So the idea instead of a sliding door is to have a barn door sliding over an open shelf. Like we have seen in those amazing magazines (of course). Unfortunately the shelves did not turn out how I wanted. Here is the I inspiration pic:

You only posted an inspiration photo: whatbis the dilemma?

This is what they look like. See the rails. I don't like how it looks. Reminds me if a garage or storage room.

It will go away when you paint that trim white.

PLUS the barn door did not work out well. Once hung it would hang 3" above floor (hubby miscalculated) now we need to re-order). I really want to scratch the whole barn and shelf idea (although I had my heart set on it since last October). When I told hubby and he FLIPPED. Talk about drama.

I assume it still needs to be stained or painted? But is the door supposed to go over that? So close to the counter? Can we see a picture of the whole space? I have 2 expensive barn door tracks and I am sorry to say that neither works well and I'm glad I don't have to open and close them, like, ever.

Let it stay. It is a lot of fuss for a very small amount of Storage, but it will be fine. Your husband's sanity at a stressful time is more valuable. Btw I had the same inspiration pic (the first one). Your kitchen looks great-enjoy it.

I must add my contractor is gone now. Presently hubby is great doing many things as best he can, and is always looking for ways to make things more functional. But as I expressed I do not like shelf, he has said I am on my own to fixing it.

Ps the 2nd pic has reclaimed shelves-would you like those better?

Mind you I was not unkind nor ungrateful. I am even left thinking I should have kept my mouth shut, but WHY IF DON'T LIKE IT!! Frankly it just looks bad.

What do you think I should do to make rails less obvious? Paint wood or mayabe board up with a plywood??

Playing with ideas, above are pics.

Just paint them white. Once painted and decorated this will all seem silly

Once you fill those shelves you probably won't notice those rails. I know, to me, this is nothing to stress over IMO.

Thank you Sophie. Yes, paint store here I come!

Greenfish: Funny we had same inspiration pic. For me it was too good to be true. Yes the shelf is raw needing paint or stain. The door will slide open to access the pantry room. Gonna lose weight (ha!) if rail issues.

Lindsey: Thanks for the tips. I have been focusing on the LOVEs for sure. Hubby says contractor used wrong wood for shelving (it's already bent...so replacing). Going to definitely paint side of nook. Was thinking of island color for back too. Wondered if it would be to bland.

Kathy: You are probably right. This is petty I am sure. Pantry in the works. The shelves is presently storage for food, cereals etc. Morning breakfast is my trigger, lol.

Nira,,it's not bad at all. like was mentioned, paint the entire inside with white paint,,you won't see those rails. plus, when all your food is in there, you won't even see the walls!

as for the door, you can make it longer. they have different size pulleys that you can attach to the top of the door. if you show me what you have and what you want exactly, I can help you better.

however, the door stain should match the wood piece it's hung from. the dark and light don't work. you can paint something white, or stain them both the same tone. actually, if you remove the trim from around the pantry opening, you won't need the bump out of the wood panel above it,, remove both of those and just have the track on the wall

why don't you paint the door white and do black chalkboard paint on the middle panel? it would resemble your inspiration

kind of like this one

I agree with those above. Pain the whole thing white. Once you have stuff on the shelves you will never notice.

I know it's frustrating when things don't turn out the way we had hoped. To make the shelves look beefier like your inspiration, attach a 1x2 across the fronts making sure to keep the top edge of the 1x2 flush with the top of the shelf. No need to replace them as this will straighten and also make the shelves stronger.

If you do this, or replace the shelves with reclaimed wood, paint the interior to match the island, and fill the shelves, you'll be very close to your inspiration and won't notice the rails.

Here's a picture of shelving made of 3/4" plywood with a 1-1/2" facing tacked onto the front, to illustrate the process I was trying to describe

zsmith - I was about to suggest the same. I just did the top shelf here. If you paint the interior white, your shelf supports will disappear.

