apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would just cover the face on the inside with some sort of wrapping paper or wallpaper that matches the wood. Keep in clean and simple. No pasta!

Old spoons?


And please tell me your not going to have the fake ivy above your cabinets too?!

Can you place a sheet of beautiful paper against the glass? Or if you are creative or have kids - have them draw something for the liner and switch it out as needed.

For a more funky look perhaps industrial materials like paper clips or bolts or patterned plastic.

Dried beans, whole grains, dried artichokes, star anise, etc.

How about some dried beans or lentils? Some colorful paper? Buttons? Polished rocks or small shells? Do you want something functional that you can remove and use, or just something that looks cool?

I'm not sure the look you're going for so I don't know what to suggest that would be up your alley.

I wish they were my drawers. I think they could really give the room character.

You could use grains, like farro, spelt, barley, steel-cut oats. You could use whole coffee beans. Also, try whole dried herbs and spices like lavender, cumin, star anise, cardamom, and red chili peppers. Those can be had in bulk for relatively low prices from an Asian or Indian grocery.

twigs! but then again, i'm a total arborphile. i love me some trees. i would probably pick a nice, muted colored paper to line the back of the drawer with, and the fill it up with some pretty birch branches to bring some earthy color and texture in. i've seen lots of people fill them with pasta, candy, etc. boring. what about making your own little collage and sliding it in? if the backing of the window space is unattractive, again I'd use some attractive scrap to line it, and make some wire sculptures to suspend in there, if you're crafty.

Window film.

I've seen FruitLoops multicolor cereal displayed in this type of drawer. What about beach glass. Corks.Perhaps mirror glass cut to fit so the drawer reflects. Perhaps art work or colorful paper would also work. If you want it to be bright and colorful you could use old comic book art or advertising graphics.

I'd replace them with a panel of stainless steel.

I agree, some translucent window film would be a good solution. I bought some here: http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/dcfix/Transparent.htm

I've used the "Stripes" cling film which looks exactly like ribbed glass. I applied it to my weird sliding patio doors leading to my bedroom and have lots of privacy now while still letting in light. Very easy to apply and can be taken off and reapplied without any hassle. Cheap, too.

huh... is this a functional drawer with a small window to put stuff or is the whole drawer like that?

I'd try and get "regular" replacement drawers... or i guess i'd fill them with whatever i have extra of.

Beer caps, wine corks, the coffee beans idea wasn't bad. I'd probably line it with a fabric to match your curtians, handtowels, or other linens.

Who are these people that thought... oh i know what this kitchen needs, decorative drawers! Weird, good luck.

Change the glass out with etched glass, or patterned glass, or stainless steel, etc. Who says you have to see into, or fill, the pocket behind the opening?

hmm, would family photos in black and white be weird?

I would caution against pasta or rice or any kind of grain because of the threat of pests. I like the idea of lining the glass with decorative paper or etching it with something decorative. (You can get etching solution at the craft store and do it yourself)

i'd get a new drawer!

FABRIC!!! Amy Butler's new line, called "Midwest Modern" would give you lots of gorgeous choices, and they're all $8/yard.
Hand-made paper from a cool little paper shop would also be great-the pasta idea is very 70's-sorry!

You can purchase a new drawer front. I like the beans and lentils idea.

I was thinking a solid color of m&ms? jelly beans? But I hadn't thought about the pests-aspect... hmmm.

pennies

I like the drawers! I'd do either window film or paper, but I actually kinda like the marbles (although I do understand that it doesn't quite match the kitchen, but it would make sense for us). We have a bowl of pachinko balls that we'd probably put in there. I also have votive holders that I've filled with puffy dandelion heads.

On a practical note, strips of pandan leaves would look nature-y and repels ants & roaches.

how about smooth stones?

i also reallllllly like the cork idea. a labor of love. and buzz!

I'd say frost the glass... glass etching gel is a couple bucks at a craft store.

And the maybe get colored LED lights to place in the space the light it up?

Other ideas:
- M&M's
- Ant Farm!

I like the star anise idea...but in terms of pests, wouldn't dried lavender repel them?

If you can match the cupboards and pulls exactly you can get new drawers...

I like the idea of pretty paper, but coffee beans would be wonderful... just because your drawer would always smell friggin' amazing.

i say fill them with pharmaceuticals. (one with viagra, one with effexor and one with birth control pills).

that'll give people something to talk about at your dinner parties!

Wooden clothespins, pretty rolled dishtowels, beach glass (probably too heavy), pinecones. Fabric or art paper can be easily 'glued' with spray starch. Corks or twigs would be nice.

Green plastic army men.
Straight pins (matching the stainless appliances).
Cloves.
Legos.

My mom had these and would put dried stalks of wheat with the heads still attached, cut to fit, in them. Or dried lavender, either in bunches or just the flowers.

My suggestion is to "frost" the glass by either using etching creme or window film.
I do love the ant farm idea, though! Totally hilarious!

nails. paperclips. sand. shells. coffee beans. or something that makes people look twice and laugh. :-)

I know this wasn't the question, but I think painting that white window frame a colour that harmonises better with the tile and toning down the glaring white switchplates would make a great improvement.

As for the window drawers, I'm guessing you don't want anything whimsical or colourful since you don't care for the marbles, so I would go with dried beans. You can often find unusually coloured exotic varieties at Spanish food groceries around New York.

fabric, wallpaper, painting them on the inside, pasta, beans, glass pieces, pebbles, river stones, colored sand, dried flowers, dried herbs, coffee beans, change out the glass for another kind or etch it yourself (if you know how). The possibilities are endless and can change with your mood if you want.

I might be tempted to stick with the marbles idea, but swap over to steelies.
http://www.rainbowturtle.com/marbles-round-glass-steel-chrome-steel-marbles-c-418_323.html

You have a great kitchen with wood, stone, and metal elements. I think it would look great to carry over the metal to the drawers. If you look at the above link, you'll see a couple pictures that have an assortment of sizes in the image.

It would probably cost a small fortune to fill that space with the steel marbles.

Hey, remember these things, the balls on string
(animation at bottom of text):
http://www.steel-balls.net/

Here's another image of multiple sizes of steel orbs:
http://www.spheretecinc.com/products/stainless-steel/?gclid=CLfqj6WD45ICFRw9IgodMxXV7A

I think that looks splendid.

You could accessorize with a large steel ball on a stand, or incorporate a huge one in your garden that you view from your kitchen window as a Victorian gazing ball:
http://www.krupps.com/14-Inch-Stainless-Steel-Gazing-Ball/0_0_35_0_mol1409990sil_0_0

Or have one made into a fountain:
http://store.digitalgiftworld.com/m32004.html

Lots of ideas:
http://engineeronline.ws/SpherePictures.htm

So that you carry over an element of your outdoors to your kitchen, and your inside home to your outside home.

And they would look beautiful in a bowl around the holidays or for parties if you decided to take them out of the drawer. Outside in daytime in the sun, or at night by candlelight, or near a holiday tree, they would reflect the shine and flicker and twinkle.

Some neat ideas here! I think I'd like to see aquarium gravel in them. A type with smooth stones & in a color that matches your backsplash or countertop.
Whatever you do-please post pix.