• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

January 13, 2014

Appliance Garage Turned Coffee Station

This story all begins with a Keurig…well…actually, I think it goes back further than that.

Back to a day in 2008 when we were touring a house in a neighborhood we loved. One we had driven through countless times and had always said, “wouldn’t this be a great place to live?” We had been looking at houses for what seemed like forever and had almost reached the point of giving up. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for us to move after all.

Coffee Station from atthepicketfence.com

And then we got a phone call from our realtor telling us about a house that had just come up for sale that she thought would be PERFECT for us. It was a unique situation. The previous owner had fallen on hard times and would have lost her home had it not been for a friend (who happened to be a broker) purchasing it.  It had sat empty for awhile before finally going on the market.

She told us we shouldn’t wait. We needed to tour it ASAP! So, I bundled up my then 4 year old son and not quite 1  year old daughter and we high-tailed it over to this so-called PERFECT house. It was getting late in the evening and the electricity had been turned off so we did much of the tour by twilight.

But, the moment I walked into the kitchen I felt like a light-bulb went on.

It had 20+ year old appliances, wood floors badly in need of refinishing, granite tile pieces missing and cabinet doors hanging off of their hinges. The view out the windows was obscured by the overgrown blackberry bushes and I was pretty sure I saw a tree growing through the boards of the deck.

But to me, it was PERFECT.

I could just see myself in there cooking away, kids sitting up on stools at the counter or running through as they chased each other around the perfect loop that was created by the layout of the house. It had loads of cabinet space, a wonderful pantry and more drawers than I had things to put in them.

Then, as we prepared to move on to the next room I glanced back at the kitchen and saw it…slatted wood underneath one set of upper cabinets with what looked like a little handle.

How to turn an appliance garage into a coffee station from atthepicketfence.com

It was an appliance garage. At least that’s what we assumed it was because the door was stuck and we couldn’t open it.

But a few weeks later, after the house finally became our home, my husband and father-in-law quickly set to work getting that teeny-tiny garage door un-stuck.

Kitchen appliance garage atthepicketfence.com

I loved having this little hideaway for my small appliances. I could just imagine them coming to life, backing out of the garage to be put to use as I whipped up some concoction and then pulling back into their garage to rest for awhile.

appliance garage in kitchen

Fast forward a few years to this past Christmas where I found a large box being set down in front of me. The tag indicated it was from my husband and I couldn’t believe it when I opened the box and discovered a long coveted item but one I could never bring myself to buy.

A Keurig.

Keurig with mug from atthepicketfence.com

Sigh…have I ever told you how much I love coffee? As in I can’t form real sentences until I have the first sip of that first cup first thing in the morning.

It’s a glorious thing. And the Keurig makes it that much more glorious!

But, while I loved it with an almost irrational passion, frankly it took up a bit more counter space than our old coffee maker (which I couldn’t part with by the way!).

Keurig coffee station atthepicketfence.com

So, I decided it needed it’s own special home.

And turned the appliance garage into a coffee station!

Appliance-garage-coffee-station from atthepicketfence.com

And I figured, if I was going to give the Keurig it’s own special home I might as well make it…well…special.

A couple coats of chalkboard paint later and I had myself the perfect recipe for a great start to the day.

Caffeine + sugar free flavored syrup + encouraging words = a happy mama ready to tackle anything that comes her way!

Keurig coffee station from atthepicketfence.com

K-cup storage in coffee station from atthepicketfence.com

mugs in coffee station from atthepicketfence.com

That first morning after I created my little coffee station, I woke up before the rest of the household just like I always do. It was still pitch black outside but I forced my body out of bed, pulled on my robe, slipped my feet into my slippers and rubbed my bleary eyes.

appliance garage turned coffee station from atthepicketfence.com

 

I quietly made my way downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Out of habit I walked over to the spot where our coffee maker used to be before realizing it was no longer there. Turning around I walked over to my new coffee station, got the Keurig humming with the sound of water heating up and read the words I had written on the chalkboard wall and smiled.

