When I can, I like to look for unexpected ways to use everyday items when designing a space. It doesn’t happen with every room, but, I still like to think about it. Kitchens are rooms that are perfect for this challenge.
While doing some revisions to our kitchen years ago, I wanted to do some sort of window treatment over the sink, and racked my brain for ideas that would be fun, kitchen related, budget friendly and of course, easy. The window is tucked right between the upper cabinets, so there is just the wood frame and a soffit above with a light.
I already had installed a wood slat blind which is fine and works well in the space, but the window still looked a little dull. I do want to replace the florescent tube up in the soffit one day to a pendant which will be great, I have something in mind for that later. There is no room for a tie back curtain on the sides, plus I need all the light from the window that I can get. I kept looking at the framed trim work. I could paint it, yes, I’ll paint it in a contrast shade from the wall color…done. Better, but still needed something…what was narrow enough, flat enough that could be applied to that trim to bring some interest?
As I was pondering this and washing the dishes at the sink, yes, sometimes I can do several things at once…lol…I was loading the dishwasher with silverware when the thought came to me…silverware!
My husband had just acquired from his father’s garage a machine that flattens things…not sure what it is called, I’m terrible with tool names, but it works with air compression. I took a spoon I had that had been chewed up by a garbage disposal, and tried it on the machine, and voila…flattened spoon. I loved the way it looked. Now, how to attach it to the trim? I decided to use small “u” shaped nails in case I want to change out the look later, I would just have to fill in the small holes and repaint.
I headed off to my local Thrift Store and picked up some bags of silverware, very cheap about 1.99 for about 8-12 pcs and one by one put them in the machine to flatten. I lined them up on the trim, some up right, others facing down, and applied them all the way around the sides and top. I’ve kept them there for 10 years and haven’t tired of the look yet!
The other way I have used silverware is taking the same “flattening” procedure I used for the trim, then cut off the ends (which I saved the ends of course to use for jewelry) curl the cut end over, and then tie them on to the bottom of a valance or window shade as trim. I did this trim for 2 Parade of Homes and it was a great unexpected hit!
I also have made silverware pendant shades which is what I think I will make again for the pendant I need over my kitchen sink.
Silverware are a great resource for many Home Decor applications, and I’m sure there are many more ways to discover. How do you wear your silver?
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