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Bethann Renee

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Winter DIY Adventures: Our Custom Kitchen Cabinets & Living Room Bookshelves

At Home· Buildable Projects· DIY· Family Room· Kitchen & Dining· Projects

14 Jan

Winter has a way of making us all crave cozy indoor projects, and this year is no exception for us! With the chilly weather setting in, B and I have decided to take on two exciting DIY home improvement projects: adding a custom set of cabinets in our kitchen for extra storage and building an entire wall of bookshelves in our living room. If you’re looking for some winter project inspiration (and a dash of cozy creativity), read on to see how we’re making use of these frosty months to transform our home!


kitchen

Project 1: Custom Kitchen Cabinets

When we first renovated our kitchen, we purchased our cabinets from a local business that, unfortunately, is no longer operating. We’d always wanted a bit more storage and counter space on the opposite side of the opening to the living room, so this winter, we decided to finally add a shallow upper and lower cabinet set.

  • Why Custom?
    Since the original cabinet maker is out of business, B decided to build the cabinets himself to match our existing ones. The silver lining? We can customize the size to perfectly fit our space!
  • Current Progress:
    • The cabinet boxes are already installed.
    • B has built the lower cabinet doors, which means we’re halfway to having an attractive and practical new storage area.
  • What’s Next?
    • Finish the doors for the upper cabinets.
    • Add finishing details like hardware and a matching countertop.
    • Paint or stain to ensure it matches seamlessly with our current kitchen.

Why We’re Loving This Project
It’s not only going to add balance to our kitchen layout but also give us more countertop space—perfect for those extra serving dishes or appliances we use during gatherings.


updated corner of family room with thrifted art

Project 2: Living Room Bookshelves

The second project has been on our wishlist for over a year: a full wall of bookshelves that wraps around the doorway to our kitchen.

  • A “Novel” Idea
    I’ve been craving more space to store my ever-growing collection of books. There’s something magical about walking into a room lined with your favorite reads—like your own mini library at home!
  • Behind the Build
    • While B was busy building the custom kitchen cabinets, he also prepped the base cabinet for the bookshelf wall.
    • These shelves will span the entire wall, including around the kitchen door, so it’ll be a big build.
    • Once completed, we’ll not only have functional storage but also a striking focal point in the living room.

Why We’re Loving This Project
Aside from the obvious benefit of having all our books in one stylish place, these shelves will instantly elevate the living room’s look, adding character and warmth.

I can’t wait to share the finished projects in the coming weeks. More updates to come!

Have any fun projects you are tackling this winter?


Winter DIY Adventures: Our Custom Kitchen Cabinets & Living Room Bookshelves
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bethann renee

I’m so glad you are here!

Hello.  Welcome to Bethann Renee Home & Lifestyle (formerly Twig & White). My name is Bethann.  I’m a child of God,  a wife, mom to two basset hound rescues, a designer, business owner, blogger and creative.  I just a regular woman with realistic budgets, doing my best to create a beautiful home and life through thrifting, creativity and lots of DIY.  If you’re a regular gal trying to do the same, let’s be friends.  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and get inspired.

bethann renee

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