Drawer = More Counter Space

I don't know very many people, even those with their dream kitchens, that say I have more counter space than I need. My home (built in 1912) and my store (built in 1917) have their original kitchen footprints including counter space. Therefore, I never seem to have enough counter area, anywhere. With that in mind, today I was setting up for our Valentine's event at Le Potager. Our new spring vignettes are set up throughout the store and decor has taken over an area I usually use to serve food and beverages during our events. I have a little trick that I use quite often and I called into action once again today.

I enlisted an old potting cabinet on our back courtyard.

Opened the second drawer down. Placed a terra cotta pot upside down in the center (for extra support).

I laid the old enamel seed sign on top of the open drawer and closed the drawer, wedging in the sign.

Voila! This creates a rustic platform to use as a serving sideboard.

I decided that rustic was not the look I wanted for our valentine's champagne and chocolat offerings.

I wrapped the sign with a spring floral fabric and surrounded the plateaus with giant pink peonies. 

Just add champagne & chocolates!

Inside the shop I needed to add some great new travel candles to this small area where we display French soaps and fun girlie things. I used the same drawer trick with a vintage mirrored vanity tray.

The result is more useable counter space. I use this same idea at home as well. When entertaining, I have a piece of marble that spans several open drawers in my kitchen creating much needed additional serving area. The nice part of using marble is I can just lay cheeses, fruit and crackers directly on it. Butcher block would work well also. Be creative, have fun.