When Mr. Menace bought the antique warehouse scales, I had to locate the best place in our house to showcase them. They are so special that I wanted them where they would be seen every single day, so the obvious choice was the living room. And one thing leads to another, and a hot beverage bar is born!
See, it started like this: The pale yellow wall in the living room allows the scale itself to be the focal point. I do plan to paint the a/c vent to match the wall, so that it isn’t distracting, and also get the electrical cords corralled. That should give it a more clean and completed look.
This, however, is the finished look! But in order to move in a new piece, something had to go, and that created a whole chain reaction of events.
Mr. Menace had moved in this butcher block nearly a year ago and it was placed in the living room temporarily. So before we could install the new warehouse scale, the butcher block table had to be moved out.
This squarish block table needed to sit in the kitchen under the window. Now, you realize this means, that the table that was already sitting there had to be moved.
This long rectangle butcher block table needed to be moved to the study to sit underneath the wall of wood boxes. But of course, before THAT could happen, the loveseat that was sitting under the wooden box display had to be moved.
This loveseat was rarely used. The only time anyone sat on it was if we had company, so I decided it wasn’t worth keeping something we didn’t need for just a couple of days use a year.
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STEP 1:
I listed the loveseat for sale on some local yard sale sites. It took about 2 weeks, but it was pretty easy to sell it, since it was basically brand new. Now that the space was vacant, it was time to move the long rectangular butcher block table to this spot.
STEP 2:
The difficult part about moving this table was actually the meat scale that sat on top. This scale takes two people to move it. One person could do it, but really shouldn’t. So we moved it off the table and then we were able to just slide the table from it’s current position to its new position.
STEP 3:
So now that the spot under the kitchen window is available, it was time to move the squarish butcher block table here. This was going to be the challenge.
Mr. Menace built a cart that could hold the weight and used a jack to maneuver it onto the cart. He is a master at moving heavy objects by himself.
Once I saw the table in its new home, I KNEW what I wanted to do. I have been seeing coffee bars all over Pinterest and blogs and I WANTED one. (even though I detest coffee) This was going to work perfectly!
CREATING THE HOT BEVERAGE BAR
STEP 4 Storage:
I moved my blue shelf to sit beside the table to hold the cups and mugs, the coffee, hot chocolate, and tea bags, and the sugar, sweetener, and the honey from our very own ANGRY BEE APIARY!
I liked it best before we put the meat scale back on the butcher block, but that’s where it has to sit, so I can live with it.
I am loving the coffee/hot chocolate/tea station! Do you have one? I’d love to hear your ideas.
Lisa Hollowell says
The “Dominion Effect”! This happens to me for boring things - like trying to clean up. Ex. the pile of papers on the floor need to be filed. But I can’t fit them in the file until I clean out the file cabinet. Etc. All your relocated items look especially nice in person! 🙂
gwingal says
We have lived in this house for 6 years now. Every winter I say that I am going to get our paperwork organized and out of boxes. But, its just not that simple. I have to clean out the desk and find a place for all that stuff. And I have to clean out the play room so I can get to the filing cabinet. And just what DO I DO with that stuff??? I know exactly where you are coming from LIsa.
Lisa Hollowell says
Yes! The WHAT DO I DO with the stuff is a huge problem! That’s why piles just get shifted around. I’ve made some progress but it is slow. I know it’s hard for the boys to totally clean up their stuff because not everything has “a home.”
tbellkindred says
It looks lovely! Blessings to you! Teresa from NanaHood.com
gwingal says
Thanks Teresa. Home decor is an ever changing process in my home. 🙂
Carol says
The butcher blocks looks really heavy.
gwingal says
Carol, looks are NOT deceiving! The long butcher block table is probably 400 hundred pounds. The small squarish table is around 600 lbs. And those warehouse scales are nothing to sneeze at either at around 400-500 lbs. 🙂
Pat @ Bringing French Country Home says
After reading the comment you left on my post (of the same name as yours), I had to hop over to your blog and read how you managed one thing leading to another. I got a kick out of your story but everything turned out perfectly. Especially love the butcher block and scale. Guess it’s a pretty common “problem,” one I think we actually enjoy tackling. The end result is so worth it. Hugs, Pat
gwingal says
Hi Pat! Thanks for coming over. I was laughing when I read your post yesterday as it was almost exactly like mine. hahaha
sizzlesue15 says
What a lovely display in the last photo! Thank you for linking up and sharing your ideas with us at #BloggersPitStop. Have a lovely weekend.
gwingal says
Thanks Sue! I am excited (almost) for winter to get here so I can indulge on hot chocolates from my new beverage station. 🙂
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
So true, one thing *does* always seem to lead to another! Yours all look like good choices!
gwingal says
Thanks so much Jean! I am enjoying the change up and realllllllly liking the coffee station. 🙂
Michele says
I love your coffee and tea station. it is nice to have those things handy whenever you want them and they also look nice.
gwingal says
Thanks Michele. I am loving it and am anxious to get even more use out of it this winter. 🙂
MyHusbandHasTooManyHobbies says
I’ve been there, may times when one thing leads to another. . . and another. I enjoyed the post! Seems to be that everything worked out just the way it should have!
gwingal says
Hi Laurie! I am happy with the way everything turned out, except for the microwave. I had to put it on the kitchen counter and it takes up way too much room. I am working on a fix for that…. Good to see you again! 🙂
MyHusbandHasTooManyHobbies says
No doubt you’ll work it out! Thanks for sharing with us!
gwingal says
Thanks! 🙂
Capt Jill says
yep, one thing always leads to another. I congratulate you for actually finishing a project!
Mine are all just half started. My house looks like an explosion in a pawn shop!
gwingal says
Thanks Capt’n! But I think I have you fooled…. 🙂
House of Hollingsworth Blog says
Hi Nikki, I love all these updates! The table looks much better under the wall of boxes (I can’t wait to see it all decked out for Christmas) and the butcher block coffee station rocks! xx
gwingal says
Thanks Kate! I am liking the change. 🙂
House of Hollingsworth Blog says
P.S. I’m featuring your post on this week’s party (I can’t say no to a coffee bar!) xx
gwingal says
Oh thank you so much Kate! xxoo
Teresa - Aging Like a Fine Wine says
The coffee bar looks great on that fantastic butcher block table! Thank you for sharing it with us at Party in Your PJ’s!
gwingal says
Thanks Teresa! I am excited about the beverage station. I don’t drink coffee but I have hot chocolate, and tea there too. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
Crystal says
Reminds me of “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie” Where will I sit when we come visit?! 🙂 I love the coffee bar!
gwingal says
You know…. the ONLY problem that I had with getting rid of that loveseat was the fact that you said how you liked sitting there with your coffee. Love you! 🙂
Joyce says
This is delightful! Crystal beat me to saying the story reminded me of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie!” I have a butcher block too. When we remodeled the kitchen it had to go - it’s just out in the garage. I don’t have the heart to sell it!
gwingal says
I sure know what you mean Joyce, about not having the heart to sell it! We have so many pieces like that. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Amy Johnson says
Where do you two get all your energy from? Your’e both so creative.
gwingal says
Redecorating. It’s what I love to do and how I love to spend my time. When I can’t get outside anyway. And Mr. Menace loves a challenge! Thanks Amy. 🙂
Clearissa Coward says
Wow! All that heavy stuff to move. But one thing always leads to another. Yiu did a great job moving stuff around. It all seems to fit perfectly. 🙂
gwingal says
Yes, it is, but Mr. Menace LOVES the challenge. Thanks Clearissa. 🙂
Kyla Matton Osborne says
I love the new look in both rooms! The table looks much nicer under the crate shelving than the love seat, and the coffee bar absolutely rocks!
gwingal says
Thank you Kyla. I am very happy with the changes. And the coffee/tea/hot chocolate bar has been awesome. 🙂
Keating says
This looks so cute!! We have a similar coffee station in our kitchen and it’s easily my favorite part!
gwingal says
I agree Keating! This is my favorite thing. It looks cute and works great! I love it. Thanks. 🙂
Kait Around The Kingdom says
WOW! I love this idea! So cute!
gwingal says
Thanks Kait. I’ve been wanting a hot chocolate station for a while and finally got it done! 🙂
Ruth Ridley says
What an amazing transformation!! That butcher block looks super heavy!!
gwingal says
Oh Ruth, it is! It is a solid block of maple(?) and weighs hundreds of pounds. You really don’t want to move it very often. Thanks! 🙂
Whitney says
That looks great!! I love having a place in the kitchen designated for drinks. We don’t have one for coffee, but we do for bourbon haha!
gwingal says
That’s hilarious Whitney! I am wanting to update our bar also and get it looking more “MAD MEN” like. 🙂