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Welcome to Made Down South! Thanks for stopping by to see what I'm up to. This blog serves as my review of projects accomplished since I have way too many that are halfway done. I also tend to have so many urgent ideas where I simply have stop all else to work on the newest thing. So, this blog will show all the ideas that actually get made into stuff! Some of that stuff is available for sale at our etsy shop, Down South Designs.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Favorite custom home features

As I prepare to leave our home of 20 years, I have a fond appreciation for all those special touches added by my mister and me.  Here's a few of my favorite things:




During our last kitchen remodel (forced upon us by fallen tree on house during Hurricane Rita), I asked my husband to build me a furniture looking pantry cabinet.  We designed this with lots of fun stuff like slide out shelves custom sized to my grocery items.  Love the toe kick drawer for storing those cookie pans that don't fit anywhere else!  I forgot to take a picture, but that little skinny drawer in the middle is actually a pull out serving shelf.  It's topped with stainless steel and comes in very handy!

The paint finish was accomplished with Old Masters wiping stain over the same cream color Sherwin Williams cabinet paint seen in background.  I just applied heavily on the pantry cabinet.  The small dry erase board mounted inside a door really helped me keep on top of my grocery list!



And, if you've never heard of them, I saw "pot bumper guards" on a home improvement show and had to have them!  Used some more of that great stainless steel of course!  I just bought scraps from the local sheet metal shop and had them cut and bent them to the specific dimensions of my pot drawers.  Just used a little liquid glue to adhere them!



The little feature is soooo very helpful when I am entering or leaving through the garage area with my hands full.  I had standard door knobs everywhere else in the house but decided to go with a lever style door knob at this door to my garage.  It makes such a difference when you're hauling in the babies or the groceries!




My design wall in sewing room/extra bedroom has been so helpful to me as I play with different layouts for my quilts.  I also enjoy hanging up purses or any of my latest craft projects for inspiration when I am in high production mode!  It was an easy DIY project using insulation board and brown flannel fabric.  I wanted my design area 10 feet wide and 8 feet tall so we had to use more than one board.  I simply sewed the flannel sections together and wrapped them around each section securing with duct tape on the back.  Nailed them to the wall and voila!  Since cotton fabric magically sticks to flannel, I usually don't even need to use pins.  But I have a nice little wall pin cushion when I need it.

12 comments:

Kelly @ View Along the Way said...

It's these kind of extra touches that make me never want to move from our home. I love that beautiful pantry of yours, but I bet you'll make the next place look just as good or better!

Our Pinteresting Family said...

I love your pantry cabinet! It makes a big difference I'm sure. I found your blog through The Shabby Creek Cottage's link party. I'm your newest follower. ~ Megan

Amy of While Wearing Heels said...

Nice thinking outside the box. Those custom touches make your home stand out. Beautifully done!

Pieced Pastimes said...

Thanks for visiting and leaving such a nice comment about my inspiration board. You came up with some very clever ideas for your home. The design wall comes in so handy while quilting. I have become your newest follower and look forward to reading your future posts.

Unknown said...

Like your special touches-stop by for a visit as I'm your newest follower!

the decorating chica said...

Must be like losing an old friend! Homes are so much a part of our lives.

Designing Domesticity said...

Wow, leaving a home after that long must be really bittersweet. Best of luck! Thanks for sharing some of your special touches. Liz

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

It's the little details that make all the difference. What a great idea to have a pull out tray and the extra space under the cabinet was sure put to good use. Thanks for sharing and for visiting with me:-)

pantry cabinet said...

Your pantry cabinet looks great!

fromgentogen said...

Your pantry cabinet is amazing...I really like how you lay out your quilt pieces...My sister is making a quilt and I will show this to her....Thanks...Blessings, Becky

Gayle said...

HI Casandra - I just found your blog by following a pin to your Halloween orange & black quilt. Looked around and bit and really enjoyed your blog, but I see you haven't posted for quite awhile. Hope you share more soon - I imagine you got busy with your new house and all . . .

pantry storage cabinet said...

Love your pantry cabinet! It's quite impressive.