My new walk-in pantry!

This room went from a small computer office when we first moved in, to a room for the dogs to basically a closet for stuff. We cleaned it all out and created a walk in pantry just 3 feet off the kitchen. The walls went from Venetian plaster terra cotta to creamy white. 

We hit a slight snag when the closet company doing the install could not get the countertops to fit correctly. After 3 attempts, I fired them and searched for a countertop-only company.

I found a granite remnant at Premier Surfaces. A remnant ends up costing less because it's not as useful as a full slab but great for smaller projects. I wanted something that didn't compete with the kitchen granite. So... I found this green/gray that picks up the sage background in my kitchen countertop. I think it coordinates very well!

and of course it needed a few accessories...

from my favorite accessory store Home Goods!

 It's so neat and clean now, filled with my food,extra serving dishes and craft stuff. 

A much better use of the space!

life off the golf course...

because... a. it's been stinking hot here in the south, and b. because I've been traveling.  Last week we headed up to Cape Cod to spend a few relaxing days with my BIL & SIL. The weather was lovely and cool, and felt soooo good. We left there for Boston for a memorial service for my SIL's mom who had passed away from Alzheimers. A beautiful ceremony with beautiful music, and a rainy day, but perfect for a funeral... the skies were crying for her also. 
We left the northeast and headed south to Florida to visit with the new baby, while my husband was busy at a convention. All my daughters and both my grandsons in one visit! It was the best! The little one is growing and becoming more alert, and the toddler is everywhere, constantly on-the-go. He was great traveling though and slept both ways on the flight to and from Atlanta. 
We're all back home now and it's been a quiet day for me. I've done some unpacking and I've been reading " Organized Simplicity" by Tsh Oxenreider. Following her advice that stuff takes up valuable space,  I've taken everything out of every drawer and cabinet in my master bathroom... the little bottles of this and that, the freebie "bonuses", sorted through it all by what I use and what I never will. The sealed products will be donated and the rest tossed. I can't believe how much space I've created! Now, onto cleaning. What could be better when it's 90+ degrees outside?  Okay... I can think of a few other things to do, but organizing makes me feel good!

naked post-holiday bookshelves

When you go from all the Christmas decorations being on display

to January post-holiday back-to-normal living,

doesn't everything look a bit "naked" for awhile?

I wanted that cleaner, uncluttered look to my bookshelves

but also wanted to reuse what I have. We have a few collectible things I felt I needed to keep, like my Limoge demi tasse cups from Paris, 2 Hummel figures from the 1970's, and 2 pieces of Belleek porcelain. I actually put quite a bit away of what I used to have out. I also have a lot of picture frames I want to spray from gold/brass to either ORB or black.
I'm not sure I'm in love with these bookshelves just yet, but for now, that's all I got.

I did make use of some of the Hydrangea blooms I had added to my "HGTV tree" this year too, and kept them out in a vase or two.
I do love Hydrangeas, they feel like spring!