Just a few weeks ago, I finished and installed our new range hood cover. I spent so much time designing and creating the hood that it was all I could focus on. Now that it’s in, a few more design ideas came to mind to enhance the vintage European style I love so much. Our kitchen space is getting closer to my vision, so be sure to subscribe to see more updates in the future.

Here’s a Before and After of the range hood cover without and with the brass gallery and pot rails. The hood cover is great without, but I think it’s stunning with these additions.

We have an open concept floor plan that connects the living room, kitchen, and nook. Last year, I designed and created a new hutch in the kitchen nook. This addition has added so much storage to the space, but it also added style and detail. One of my favorite details on the hutch are the gallery rails on the open shelving. It’s such a lovely vintage touch and adds so much charm. I decided to add another gallery rail across the shelf on the hood cover, and I absolutely love how it coordinates with the nook built-ins.

One way to add vintage European style to your modern kitchen is to add a gallery rail to open shelving. The steps are easy, and the only tools required are a drill gun, screwdriver, measuring tape, and a pencil. Just be sure carefully measure and mark the spots for the gallery posts (ends and centers) and predrill for the included screws. I used a small screwdriver for the small screws and tightened them by hand, making sure to not strip the screws. I also used a hacksaw to trim the brass rail. Brass is a soft metal and was easy to saw. You don’t have to use brass, VanDyke’s offers other finishes, or of course you can use Rub N’ Buff to change the finish to copper or any metal that compliments your kitchen.

Once I completed the range hood cover, I moved all the cutting boards away from the stovetop backsplash. With the cutting boards gone, we get to see the beautiful herringbone backsplash, but it’s also a little plain. Don’t get me wrong, plain is great and has a place, but this area instantly inspired me to research pot rails. I didn’t want to totally cover up the backsplash, but a few tools hanging on a rail would add some charm, function, and more vintage European aesthetic. After much research, I got lucky to find a $16 option.

The brass pot rail comes in two lengths, and the 31.5″ long rail was perfect for my hood. Some bloggers used a tension rod, some drilled into their tile, but this pot rail from IKEA worked perfectly to be installed into the wood surrounding the vent fan. It comes with screws, but be sure to predrill and screw into solid wood for a secure hold. The brass hooks from IKEA are five for $5 and look quite nice. Some bloggers just use simple S hooks, but I like that these are a bit more substantial and fit the rail perfectly. The brass finish is a bit bright and shiny for my tastes, so I’m thinking about using antique gold Rub N’ Buff to create a more vintage finish. We’ll see, maybe a project for a lazy rainy day.

To further enhance the vintage European inspired style, you can add vintage looking artwork, cutting boards, and pottery. Functional and beautiful decor is my favorite combination, but I won’t be using these vintage utensils I found to hang from the pot rail. The screws that attach the pot rail are fairly small, so if you’re wanting to hang heavy pots from your rail, you’ll need to consider longer screws or maybe a different rail system. My rail is more for decorative or utensil purposes, and may be functional at times, but for the most part I’m happy with using it for decor. For just $16 it’s fine for what I’m using it for.

With each DIY and change that I make to our kitchen, I love it more and more. I honestly don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I’m not a cook, and it would be nice to have just one day without doing dishes, but creating a space I find beautiful and functional gives me motivation to spend more time in the space and to keep it nice and tidy.

I hope you’ll subscribe to my blog to see the future projects I have planned for this space (and the rest of our home). Some of the changes I have in mind are a full pantry redesign, including a new pantry door, changes to the island pendant lights, changes to the island and new bar stools. This kitchen is not my dream kitchen, but it’s quickly becoming a space I love and it’s looking closer to my favorite style.

Thank you so much for checking out this post. I hope the two decorative elements that I added to our kitchen to help create a vintage European style provides some ideas for your kitchen space as well. Gallery rails and pot rails are affordable and easy ways to add charm and character to a space. My hope is that you’ll look at your spaces in a new way and be inspired to create a space you love.