Coffee Station – Lazy Susan Caddy Edition

I’ve been working on my coffee (and tea) station for months now. You are probably wondering what could possibly be taking so long to require one blog edition after another. The truth is, the project is almost complete and I have been enjoying my hot beverage spot. However, there are a couple of details still in progress and this is why I am holding off the full reveal. I wanted to post the “Lazy Susan” caddy project in a separate post, because I’ve had quite a few peeps ask to see more details, after sharing it on Instagram.

Lazy Susan – ingenuity at its best!

First off, I love the whole concept of a Lazy Susan. Who(m?)ever came up with the moniker missed the point and should be ashamed of themselves. There is nothing lazy about it. Actually, the contraption is nothing short of genius! It makes things more convenient. I mean, I can no longer imagine taco night without all toppings on a turn table so everyone seated can easily help themselves. YUM!

And what better solution could I possibly want to house different goodies to help customize any hot drink. As I am used to by now, I hadn’t seen any examples of it and couldn’t find a ready-made solution. This turned out to be one of those times, where I needed to look outside of the kitchen department.

So, I started looking in office and bathroom departments of my all time favorite HomeGoods. Somewhere in the cat/dog section I hit the jackpot. So, I am not completely sure if this particular caddy was originally meant to hold pencils or lipstick. Either way, I found what I needed – a two-tier turntable organizer with a lot of different sections.

Another lucky find!

Structurally, the caddy was everything I needed. What I didn’t like was its chalky and dull color. I even found cracks in paint in some spots. At least that was an easy fix. I had some leftover chalk paint that I used on the picture frame housing the wall art in the nook.

Time to channel Bob Ross!

I used Deco Art Americana Chalky Finish Paint, 8-Ounce in Yesteryear and the (affiliate) link to it if you’d like to purchase it.

In the photo below, the contrast between the original and new paint is pretty obvious. Although, I have to mention that the paint does dry a bit lighter.

The joy of chalk paint!

Also, no special brushes needed. The surface was porous enough that I could paint without any sanding and after light cleaning!

To finish the process, I used Minwax Polycrylic in Clear Satin giving it just a right amount of sheen.

Voila!

And here is the finished product! I see a massive improvement from the original state. In attempt to protect the buffet, I paired the caddy with an acrylic tray. And I like the way their reflective surfaces complement each other. Also, the trey doesn’t get too much use on regular basis. This is why, I decided to make this its permanent placement until I need it for serving.

But, looking pretty and staying empty is not what caddies are meant for.

This meant I needed to figure out what I wanted to incorporate. So, I picked up some glass jars that fit so nicely on the top tier around that center cylinder. After rummaging through the kitchen cupboards, I settled on my choices of flavors. Then, I made it official with the label maker. Obviously, this can change at any time.

The (current) final look!

The cream and sugar dishes were a thrift store find. I’d had them for a couple of years just waiting on a good perch. And this compartment was just the right size.

The adjacent compartment now houses a dish with Stevia and I am still working on the third one.

I decided to use the cylinder on top for the coffee scoop I use quite often. Also, I mixed in some honey sticks. I do have to be honest here! I got these sticks more for decoration and a pointer to what this caddy is actually for. However, I do not plan to use them. Also, I will be offering visitors honey from a jar I have on the side.

More significantly, I designated this very spot for my grandmother’s manual coffee mill. It may look newer because my mother had it nickel-plated (not quite sure why.) In actuality, my grandma acquired this kitchen device some time in the 1960’s.

Ever since I was a kid, this mill and many like it, were a source of wonder for me. The dark brassy surface was the witness to its age. Metal pieces so worn, they allowed the lever to move freely. You could hear each coffee bean being crushed into powder.

It was an integral part of the coffee drinking ritual. When someone invited a neighbor over for coffee, the host would fill up the mill with freshly roasted coffee beans and get to work. Only after a good whirl under the mill’s blades, is the coffee transferred into a pot to be prepared.

This slow process gave the opportunity for friends to catch up. It serves to prolong that visit a bit, before having to go back to their busy lives.

For me, this nostalgic reminder of a social custom from the bygone era brings comfort of a warm embrace reminiscent of a happy and safe childhood.

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