Thrifty Tuesday Coffee Mug Bar

I can't take credit for this FAB idea!! I saw it first here http://raisinguprubies.blogspot.com/2012/10/wrappin-up-wednesday-no4-some-muffins.html on Raising Up Rubies Blog and thought it was GENIUS!!

IMAGE from http://raisinguprubies.blogspot.com/2012/10/wrappin-up-wednesday-no4-some-muffins.html

It got me to thinking....I could use something like this....and oddly enough within a short time of seeing this idea I found this at a local Shop & Swap and it was free...

**See that nickel satin finish curtain rod? I got that for FREE...I just had to but the hardware to hang it..
Little did I know that it's near IMPOSSIBLE to buy just the brackets for the rod without investing in what a new rod set would cost....I was un deterred though - I KNEW there was a cost effective alternative!

How about a pair of robe hooks? YEAH! Those should work!! 

 SO I decided this area right above my coffee maker would be the PERFECT spot...

And so I hung the hooks....and then I hung the bar and the mugs....

(** I have to add by saying I want more eclectic mugs and the kids will each choose one when we find the exact ones they love)

To hang the mugs I used these shower curtain hooks I found at K-Mart...

After living with the bar of mugs for a week I decided I should've put it on the other wall and moved the coffee maker over there....but I couldn't really drill 4 more holes in the opposing wall could I????

 She believed she could SO she did!!

Much better, no?

And where the coffee bar originally was, IS now the snack bar....it all worked out swimmingly don't you think?!?! The hooks were $8.00 - more than I wanted to pay (I'm sure If I held out I could've found some at the thrift) BUT I was anxious to get the project started! 

What has inspired you lately?!?!? I am perusing the following blogs that I have linked this idea too (LOTS of GREAT ideas on these blogs-  check them out!!)
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/
http://www.primpjunktion.com/
http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/