A few weeks ago I was challenged by Wickes to come up with an idea to create a ‘Summer Kitchen’. As you may have gathered, I love a good home DIY project! So this was ideal, especially as I had the perfect blank canvas to work with.
This area used to feature a little gallery wall, but eventually we got bored with it and fancied a change. Not really being sure what to do instead with the space, it remained bare and empty like this for several weeks.
So I thought it would be nice to bring a bit of greenery into the kitchen and pondered over a way to display some planters containing herbs on the wall. The options were either to use a Wickes garden trellis panel, which I think would look nice painted with some Colour @ Home emulsion, particularly in a rustic or retro kitchen. For me though, and my preference for a more industrial look, I was tempted to use two of these Galvanised Mesh Panels from Wickes and a couple of packs of their Zinc Plated S Hooks to hang my pots with.
What a bargain too; it is less than £20 for two panels and some packets of hooks. We positioned them side by side on the kitchen wall and fixed them securely using some galvanised brackets that we already had in the shed. But you could use any strong hooks really to hang these panels from as they are pretty light, although if you planned to hang anything heavy from them, make sure they are well secured to the wall.
I also sourced some craft metal buckets, chalkboard labels and shopped for my herbs in the local supermarket.
The copper pails looked a bit brownish and since I already had some copper spray-paint from a previous craft project, I gave one of the little buckets a quick spray to brighten it up and teamed it with two glossy white buckets and one galvanised silver one. The chalk labels add a nice finishing touch and are easy to write on – just remember to do this before you stick them on! You can use either a stick of chalk or a chalkboard pen, available from stationers, which can be wiped off with a damp sponge and re-written on any time.
As well as perfect for supporting containers that hang from S hooks, the mesh panels are also great for clipping cards and photos to if you use some craft pegs. I love contemporary postcards, so added a few in the gaps between the herbs plus some other accessories to add interest.
I like how the wall has become both decorative and practical and can be changed as often as we like with different herbs, plants or accessories.
It could even become a giant wall planner, with the addition of a chalkboard hanging from a rope, plus extra pegs for holding reminders, appointment cards and party invitations. Alternatively, you could hang your mugs and kitchen utensils to keep them nicely organised.
Of course this is just one fun and inexpensive feature for a Summer Kitchen, but there are lots of other ways to improve your home with Wickes. Right now they have some amazing offers including 50% off kitchens units this summer, making a stylish new kitchen more budget friendly than ever. There are many designs to choose from, such as the smart and classic Heritage range for a more traditional look and the sleek and modern Sofia range which has a glossy, streamlined style. So if you are keen to do some kitchen upgrades of your own this summer, why not head to the Wickes Kitchen showroom now and start planning!
Collaborative post
This looks fabulous. What a brilliant idea. I’m standing typing this in my kitchen/dining room and am looking around to spot a space to duplicate it. Our kitchen is quite modern so could take the industrial look too. Plus, we could use some extra hanging space as all my herb pots end up squashed along the window sill.
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