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

And be thankful for coffee.

kitchen appliance garage from atthepicketfence.com

Amen! 🙂

Vanessa signature

 

21 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas Tagged With: coffee, kitchens

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Five Minute Valentine’s Day Craft: Notes Jar
Next Post: Simple Winter Decorating Ideas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sherri Houston says

    January 13, 2014 at 5:41 AM

    Your coffee station is precious! While I’ve had one in my tiny little “garage” for some time, I am now inspired to take out the chalk paint to paint the back wall. Of. course, your scripture is perfect there, but I will think on another so as to not copy your. Possibly, Proverbs 3: 5-6.

    Love the flowers by the way! And all of y”all’s posts are really wonderful! Thank you and blessings!

    Reply
  2. Thistle says

    January 13, 2014 at 6:42 AM

    Can we start with I wish I had an appliance garage and continue from there? 🙂
    And if I had one…I wish it was as cute as yours. 🙂

    Happy day to you friend!
    karianne

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    January 13, 2014 at 7:05 AM

    I love this!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 13, 2014 at 7:48 AM

      Thanks Debbie!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    January 13, 2014 at 7:12 AM

    I love your coffee station. It is perfect. Great post. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  5. Kathy says

    January 13, 2014 at 7:13 AM

    Very nice!

    Reply
  6. Jill Flory says

    January 13, 2014 at 8:21 AM

    Lovely! Every single bit of it! The way you wrote the post, the chalkboard paint, the door to close if it gets messy and you don’t have time to clean, and the keurig! I want one of those too – so bad. Someday!

    Reply
  7. Sandy says

    January 13, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    I put on a smile each morning when I walk into my kitchen and see our Keurig lit up ready to brew the coffee of my choice. It sits on a small counter next to my stove with a rotating array of K-cups (Timothy’s Cinnamon Pastry, my fav.) I like your coffee station equipped with mugs and flavorings and your scripture quote is one of my favorites.

    Reply
  8. Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says

    January 13, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    What a wonderful idea/project. Very creative.

    Reply
  9. Christy @ 11 Magnolia Lane says

    January 13, 2014 at 12:55 PM

    Love the chalkboard paint in there–what a fun idea! I love my Keurig, too. 🙂

    Reply
  10. chelsea says

    January 13, 2014 at 3:05 PM

    What a great idea! Love this! So cute.

    Reply
  11. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 13, 2014 at 6:13 PM

    What a perfect place for your coffee station!…Love coffee too…such a great idea!

    Reply
  12. Laura@Linenandoak says

    January 14, 2014 at 4:07 AM

    What a great idea! IT’s perfect for a coffee station. The chalkboard paint is a bonus. Love it!

    Reply
  13. Carol Reddin says

    January 14, 2014 at 6:14 AM

    Oh, we LOVE our coffee, don’t we? The Keurig station is great! I’m comin’ on over! Mom

    Reply
  14. Jordan@the2seasons says

    January 14, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    Great idea on how to use the appliance garage. I set up a coffee bar in our kitchen at the desk area and love it. I have an office with a desk so I didn’t need the one in the kitchen. I think a coffee set up is so fancy in a house. I know you will love your new coffee station.

    Reply
  15. Cindy says

    January 14, 2014 at 2:18 PM

    GREAT way to use that space. Me too, I thank God for coffee!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  16. katie says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:54 AM

    Love this idea–great use of space now, too!

    Reply
  17. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    January 17, 2014 at 9:02 AM

    Great idea! Love that chalkboard wall.

    Reply
  18. Heather says

    January 19, 2014 at 1:20 PM

    Clever idea!! I’m a big java lover too! I love the silver tray you use for your cups! Pinned!

    Reply
  19. malia says

    January 19, 2014 at 5:45 PM

    Oh my gosh… I am a HUGE coffee lover and I think your coffee station could make me love it even more!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 19, 2014 at 6:43 PM

      Thanks so much Malia!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Celebrating Everyday Life May/June Cover
How to make a faux wine box from www.atthepicketfence.com

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence