This built in desk has become an obsession! I need ideas.

last year

last modified: last year

I know this is not the best picture, I need to really straighen up the rest of my kitchen for a full on photo.

Ignore everything you see on the built in desk side. I want to transform it into something completely different. Also, please ignore the mess!

I have been searching for ideas for ages. I do not want to have so many things on each shelf. I want some simplicity. I considered adding a curtain with a top and bottom tension rod. Not sure where it would start or end. I also was thinking of painting or adding wood to the white shleves fronts.

I think it would look really great as a bar or a coffee station. I would maybe put a crutain along the borrom part of the desk. Something simple.

I am totally lost. I am up for doing anything. I can paint, use peel and stick wall papaer. I wish I could just tear out the shelves and add some cool brass and glass or wood shelves that extended to the counter.

I am wide open for ideas!

Any suggestion are very welcomed.

Just for an idea. I know this is not what I would want exactly, but just an idea for inspiration.

Featured Answer

3katz4me

last year

Wow - that looks great - you are so talented.

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Comments (76)

acm
last year
I was wondering if the space below the desk were large enough for a beverage fridge, whether for wine and beer or for coffee creamer...?
amykath thanked acm
amykath
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
acm, it might be, but I really do not need one and do not feel like buying another expensive item.

Maybe I should make it my little appliance hub. I have the space and could clear my main counters. My coffee pot is tiny. It is a five cup type.

I could add all of the things I need in a basket on the counter (bread, coffee and whatever else.

Then on the next shelf add mug a coffee canister and maybe some other items.

I am not sure why this so difficult. I want it to be useful. If not, I just want to cover it. I have enough basdets and other decorative items already on the top of my cabinets. I thinkt that is the problem. Part of me just wants to put a long curtain in front of the entire thing!

This is in now way the final product. I am just playing with the things i have.

Top of cabs. Yes the crock pot will be moving.

Attempting to arrange my nook.
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amykath
Original Author
last year
My other imagee did not attach.
Kendrah
last year
last modified: last year
I think your best idea yet is to just cover it. Put a tension rod at the top, find fabric you love, and add weights at the bottom. Use it as a pantry and storage for small appliances. Your fabric will become another decorative items and covering this area will allow your fantastic hutch to be the star of this end of your kitchen. Bonus that you get to declutter while reducing visual clutter.

Quite frankly, I've never understood all of these beverage stations. I've always done fine making tea and coffee on the kitchen counter and storing my cream in the fridge. I think the kitchen appliance industrial complex pulled one over on us when they started making stations for everything.
amykath thanked Kendrah
amykath
Original Author
last year
@Kendrah, would sugges covering it with a curtain from top to the very bottom (to the floor)?

What color or design of a curtain would you suggest? It was my initial thought as I am just not able to think of much else to do with it.
colduphere
last year
i love coffee and if I had the space and adequate storage otherwise, I would love to have a coffee bar / station! Its an opportunity to marry form with function. I would display my pretty pottery mugs, some favourite decor items and have room for my mildly fancy coffee maker. It would make me smile every time I used it.
amykath thanked colduphere
Kelly Jones
last year
last modified: last year
Playing around with your shelves...
amykath thanked Kelly Jones
Jilly
last year
last modified: last year
Amy, I don’t think a full length curtain would look good — I think it would look like a closet with no door was there. It just wouldn’t make sense.

Your shelves are nice and you’re very talented at accessorizing, just play around with it. I like how you did it in the last picture. :)
amykath thanked Jilly
Kendrah
last year
@Jilly is right. It would look like a closet with a curtain instead of a door, which in fact, it would be. I had a space like this in a large room in our house that I used a tension rod and long curtains on. It was so fantastic to expand storage and stash stuff there. I placed my rod all the way up at the ceiling and clipped fabric in nice pleats using curtain ring clips because I'm too lazy to sew.

I'm not sure what your style and preference is so it's hard to recommend a fabric to you. But, I have saved loads of money in the past making very large curtain panels from painter's drop cloths. Here is a door alternative with a drop cloth. https://sincerelymariedesigns.com/closet-door-alternative-easy-drop-cloth-curtains/

I've also found inexpensive yardage for large door like panels from on sale large long table cloths, new and still in the package Pottery Barn king sheet on EBay, and an incredible kind sized bargain bin duvet at PB. You can look on Spoonflower too.
amykath thanked Kendrah
arcy_gw
last year
Coffee/beverage bar all the way. Bet a wine fridge would fit where the chair is. I understand the curtain to hide ugly--but there's no ugly here so WHY??!!
amykath thanked arcy_gw
Sueb20
last year
If you have the need for storage (small appliances like crock pot that you don’t use every day, etc) then I think a full curtain is a good idea. Otherwise, I like the coffee station idea.

