A pantry refresh with loads of vintage character
Built in 1920 in Triadelphia, West Virginia, Bambi Costanzo’s home has been a “passion” project. “I’ve been here since 1996 and have been lovingly restoring and adding onto it since,” Bambi says—including what is now a lovely country cottage pantry.
Her pantry shows just how much character this 100-plus-year-old home has. The pantry used to be a closet leading to the basement, but Bambi transformed it into the perfect country cottage pantry, which now holds many of her cherished treasures.
She ripped up the pantry’s linoleum floors to reveal original wood flooring underneath. “It’s worn and full of holes, but I think it just adds to the charm,” Bambi says.
She painted a striking checkerboard pattern directly onto the wood for added interest in her country cottage pantry. She also built the plate rack and the table that holds an assortment of her favorite vintage items.
“Just about everything in our house is secondhand. I love the ‘hunt’ and reimagining an item and using it for something other than its intended purpose,” Bambi explains.
When it comes to her style, she incorporates a “country cottage” flair.
“I’m drawn to blues, greens, browns and the warm tones of copper and worn wood.”
The green cabinet in the kitchen came from her grandparents, and it has moved around to almost every room in the house.
Bambi’s advice when mixing and matching secondhand items is to only use items you love: “As far as layering, I say, ‘The more the merrier!’” Bambi exclaims.
If the piece is your style and you love it by itself, it will be able to work in your house. Her trick for keeping a clean look is intentional storage.
“I love vintage baskets! You can hide anything and everything in them,” she says.
Homemade Boxwood Wreath With Oranges
If you’d like to recreate this wreath for your own home, here’s how Bambi Costanzo makes her homemade boxwood wreath:
What you’ll need:
- Boxwood
- Grapevine wreath
- Wire and wire cutters
- Skewer stick
- Small oranges
- Cloves
- Ribbon
What you’ll do:
- Lay the boxwood on the grapevine and secure it with wire. Repeat this process until the grapevine is covered and the wire is hidden and tucked in.
- Use a skewer stick to punch holes in the oranges in any pattern you like. This makes it easier to insert the cloves—and it also saves your fingertips.
- Stick the cloves in the holes you made in the oranges to create a design.
- Cut a piece of wire and stick it through an orange. Lay the orange on the wreath where you’d like and wrap both sides of the wire around the wreath. Twist the wire to secure it. Repeat this process for the desired number of oranges.
- Add a pretty bow with a ribbon of your choice and hang the wreath.
To see more of Bambi’s home, find her on Instagram: @number131.
For more inspiration for historic homes with cottage charm, read on about this 1920s kitchen. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!
