up by asking you what you'd like to accomplish in your home this spring. I look forward to hear your plans!!


Some inspiration to get you motivate :)










images via Apartment Therapy

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