I like where you’re going in the last pic, but the top shelf still seems not quite right to me. I would love to see you cut that space in half horizontally with maybe art at the top with something under it. Please enjoy my beautiful ipad rendering of a floral print with two square baskets or boxes under it.

Also, if I’m being picky, the big basket is dwarfing the coffee maker … I would want a bigger coffee maker and smaller basket, but another option could be a cute rectangular tray to corral the coffee maker, bottles, and coffee, and use the big round basket elsewhere.
amykath thanked Sueb20
cran
last year
if you have any type of collection these shelves would be a great place to display it, for me it would be blue and white dishes, good looking casserole dishes or cookbooks. Homegoods and other stores are filled with all kinds of BIg baskets i would get a great looking basket and tuck it under the bottom shelf it would be a perfect place for recycling items, extra rolls of paper towels or even if you take off your shoes when you come in the door. i know you’ll find just the right look for that spot .

Cran
amykath thanked cran
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I ahve no idea without seeing the whole space . That pic makes it look like it is in a corner and not really accessible .
amykath
Original Author
last year
Cold, cran and Sue, I wish I had a collection of things. SInce my divorce I have almost nothing. I just left so much behind bc at the time I was not in any mood to go and pick what I wanted. I knew I was moving into a small apartment and I was already overwhelmed with how much stuff I wanted to bring into the small space.

I could collect some things over time. I guess it would look weird to just throw up a curtain. It is not like I have a dorr with molding to make it look like what Kendrah suggested.

Thanks for the mock up Sue! That helps a lot.

Jilly and arcy, thanks for the nice comments.

I am just going to have to think on it. I still have not even hung up my curtains in the living room! So sad, as I have everything i need.

Also, I have the sconces for either side of my living room desk and have not hung those either.

I need to start completing some things!

Thanks so much to all of you, again! I really appreciate your suggestions, thoughts and time.
Jilly
last year
We need a get-together at your apt. We’ll all come to your place and have a “Git er dun” party. How fun would that be?! After working all day, we’ll terrorize San Antonio. 😁
amykath thanked Jilly
Sueb20
last year
I'm in!
amykath thanked Sueb20
amykath
Original Author
last year
Yesterday, the maintenance man that is my usual guy that fixes everything came by to check on my AC. I have known him for several years now and he has been to my apartment many times. He always fixes other things while he is here.

Yesterday, I asked if I could have him do some random handyman kind of stuff. He said it would not be a problem. I told him I would def pay him. He shrugged at that. However, I insisted as it went far beyond the scope of his job. I got his number and am going to have him do these little tasks for me. He lives in the building so that will make him easily accessable.

I was pretty excited to have a good contact like that!
Jilly
last year
Ohhh, perfect!

Can we still come down and party in SA, though?
amykath
Original Author
last year
You bet, Jilly!!!
amykath
Original Author
last year
I did a not so great mock up, I know it is jnot ideal, but still helps me in seeing some various ideas. I know the cutting boards are not the right shpae, size. Just wanted a visual. I would not do the ones in this mock up. It was all I could find to just place into the mock up on the fly!
Jilly
last year
I think that looks so charming, and sort of separates the area without blocking it all off.
amykath thanked Jilly
lisalane
last year
Maybe get you handyman to put up a piece of drywall or wood that completely blocks the shelves - from the desk top to the ceiling or to the height of your cabinets. You could still have your stools and a bit of desk top granite showing in the recessed area. New wall could be a blackboard or just left plain. Would show off your hutch and simplify that corner.
amykath thanked lisalane
chickadee2_gw
last year
last modified: last year
Have you looked at Japanese Noren curtains? Some of them are pretty cool and they’re so inexpensiv you could change them with your mood.
amykath thanked chickadee2_gw
amykath
Original Author
last year
Another thought. Also I am going to be adding curtains behind the glass of my hutch. I do not want to display anything.
Allison0704
last year
last modified: last year
Great hutch! If you don't need more storage (behind a curtain), what about an oversized round woven piece to hang as art and add texture, then ignore the top shelf. The cutting boards are visually heavy.

These are flatter than they appear in the photo due to shadows.

ETA: Just scrolled up and saw your post with the round piece, which looks woven. ??? Instead of putting on shelf, you could hang.
amykath thanked Allison0704
amykath
Original Author
last year
Thanks Alison. Where would I find the 3 piece woven basket hanging? That is really cute!!
Kelly Jones
last year
Amykath, did you notice the mockup I showed shows your basket hanging on the wall?
amykath thanked Kelly Jones
sc_irish
last year
If you are serious about putting fabric behind the glass in your hutch, I would think using fabric in the "desk area" might become too much. Since you don't want to "display" things, what about having the handyman install a roll-up woven wood 'shade'? I can't remember what you have on your living room windows.....only remember that sun beams in during summer and that issue is one to be addressed down the road. Maybe woven wood on those windows (roll up?) might co-ordinate with the desk area?
amykath
Original Author
last year
Kelly, yes! Did I not thank you? I am so sorry. It looks lovely like that.

