Serendipity Studio - Countertops

Welcome back to my latest adventure, the creating of my Serendipity Studio.  The next step is putting a countertop under my   new cabinets.  
My husband built little boxes to support the counter.  I thought this would be a great way to add more storage to the room, because I have a lot of stuff!!! The boxes are done, and we set them up under the cabinets . . .

         nailed them together into one sturdy unit . . .

 

                      and placed the counter on top.

It looks pretty good.  It will be nice to have counter space and more storage space. I wasn't quite finished though, because I got to thinking about how I don't like clutter.  I am kind of OCD/ADD, and clutter just confuses me.  I need a clean, clear area to work in -  I don't want to have to look at all the stuff in the bins.  The perfect solution was to make a little gathered skirt, like the old fashioned pedestal sinks have.  Truthfully, even if I didn't need to cover up the clutter, I thought it would look charming!  I used fabric from the Ruby line by Moda.  I love it.  

We decided the easiest way to hang the skirt was to slide it onto wooden dowels. My husband had to screw two of them together to be long enough for the entire length of the counter.  To support the dowels we screwed hooks into the wooden boxes. . .  

I got busy making the skirt.  I measured the length of the counter  and multiplied it by 1-1/2.   This gave me the total yardage needed.  I divided the skirt into three sections for easy access under the counter.    Note:  From here on in I will be using 2 times the width instead of 1-1/2 because I didn't feel it was full enough. This will still be okay for this countertop because you can't really see it.

On each section of skirt I folded over the top of the fabric about 3-1/2 inches.  I  stitched two rows of stitching to make a casing for the wooden dowel.  I left a little ruffle on the top of about 1 inch.

I hung it up and pinned it to the right length.   

 I took it to the ironing board and pressed the bottom hem.  I trimmed the excess fabric leaving about an inch and stitched the hem.  

Once the skirt was up I decided it needed a little somethin' somethin', and I remembered the vintage aprons I purchased at an antique store a few months ago for just this project.  When I found these aprons  I couldn't believe my good luck.   More serendipity!!

There was a display rack full of pillowcases and aprons and tablecloths, folded and hanging on hangers.  I started looking through them, and found these.

 Five of them, brand new!  Can you believe it?  I couldn't.  I think there was a small little stain on one, looked like water or something had dripped on it.  I was shocked to see them priced at four dollars, and grabbed them all up.  These aprons would be perfect for the new room. I had planned to tie the aprons end to end and make a banner under the counter to hide the bins. Once I tied them together and strung them up I could still see behind them into the little boxes, and I felt it looked messy.  That's actually when I decided to make the little skirt to put up behind the apron.  I think it looks better now because the aprons are much easier to see with the fabric behind them.  The white cabinets made the aprons disappear. So, I pressed the aprons, retied them, and hung them up.  Definitely is vintagey and retro, but has a kind of cheerful farmhouse fresh feel.  I think I have achieved what I was going for.  I really do love it!!  I love vintage and whimsy, and this feels like both!

I think it looks really cute!  Thanks so much for visiting with me.  I am so happy that you are having fun right along with me!

 

Hi this is Hailey.  I am sure my grandma has talked about me before.  I am spending the night at my grandmas house tonight. Next week you will see pictures of my half of the room.               

 

          

         Love,
             Hailey