no more dishwasher.......

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 08:09 AM

My dishwasher went out and I decided its not worth replacing. For one it takes up too much energy as its just me and my husband... and we dont have that many dishes to wash if we do them after each meal or at least daily.
MY INQUIRY HERE is about COVERING THE HOLE removing one leaves.
I've converted it into 3 shelving areas... the top is where I put the microwave and want to leave that area open for easy access...

NOW the problem... the rest of the hole to the floor....... I have 2 shelves...
and the area is 18 high by 25 wide.
I looked for cabinet doors but they do not come in that size and to special order goes beyond my capability to pay over 100 dollars for something that won't even be a 100% dirctr match ( must be special ordered)
so......
I've considered small mini blinds
a peice of cardboard... painted artistically and maybe decorated with some metal art
from garden ridge store screwed on top.
any more ideas???????
on how to cover the area with something ????????

no.. a curtain is not something to consider.... ( I can do better)
?

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 08:16 AM

Fabric curtain on a small compression rod.

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 08:17 AM

Oops, missed the last line of your post when I posted. LOL. Well, dunno, seems like you've covered all I can come up with!

**Darlene** · 02-23-2008, 08:18 AM

How about making your own with a wood frame on hinges with a sheet of flashing attached with punched holes in a decorative pattern or hammered all over for a different look?

Be careful working with that flashing, those edges are sharp.

**missyali** · 02-23-2008, 08:32 AM

Could you freecycle a piece of mdf, plywood or even an old door to cut down and make a cabinet door. what a great use of that space! good luck & post pictures when you can.

**PrairieRose** · 02-23-2008, 08:57 AM

What about looking for a 2nd hand shutter that you might be able to either frame or cut down to fit (on the 'off chance' that you can't find a perfect fit)?

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Darlene

How about making your own with a wood frame on hinges with a sheet of flashing attached with punched holes in a decorative pattern or hammered all over for a different look?

Be careful working with that flashing, those edges are sharp.

I've considered all those things except the one posted by here in Quotes...... and I looked for shutters at salvation army stores with no luck... and found the right size was too hard to find although shutters were my first choice.

I found a piece of wood ( scrap) at Home depot they sold me for 50 cents ( cut to the right size) and already have the hardware.
*** I'm doing a temporary fix for now of: decopage ( that may be spelled wrong) project using paper bags over a peice of plywood..... that I will maybe stain to look like leather and put up a peice of metal artwork ( like the kind they use in gardens on walls) for the meantime.. until I find something better and have access to it....
I am glad to have your ideas.
Keep them coming although we may be tapped out at this point... LOL !

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

What about looking for a 2nd hand shutter that you might be able to either frame or cut down to fit (on the 'off chance' that you can't find a perfect fit)?

put some pics in the gallery.

**M55FF** · 02-25-2008, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by M55FF

I've considered all those things except the one posted by here in Quotes...... and I looked for shutters at salvation army stores with no luck... and found the right size was too hard to find although shutters were my first choice.

I found a piece of wood ( scrap) at Home depot they sold me for 50 cents ( cut to the right size) and already have the hardware.
*** I'm doing a temporary fix for now of: decopage ( that may be spelled wrong) project using paper bags over a peice of plywood..... that I will maybe stain to look like leather and put up a peice of metal artwork ( like the kind they use in gardens on walls) for the meantime.. until I find something better and have access to it....
I am glad to have your ideas.
Keep them coming although we may be tapped out at this point... LOL !

*** I went with the decouage door on reused caninet hinges for the time being... thinking about hanging either a metal framed 16x20 picture on the front of the door or adding some decoupaged flowers.
I'm in decoupage mode ! ... lol
( you can look in my photo gallery to see the front of the door to cover this space and also other projects)
I'm done with the decopuage now !!!................... but it's a cheap, great looking techinique to recover old stuff or covering plywood.. or even floors.

**Darlene** · 02-25-2008, 07:05 AM

Good job!

Nice use of the space too.
So what's next on your list?

**M55FF** · 02-25-2008, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by Darlene

Good job!

Nice use of the space too.
So what's next on your list?

thinking hard about maybe painting the kitchen cabinets.........
lol
I'm very good with faux paint treatments and thinking a crackle paint technique...
but...
not sure about this.
The cabinets are a cheap oak and old... the paint would maybe be an upgrade but once you paint the cabinets...
they are painted and what if I dont like them?
so.....
I'm just thinking about it...

far as my next project... I'm taking a break for awhile. Going to focus on lifestyle factors like eating healthy and getting onto a workout routine....
Since I live in Texas, the time for projects is in the winter... because you can be outside....
in the summer its too hot to do projects.
so, I'm done for awhile with anything but very small projects...and de-cluttering
which is an ongoing process ( been on it 2 years)