I can hange the round bowl wicker thing but it is deep. I imagine I could figure out a way.

sc irish, I have considered that as an option as well. Thanks for the ideas!

BTW, I am finally getting a new AC. I had to tooth and nail to get the property mgmt company to do it...and finally they gave in!! YAY!
Allison0704
last year
I did a Google Lens search (had no idea this even existed until today!). Various price points. I know nothing about this website, but it has the best variaty of sizes and designs.

AMSHA Studio
amykath
Original Author
last year
@Allison0704, thanks so much for doiing that. I have to check out this lens search myself! Those are gorgeous!!!
thinkdesignlive
last year
I’d suggest raising the existing counter to be at counter height. Then do full depth shelves below it and use wicker baskets (for a cleaner look).
amykath thanked thinkdesignlive
amykath
Original Author
last year
Think, I rent. Not possible for me to do that. Thanks for the idea, though!
Olychick
last year
last modified: last year
I have only skimmed this thread, so apologies if I'm not on track here. I think your shelving already looks like an "after" and better than some of the inspiration pics. I get wanting a change and your eye seeing things differently than the photos.

Your inspiration brings in brass, which would add a lot to changing the look. What about looking into some kind of brass sheeting that could be used to face the front of the shelves or even the whole shelves?

Since you don't like the large expanse above the upper shelf, what about looking for some kind of brass/glass shelving to sit up there. Or a tiered brass pastry unit (someone here posted about theirs long ago). Or a multi armed brass display of some kind or a brass wine rack. Not a great place to store wine, but it could be partially filled with cheap wine just for the visual.

I once wanted to display my copper pot collection but couldn't really afford a brass hanging rack. I mounted a brass curtain rod and got brass hooks to hang the pots. It worked and looked great at about 1/10 the cost.

Above is called brass shim stock $22

I wouldn't do just one of these things but add more than one brass thing...but if you can make the shelves look brass, these might be good accents on the upper shelf or elsewhere.
amykath thanked Olychick
amykath
Original Author
last year
Lovely ideas and thank you! They give me a lot to think about!!!

When one becomes obsessed with something it can take over. Ugh, 1st world problems. I feel ashamed!
Jilly
last year
Amy, don’t feel ashamed! There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make things around us pretty. We’re all here because we care about these sorts of things … doesn’t mean we aren’t dealing with other issues behind the scenes.

You’ve had some rough times in the past few years; I love seeing you get back into your love and talents of decorating. ❤️

I know it’s going to turn out great! It already looks great, even before you do anything. :)
amykath thanked Jilly
amykath
Original Author
last year
I now need to do a search for the piping. Maybe I could add it in between my shelves and add an extra one so that the top is not so tall and difficult to decoratate!
amykath
Original Author
last year
This might just have to be it. The only thing I added was a larger coffee maker. I will keep my eyes out for other nice Coffee canisters etc. I think I will live with this for a bit.

I have much much else i need to do.

Thanks to everyone and I am sorry for all of my silly little changes and questions.

Thanks to you all! I will keep you posted on anyhthing and everything as I get to the rest of my place!!

You are all the BEST!!!

Amy
colduphere
last year
I think it’s lovely! I like thats it’s interesting but not too cluttered and there’s lots of texture. i would love this in my home!
amykath thanked colduphere
Allison0704
last year
Looks great!
amykath thanked Allison0704
Eileen
last year
last modified: last year
You did good, Amy! Don't feel embarrassed--we love this stuff!

You could get an air-tight canister for your coffee. Also A-zon has some decorative lidded jars for that style of coffee filter.
amykath thanked Eileen
Jilly
last year
It looks wonderful!
amykath thanked Jilly
amykath
Original Author
last year
Thanks Cold, Allison and Eileen. I will slowly get some items over time to make it look a bit better.

Thanks Jilly! You are a sweetheart!!
mtnrdredux_gw
last year
Nice job. It looked nice before, but this is more streamlined and au courant.
amykath thanked mtnrdredux_gw
CNH 320
last year
I think it looks great and functional!
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jojoco
last year
It is perfect! Great job!
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Kelly Jones
last year
Nice! The changes you made have turned this into a inviting & functional space!

If you like tea, you could also add that &/or a live herb for the aroma and also to add to the tea. Onward you go girl;)
amykath thanked Kelly Jones
lizbeth-gardener
last year
Well done! Looks great!
amykath thanked lizbeth-gardener
nicole___
last year
Your apartment looks very up scale. A little brass shelving bling is cool! You have GREAT ideas.
amykath thanked nicole___