The Pot Rack

I have been wanting a pot rack in my kitchen ever since we got married and we received some very nice All-Clad pots and pans as wedding gifts.  I hated keeping them all cooped up in the cabinets where I couldn't grab them very easily or just stand there and look at them if I liked.

So this year Richard got me a book shelf pot rack from Amazon and Dad was generous enough to spend a third day over at our house offering his tools and overall handiness.

Here's the wall before they started:

After finding the studs and making sure everything was level, in went the screws and bolts.

Since I wasn't home when they work was completed Richard thought he would come up with a secondary use for the new rack.

But when I got home I found homes for most of my pans and lids.  Aren't they just gorgeous????

My Closet by Mom, Dad, and Richard (and the Container Store)

So this weekend we penciled in plans to finally tackle the closet that exploded on me one fateful day this summer.  Well, that's what happens when you have way too many clothes (many of which really need to be given to Good Will) on a single 124-inch rod.

So here's the project as it started yesterday and was completed this afternoon.  First, this is where it all began: The closet rod bowed in the middle and protruding out.  The shelf on top was also full at the time of the explosion, and it all tumbled out on top of me.

Here's a close-up of the bent closet rod and top shelf tipping over.

Yesterday dad and I took out the closet parts while Richard was in Accounting class.  I do believe Richard really would have rather been here working on the closet instead of in class.  He's not loving accounting....

The wood supports have been removed and Dad patched all the holes.

Now, isn't that a nice white wall?  The closet took almost an entire gallon of paint.  The walls and ceiling are very spongy!

Richard joined the fun this morning while Mom and I took out all the stuff in my kitchen cabinets and rearranged my gadgets, pots, and pans.  The folks at the Container Store insisted the closet system was a complete cinch to install.  For the most part it was uneventful, but I wouldn't say that a caveman could do it. (But perhaps two cavemen could do it?)

Once they figured out the spacing of the components it was time to follow the plan and install the shelves and bars.

There's a shelf that extends all the way across the top, which will be great for storing those less-used items.  I'm thinking my sewing kit?  Cleaning supplies?  Exercise accessories?

For the first time I'll have lots of shelves to keep my stuff organized.  The Elfa shelves work a lot like library shelves.

Scout supervised.  She was very happy to find that we couldn't reach the high top shelves to install this little shelf cover.  She thought it made a much better cat toy.

Here are the shelves installed:

Both the left and right sections are set up with an additional shelf and a section for long-hang clothes.

Again, Scout supervises from the top of the tall dresser.  Yes, Jeph Remley, that is in fact the tortured Barbie trophy Richard won at  your costume party last Halloween.  It does hold a place of honor in our house!  (Until Scout decides she doesn't like the way she's looking at her!)

After enduring accounting class yesterday, and installing a closet system today, Richard was quite tuckered.

So while Richard slept I took some direction from Scout and started putting my closet back together again.  Monkey stopped in to make sure there was plenty of clearance under the clothes.

Up next: A trip to Good Will and then SHOPPING!  And tomorrow Dad comes back to help Richard install his 40th birthday gift to me, my hanging pot rack in the kitchen.  Isn't 40 the year of organization?