We did something similar on our family room built-ins. Pre-painting:

Paint it white get thicker shelves and stain them a walnut color

Very nice, oldbat2be. :)

And after you are done with all your little changes to make the shelves feel great, go hug that husband. Tell him you love him and thank him for all he has done. Kitchens come and go but the love from a good husband is to be treasured for a long long time.

~boxer

WOW guys, what great ideas! Thanks you guys! Seriously all this construction stuff is getting the best of me. I will be so glad when it's all over and can go on yearly vacay, surely not this summer cuz we broke after all this, ha!(hence the DYI's)

Beth: Thanks a bunch! Hubby saw our neighbor's method of wood stain (by flare) and tried it on the board but wish he would have told me prior. When I mentioned painting over it he went all drama :/

I do love your chalkboard idea and also did think to remove trim to make present door work BUT there is the appliance garage (awaiting door) to consider, also has trim.

Also how can the threeply edges be concealed (attaching pre- trim photo).

Lisa: Thanks definitely be painting. Will post update photo hopefuly soon. (Hard to get on it quick with 2 toddlers).

Zmith: YES beefy is THE word! Thanks for the pic.

Oldbat2be: How cool Thanks for taking the time. I like it! Your family room built in is very nice.

Elizabeth: YES YES you got it! Browsed your idea and found this photo. If I could graph my moods through this whole thing there would be some high cliffs and low dips, lol! but I am getting excited again!

If you have to return the door anyway, I would take Beth h's advice and get a white door, square paneled, do the chalkboard. If you paint the back of the shelves a color absolutely match the island. You have a lot going on and minimizing colors, materials, and shapes will help bring all of the elements together. Here is what I did w the same inspiration photo. Decided not to sink the fridge in there in light of view from entry and desire for pantry space. Note how trim was extended for rail. It actually worked pretty well just now!

Greenfish: Love what you did to the space! Looks super dreamy! Also saw your trim extension and LOVE LOVE the idea. Hubby is stubborn on his board (emotional on time spent) and leaving space between trim, requiring some heavy convincing. Your pic might just help, so thanks for that. No returns possible, oh well (Craiglist here I come) I am inclining toward a white door with chalk panel but hubby is set on a wood tone (again requiring heavy convincing). I like the idea if minimizing to keep simple for sure (am reading a book on KonMari method). Now if I could only get by by on board...

Boxerpal: Thank you and yes you are spot. Kitchens do come and go, in fact so do houses for that matter! Speaking of which here comes hurricane season again!

Keep the special board, paint the door. We had to add to our door so we could reuse one we already had:

Nira,

You are going to make your kitchen stunning, you just got stumped on this minor glitch with the barn door and shelves. I can't wait to see your beautiful kitchen unfold. And when I say go hug your husband. I say this because I was not always nice to my sweet husband. I look back over the 28 years of marriage ( 10 kitchens) and wish I been a little nicer to him. I need to go hug him.

: )

I agree that painting the inside white would disguise the rails but what I keep looking at is the clearance. Once you install the hardware and hang the door, every time you want to access the cabinet on the right, you're going to have to open the barn door.

Boxerpal: Awe that's so sweet! I can't wait either...lol. We've been married 20 yrs and I always would go with whatever he said. I must be going rogue now, lol!

Katin: The idea is for the barn door to remain next shelves, closing off pantry. Hoping rail runs smooth though. Here are some pre-paint cabinetry photos for more insight.

2 more before pics

It sounds as though you have covered all your bases. Good luck with your project!

oldbat2, what are those shelf supports that you used in your family room built-ins?

Those are sawtooth shelf supports, jellyetoast.

http://www.sawtoothshelfsystem.com

How is that counter top supported...

barnaclebob: Lbrackets from https://originalgranitebracket.com/products/hidden-l-granite-bracket?variant=1604871619

Double up the shelf thickness. Cut another set of shelves. Add to existing shelves. Glue up, wipe well. Sand and paint. Will help achieve heft of photo inspiration shelves.