There’s lots to love about my rental house, and I’ve slowly been turning it into a great family home over the past year and a half, but one part that is hard to tackle is the kitchen.  I love that it’s open to what the kids and I refer to as the “Art Room” akin to a family room in other homes, but with no walls or enclosures around the range or fridge we were staring at some mid-tier appliances throwing out their worst angle.

The kitchen is also pretty blah, so I wanted to give it a little glow up and create a more sophisticated vibe that felt aligned with the rest of my design choices in the house.  With guests now making their way over, I wanted a space that felt enjoyable to be in.  Where one could happily perch upon the countertop with a glass of wine while I finish the dressing for the salad.

These were the challenges I was facing…

Installation 

I’m technically supposed to avoid putting screws into the walls, so I had to think creatively about what type of installation would be least invasive and work backward from there.

Cost 

Whatever I put in there I am likely leaving behind if/when I move, as I may not face the same issue in my next home.  The money output had to be somewhat reasonable, so I wouldn’t freak out if I had to move in a year.

Time 

After an exhaustive search for freestanding dividers, I couldn’t find anything that would work or had the look/dimensions I needed.  This was going to be a custom job, and I knew it would take a minute.

Concept

Now that I had my functional scope hammered out and my emotional vibe locked in, it was time to consider aesthetics.  I have long been a fan of mid-century architecture and design, so I turned to that era for inspiration.  I found beautiful examples of slated stairwells, peek-a-boo living room wall dividers and some gorgeous outdoor fencing that brought clarity to my vision.  Once I had a solid idea in mind, I headed to Home Depot to check out materials and work out the cost. Here’s a taste below of my inspiration photos.

Materials

I opted for slim 2x1 pine boards with a smooth sanded finish and minimal knots and graining. I had gone through several installation permutations, but the one I landed on was the most simple.  I affixed the dividers directly to the upper cabinets with two screws (shhh…don’t tell the property manager) in about five minutes.  So simple!

Materials List

2 x 1 pine boards (number depends on width of divider)

Liquid nails

Ruler

Pencil

Construction

1 / Cut vertical 2 x 1’s to desired length

2 / Cut horizontal support 2 x 1’s to desired width

3 / Mark your spacing with a pencil + ruler (I had approx. 1” spacing)

4 / Starting with the outside pieces, add liquid nails to the horizontal pieces + lay vertical pieces flush with the outside edges - long edge out.

5 / Repeat until your divider is filled.

6 / Wait 24 hours before installing to allow liquid nails to cure.

7 / Installation may vary according to your project, but I ran a screw from the inside of an upper cabinet through the supporting horizontal board.

8 / Repeat with additional screws + you’re done!

You know how some DIY posts talk about how simple their project is?  Well, this is not that post.  I won’t sugar coat it for you.  There was a lot of intense measuring, knee/back pain and cursing.  It’s truly not that complex of a project, but it is time consuming, and with boards that aren’t always perfectly straight, it can get pretty frustrating.  The upside is that I absolutely love the way it looks and paying someone to do it would have cost five times as much.

Finished project

The final result makes me so happy every time I walk into the room.  It’s simple, sophisticated and natural and the space feels bigger now.  I feel proud of my little kitchen now and have already had one guest on the countertop sipping a beverage and enjoying some snacks.  There are still a few tweaks I want to make in the space, but installing these dividers made a huge difference.

If you’re looking for more design inspiration, check out these previous posts!

My Top Picks for Outdoor Entertaining + Decor

Venice Beach Living Room High-Low

How to Style a Family Bookshelf