Every time someone comes into my kitchen, they say the same things….
“Ooh. I like your tile.”
“White cabinets? Are they hard to keep clean with four little boys?”
“How do you get water from the fridge?” or “Can I help you load the dishwasher?”
and
“I like what you did there with the shelves.”
I can gather from those statements that 1. they like some of the choices I made and b. they question my ability to keep up with the boys and d. they are thirsty.
All of which are my similar thoughts about this room.
Across from the eating area is the pantry and this desk-turned-coffee-bar. It’s nothing fancy but I like it because each late-morning it is where I can gather some liquid strength for the day. And since the time I posted about it, it received a new addition….one that I know you will want to make for yourself and your coffee-loving family members and friends.
It’s the K-cup holder made of two pieces of wood. It’s so freaking simple that it’s kinda ridiculous. If you have a Keurig….you need to craft this bad boy.
The first thing you need is a rectangle of 1/2″ plywood. It’s 14″ long by 12″ wide. Then mark your grid so that you can evenly make your holes. The first horizontal line is 1.5″ from the top. Then do 4″, 6.5″, 9″, 11.5″. (it’s 2.5″ intervals if you are into that kinda thing). Then mark your vertical lines. They are every 3″ from the neighbor. Start your first vertical line at 1.5″ from the left hand side and then do 4.5″, 7.5″, 10.5″. Where the lines intersect is the place to drill the hole centers.
Using a 1 1/2″ hole drill bit, drill halfway down on the first side. (the 2″ drill bit is more pricey and the k-cup will sit further back but if you already have it, it would work too!)
Then flip over the board. It will look like this…
Place your drill bit center on the little holes and finish drilling the round holes. This whole mark-half-drill-flip-drill-more method will give you the cleanest opening.
Now cut your board for the back. It supports the leaning front. It is 3″x12″ and the table saw is really important here. The side that is longest is ripped at 12 degrees. See that piece in Jeremy’s right hand? It’s straight on three sides and the fourth side (the one that just was cut by the saw) is the angled side.
Sand everything down really well. (Yes I made this back in March when I was pregnant so NO MOM I AM NOT PREGNANT!)
Then after everything is sanded and smooth, you wall want to attach the angled board to the bottom of the hole-y board. Remember that the angle makes it so that it leans back at the top. Also make sure you attach it to the end of the hole-y board that has more margin (the top has less margin, the bottom has more).
I used Varathane’s Dark Walnut and then Rust-Oleum’s semi-gloss poly.
Once it is dry and smooth, it is ready for use! I think this would be a great Christmas gift, right?!
And it’s not expensive to make. I bet you could make a ton of these in one afternoon. Perfect for teachers that love coffee and for in-laws and for your brother that is completely disorganized (I don’t have one of those….I am the disorganized one….everyone in my family is nodding their heads right now). But at least I am well caffeinated 🙂
I do think that it would be adorable with trim and with stripes or even HUGE and mounted with little corner blocks to the wall. It’s options for modification are endless! Happy Building!
Wanderlust + Sweets says
Oh, I really love that – and so easy too.
Kari says
Alright, its fall and I see you have a thing for Pumpkin Coffee too.
What’s your favorite? Martinsons or Green Mountain?. (I have to make an order this week for more)
casie says
I love your new K-Cup holder. I have to tell you, I made your exact shelves for my coffee nook in my kitchen too. They look awesome and I love them like the first day I had them. Thank you so much for your plans, instructions and letting us in your little space.
Phoebe K. says
Looks good! I will definitely be making this for Christmas gifts.
Wendy from OldLakeGeorge.com says
What a brilliant, easy idea! No more digging in a basket for my favorite flavor.
Thanks for the DIY!
Whitney says
HA!!! We have the same fridge and not only do we get that same question ALL.THE.TIME (even from people that visit on a regular basis), but I have cleaned up enough water puddles off of the floor to last the rest of my life.
Evelina says
So cute and most importantly — useful!
Reenie says
very cute
Andrea Worley says
I love this! What a great idea! and those shelves have me drooling, off to find a tutorial for them!
Jessica @ Our Young Adventures says
This is great! How do you think of such awesome, simple things?!
Elaine says
So pretty! And “1… And b” – Ha! 🙂
Liz Jo says
I am in love with your kitchen!! Although I do have to wonder how you keep such white cabinets, I can’t keep such white cabinets with one child let alone four.
And I love this handmade k-cup holder, it’s so beautiful.
liz @ sundays with sophie
Jenna says
Such a simple but great idea!
Jenna @ Wife in Progress
Ann C says
I think the Kcup holder is cute but I don’t have a lot of counter space so I find the drawer that the coffee maker can sit on much more space saving. I was thinking that if you had a fingernail polish lover in the family you could do the same thing with smaller holes to hold all their polishes.
I too love your kitchen and am looking at making some shelves. I really like the floating look.
Katie says
YES! Great idea!
xo – kb
Lorilyn says
But like – for reals about keeping white cabinets clean. The struggle is real.
Katie says
Hmmm…that’s tough! I guess I would have to go with BOTH. I contaminate them so much with creamer and sugar that it’s definitely hard to tell the difference 🙂
xo – kb
lisa says
I love the k-cup holder!
How would i make the holes without the drill bit? the biggest one i have is 1/4” -.-
Katie says
If you don’t have a hole bit or a large paddle bit or a drill press, then you could possibly jig saw it….you would have to be really good at jigsawing circles though!
xo – kb
Olivia says
I just finished mine! Thank you for sharing! Very easy to follow tutorial also!
Olivia says
Also, I have two boys and have white cabinets also! No problems so far!
Katie says
I’d love to see it! Tag a picture on Instagram with @bowerpowerblog!!!
xo – kb
Dan says
Oh wow! Those look amazing! I think even I could pull those off. Thanks for sharing!
Markus says
Glad uou promote safty when showing people how to build something