Ugly Appliance – Shut the Door on It!

What was I thinking?

I didn’t want a built in microwave because I wanted the kitchen to feel old school.

So, out it sat.

That big black box.

Staring at me, judging me, taunting me –  til I could take it no more.

Eclectically Vintage Kitchen

Seriously, how could I let that thing take up valuable display space?

I’ve finally sniffed the smelling salts and come to my senses!

What do I have this amazing appliance garage for if not for the biggest appliance on my counter?

Eclectically Vintage kitchen

Here’s what it looked like before.

Eclectically Vintage

I made sure the inside of the cabinet was finished and two electrical outlets were put in before the cabinets were installed.

Eclectically Vintage kitchen

I chose this door style that swings forward and lifts up, then pushes in along the top for a nice, clean look.

Eclectically Vintage

And now I can display all things cute!

Like this thrift shop Marks & Spencer biscuit tin – which holds my girls Keurig hot chocolate cups.

Eclectically Vintage

Better late than never!  This display will probably change as often as I color my hair (not that I need to …)!

What are you trying to hide?

See my full kitchen tour here.

Pin It

Sharing Here:

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Home Stories A to Z, The Delectable Home
A Bowl Full of Lemons 
, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style
Uncommon
, The Shady Porch, House of Hepworths
From My Front Porch to Yours, No Minimalist Here, At the Picket Fence
French Country Cottage, The Charm of Home, Stuff & Nonsense
C ommon Ground, Remodelaholic, Addicted 2 Decorating
Funky Junk Interiors
, The 36th Avenue

Share this Post!

59 Comments

  1. KELLY!!! First you have a vestibule I need and now I NEED an appliance garage. Keep in mind, my washing machine is outside, so that is a literal request on my part. But I would also need an electric appliance garage door opener…and while I’m at it why don’t I just buy someone to do the laundry!
    Love the tin hiding the k cups, too.
    What am I trying to hide??? Well, if I told you I’d be doing a real crappy job of trying now wouldn’t I. 🙂

  2. OH MY my jersey friend — come on over and i have TONS to hide! i can keep you busy for the next 100 years! lol!!!! I LOVE YOUR STYLE!!!! you really rock at this and your kitchen…well it is simply AMAZING but you know that ; ) hugs!!!!

  3. I soooo want to hide my microwave.
    First I need to bring it into this millenium…!!!!!
    It is old, and it is big.
    I know just how and where I want it to go and I know what I’ll use the existing space for too.

    waiting for the extra cash to roll in —and I’ll purchase another one!
    Love, love, love that tool box…on that shelf.

    I almost purchased a ‘kennedy” tool box for my kitchen… now, I’m wondering why I didn’t?

    …have a great week.
    ~Pat

    1. I went with a cheapo microwave. Don’t you just hate when you leave something behind and then regret it right away!! I bought an old toolbox recently for $3 at the thrift shop. It’s metal and I think I’ll plant some flowers in it.

  4. Well what can I say, this blog keeps getting better and better.So happy I found it! I still don’t no how I did it, but what a blessing! Fantastic idea and I am loving the Little Chocolate cups container and the blue box behind it (forgive me ignorance I don’t know what it is but looks fabulous!)! Everything looks lovely!

  5. Brilliant!

    What am I trying to hide? Apparently everything I stuff in my appliance garage. Can’t use it as a garage since it functions more like a storage bin these days.

    ~Bliss~

  6. That’s using your noggin! My microwave is hidden in the pantry. I’m hiding the toaster in a roll out cupboard and my olive oil in an antique stoneware jug but I still have tons of things I’d like to hide.

  7. What am I hiding? Piles of teenage crap — cleats, backpacks, sweatshirts, soccer slides, flash drives, misc school papers, ipods, blah, blah, blah. I need something bigger than an appliance garage. 🙂 Another wing on the house might work. LOL.
    xo Heidi

  8. Ree-diculous! I honestly thought your kitchen could get no better! But now it’s even awesomer {not a word?] Love the change!!\
    xo Becca

  9. Love this idea! My microwave is smack dab in the middle of the island but with three boys It is a constant. You know me I try to hide everything 🙂
    Thanks for linking up.
    XO
    Kristin

  10. I love that! We’ll be moving our microwave into our walk-in pantry (someday when we make that space). This is so clever! I love your entire kitchen. Dreamy!

  11. I agree – hide it if you can! Although, with my family and our schedules, that door would be up most of the day anyway and the whole “hide it” intention would be moot. One can dream that one day, one can be like Kelly and keep her microwave out of sight – in the same dream that one can have a kitchen like Kelly. 🙂 Have a super Tuesday!

  12. Great way to hide the microwave 🙂 I’d like to hide ours, but unfortunately it’s built into the wall above our oven, so moving it somewhere more secretive would be a bit of a challenge 😉 Oh well, at least it isn’t taking up space on the counter 🙂

    I need to figure out a way to hide all the cords attached to the TV in the family room. Running them through the wall isn’t an option at this point, so I’m going to have to get creative…

      1. if it’s possible get a curtain rod and hang fabric on it between the wires and the view of the wires. That’s what I did with the tv wires in my living room. looks like a hole instead spaghetti of wires.

  13. Your kitchen looks as it should now, with that box out of the way. That’s where all microwaves belong, behind a door. Your kitchen is really beautiful!
    Hugs, Cindy

  14. I’m kicking myself for not putting in an appliance garage right now! I too was trying to go vintage but would actually love to have a place to hide the microwave, toaster, coffee maker. I guess I could go really retro and try to live without these appliances!

    1. Just popped over to your blog and tried to comment but couldn’t! I love your house, style, garden, neighborhood! That desk you recently redid is amazing and the old vintage typewriter too (I just found one at a yard sale for peanuts)!

  15. This is such an awesome idea! I could shove all kinds of stuff in there that my kids leave out, maybe I can get one big enough to shove my son in there from time to time. He would be happy, because I would stock it with snacks. Just so we don’t have to see the mess……

  16. I am so jealous of your cabinet door! Such a fantastic design choice and I love the decor on the shelf above!

    Thanks for sharing this with us this week! You always bring something beautiful to the party!

    Take care,

    Trish

  17. I love your kitchen ooh so much, what a brilliant move to conceal the microwave. we are in the midst of finishing our new kitchen and I too had to deal with the microwave location , I went with in the island , I built onto a smaller island to create an open shelf for it , but you can not see it from most views into the kitchen . I think its going to be hiding very well, not too sure how we will like having a lower microwave but there was no other option , not on my counter , no way, well not after we get it all finished anyway.

  18. Ooooh… lovely! Thanks much for the inspiration! My old micro home is part display, part paper collection. I must get on this! 🙂

  19. wow! what a great idea! And that shelf is perfect for that amazing little drawer piece! wow…now off I go to see the whole tour!

  20. Looks great, Kelly! I’m mostly trying to hide legos and dirty socks, and my kids have found that under the beds is the best place for these things. Love that you added cute decor to the empty microwave space. I probably would have stuffed it full of ugly cookbooks. You are an inspiration – thanks for linking up!

    1. Hi Kelly, I liked your appliance garage. I am hoping you could let us know where you got it or the name of the cabinet company that makes the lift up door. Thanks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *