Does any heat come out of the back of the stove? If so, not good for wine;)

Is it a vent and needs to stay open? Could it at least be painted with special heat resistant paint?

I was thinking more of leaning something against the wall above it...like a chalkboard. Not sure if its a vent...I think the oven vents out of one of the burners.

I'm hesitant to paint it since I will only be here about a year or two...I don't think I'm allowed to.

Did you happen to see what the previous renters had there? It really is in an unusual place! It just needs to look good in the kitchen and on the counter there. I love chalk boards. Do you have one that is the same length? What else do you think you will put on this counter? Is it to sit at and eat?

Is that the back of the oven? Do you have a front view?

Stove?

@River- she is renting

"STOVE" ? ? ? Explain please!

jbv -- what's to explain? It's the back of the range (stove, oven), the kind of range that has the controls on a panel in the back. It's meant to sit against a full wall.

If it gets hot with oven use there aren't many options. No wine especially. If not then just stick a wine rack or terrarium in front of it.

It's a free standing stove where a drop stove should be. I'd stack used brick to hide it; leave the sides open.
Is the counter your only eating area? If it is, definitely ask the landlord to change the stove. They're cheap enough if you get a used one.

Cesca7- why stick a wine rack in front of it with no wine in it ;)

The stove is the whole appliance, which we see the back of here. I doubt the back of this gets hot, but I do think it needs the vents open a bit, even though they are usually against the wall.

River, it looks like a pass through to the living area. Any landlord who would put that stove there doesn't care. I could do that to myself for a temporary fix but not to a tenant.
Don't put a dime into this apartment, Gretchen.

It's not the only place to eat. Chalkboard...not sure what else. Maybe other little knick knacks. The brick idea would be good, but this room and the connecting living room have a breezy, cape cod type feel. Brick would be too heavy.

Its a pass through to the kitchen itself.

Pictures? Bread basket? Serving tray? Something wicker? Canisters of candy/treats/cookies? Cookbooks?

Maybe just some greenery.... plant, or floral arrangement (even a nice artificial)... just need something to take the focus off of it.

I like the lattice idea and the greenery. Thanks so much for all the great ideas!

does the front of the stove face the washing machine?

there is some space there, and a door which is open in the picture.

The chalkboard would work if it fits your décor. The brick would be like a mini hearth you could place votives in on the living room side. The next question is, do you want to block just the stove or the whole kitchen?

I think a wine rack is a good idea if it doesn't get warm but you'll have to test it out first. If that won't work maybe you can turn it into a decorative shelf with some framed photos, a plant, pottery, a tray, etc. You don't necessarily have to fully hide it, just distract the eye. Good luck in your new apartment.

Probably just the stove, but I wouldn't be opposed to blocking the whole kitchen

http://www.etsy.com/listing/152542698/get-2-18x30-rustic-framed-chalkboards?ref=related-0

in antiqued white?


http://www.etsy.com/listing/154385598/white-beach-terrarium-with-air-plant?ref=sr_gallery_41&ga_search_query=beach+plant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all

with this beside it

Margo, I only suggest wine rack if it gets no heat.

That would look nice- antique white. Just be sure you're able to secure the chalkboard- 30" is wide and could be weighty.

Yeah- my friend's condo was like this, but the sink was at the pass thru. Really awkward. Hers was an inside unit, so she installed opaque reeded glass to allow some light into the space.

If you don't use it as a pass through and there are no heat issues, then I would place a couple of bookshelves there and use it to empty that box.

Place an rack like this an inch or so in front of the stove if venting is an issue. http://houzz.com/photos/5502446
Then display your wine to either or both sides of it.

I would simply take some measurements and get a piece of wood cut to fit either the part that shows or all the way up. If it goes all the way up, maybe put sides so its like a box with a side missing to divide the counter into three areas. Two pass throughs and one alcove. PS why is River such an a$$? If you're going to talk like that, use a personal account and not your company. It's bad PR. And no River, I'm not a woman, just someone who understands this forum is to help.

It's decorating, terrius, not a NATO conference. Sometimes a good laugh is a lot of help!

Here is a variation of regina5697's idea:
http://houzz.com/photos/1015432

And another idea:
http://houzz.com/photos/824593

@brickin LOL LOL LOL

$0L- Lo$ -L$L

How about a tall screen? It will cover that whole area and then you can take it with you when you move.

If you don't need the counter space, you could also line up a display of distressed shutters and/or window boxes for a beach-y feel.
Your etsy finds are fabulous. The chalkboard crafter also had a muslin backed frame with a clothesline photo display. Pretty laid back and unique.

Do you get much natural light there? A nice rectangular planter the length of the stove back with a nice plant would be great. If you don't want the pass thru you could put a strip of lattice cut to fit the space in between planter and stove but a plant will do the trick unless it gets not there, which I doubt, since it'd meant to be against a wall. Pothos is easy to grow and doesn't require much light.