I have a tendency of finding things at garage sales and thrift stores that I don't necessarily know what to do with, but I know have potential. The corner shelf above is one of those things. I found this guy for $5 at a junk shop in Salinas, CA. For seven months it sat in a closet as I dreamt up how best to use it. It wasn't until my husband and I talked about how to organize our ever expanding spice jars that I realized where this shelf could shine. 

When I cook, I like to have all my equipment nearby. That includes spices. Keeping them in a cupboard has lead to frantic searches during the cooking process that just isn't pretty to look at. Since one of our electrical burners went bust, I've wanted to use that space for something and then it hit me; maybe this darn shelf can fill that void. 

The corner shelf didn't look so hot when I bought it, but like I said earlier, I saw the potential. I knew a few coats of spray paint would really help this guy shine, while also hiding a few rusty spots. I chose Rust-oleum's Painter's Touch in satin aqua, and then clear coated it with Krylon's Crystal Clear Satin finish. 

Since I didn't want our constant moving of spices to scuff up the shelves, I installed drawer liners on each shelf. The liner, made of natural fibers and lacking adhesives that can attract bugs, was found on sale at the Container Store. I cut a piece of cardboard to size and used it as a template to cut the liners. We installed the shelf using a combination of wood and drywall screws as well as small nails that go through the mesh for a little extra support. It doesn't hurt that our backsplash has a little lip on it as added reinforcement.

In all the entire project cost less than $20. Not bad considering many commercial spice racks cost just as much and aren't much to look at. So the lesson here is, if you see potential bring it home! You never know what someone's junk can be turned into. 

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