Filed under: Kitchen, Your Home
"The wires to my stove, refrigerator and dishwasher all plug in to an outlet high on the wall. It looks hideous! How can I fix it?" -Tricia BlanchardTHE HOMEOWNERS
The Blanchards
BEFORE
When it comes to non-negotiables in a home, garbage cans and electricity top the list. Making them look attractive, however, is always a challenge. What do you do with all those wires? In the Blanchard's kitchen, an awkwardly placed outlet and makeshift trash cans have left one corner in a tangled mess.
Enter Minute Makeover guru Bob Richter. His plan is to conceal the wiring needed to run all of the Blanchards' appliances and tidy up their garbage collection area. To do so, Richter's starting with an item the Blanchards already own -- a tall white storage cabinet that isn't getting as much use in its current location. He moves the cabinet to a spot alongside the refrigerator where he can streamline the wiring by attaching a power strip to the back. Now there's just one cord to worry about, and that's taken care of by open shelving and family photos. And those paper bags? Gone. Storage bins do the job and look much better.
AFTER
The Blanchards' trash-sorting area is both practical but personal without a hint of the electrical wiring hiding just beneath the surface.
THE GOODS
To see what IKEA products were used, scroll over the pieces in the video or check out our shopping guide!
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