When the wire shelf came crashing down on my head, I knew I’d be tearing them out. I mean, who would set up a pantry like this in the first place?!

After lots of measuring and many trips to Lowes, I had everything I needed. I decided to put three shelves on the left-hand side that run all the way to the back wall. Then, on the back wall, I wanted bead-board adding vertical lines to draw the eye up. On top of the bead-board on the back wall, I wanted one deep shelf that would hang above a built-in cabinet. And that weird ceiling bump-out between the front and back part of the pantry? Totally unnecessary. But, I had an idea - a faux beam.

Here was my very artistic plan:

I opted to build shelves that look like really thick pieces of wood. I did this by building what I like to call “shelf skeletons” - these look like ladders and will end up being the guts of each shelf. Then, I essentially wrap those ladders top, bottom, and all three visible sides (one side will be up against the wall) in nicer, stained wood. I used 1/2” plywood on top, trim boards for the sides, and 1/4” plywood on the bottom, all stained the same color. This (kind of) gives the illusion of a really chunky shelf, but without the weight or price $$.

Shelf skeletons waiting to be completed. See that faux beam?!

I found a utility bar at Ikea and knew it would be the perfect addition to the pantry. I use it to hang a small broom and some other supplies on the right wall.