Kitchen Ledge Shelves

$5
5 Hours
Easy
My husband and I wanted open shelves to increase the storage space in our small kitchen. Hand building ledge shelves are not only easy to do, but are incredibly affordable.
A short ledge between our refrigerator and sink holds all of our glasses.
I painted the shelves teal, then tried silver, then Napoleon (black indigo) because I wasn't sure what color would look best. By happy accident, little knicks in the black paint show glimmers of silver and teal. Love it.
The corner ledge houses dry goods I use regularly, bowls, and various oils right above our baking and cooking area.
I used reclaimed wood from a deconstruction warehouse to build both shelves.
Fitting the corner shelf took a little more time and patience in making adjustments, but it has made cooking more efficient to have useful storage above where I need it most.
Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Vicki Bushert Vicki Bushert on Feb 02, 2024

    I’ve been thinking of making similar shelves, but your article is missing the information that I need. How do you attach the boards together and to the wall in order for it to be able stay together and level when you put things like fill the mason jars on it? I’ve purchased similar shelves before but even when I’m screwing them into studs after about six months, they are tipped forward and just not stable anymore

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  • Linda T Linda T on Aug 29, 2016
    Unless you use the oils extremely fast, they should be out the light from the window and def' not above a heat source. If not in a dark cupboard, they will go rancid very fast.
  • Susan Bellwood Susan Bellwood on Aug 29, 2016
    I don't have room for shelves but I'm more interested in what's on top of your toaster oven. Do you leave it there and are the feet heatproof. I set a bowl with plastic lemons on top of mine and forgot to remove it right away when I turned my oven on. Needless to say I had semi-melted lemons. I'd like to set a cutting board on top of mine, but not if I forget to remove it when I use the oven.
    • Hi, Susan. The toaster oven is really a Smart Oven (convection oven and toasting) from Breville. The bamboo cutting board is also sold by Breville, and it does come with heat resistant feet. I've had no problems with the cutting board on top of the oven -- lives up to its word! :)
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