Book Shelf Make Over with Removable Decorative Back

I recently completed a book shelf makeover for my master bedroom remodel (which is still in progress, 3 weeks later). This particular book shelf was inherited from my MIL. It has currently been serving as Hunky Hubby's night stand. 
It is a solid wood shelf with a laminate top.
Of course I forgot to take a good 'before' photo. However, you can make it out in the grainy photo below. 
It was a nice sturdy shelf, but there was nothing remarkable about it. Essentially, it just didn't go along with our new look for our bedroom. So, it was time to make it over.

I began by sanding the laminate top slightly to rough it up. 

Because of the top, I chose to use chalk paint on this project.

Chalk paint does a good job of adhering to just about any surface.

After two coats of paint on most areas, 3 on the top, I distressed the shelf with some sand paper. I wanted it to have a shabby chic look. Then, I sealed it all with a polyurethane finish. 

I had used the wax that is usually recommended on chalk paint on a previous project. So far I am unimpressed with it. It seems to collect all the dust and dirt even after being buffed. I wanted a more durable finish on this shelf, so poly it is. 

I do think that the poly slightly yellowed the paint color, even though it said it wasn't supposed to. It isn't enough that most people would really notice though.

I left the back of the shelf unpainted because I wanted to cover it with something decorative. However, I change my mind a lot so I also wanted it to be something that would be able to be removed. I decided to wrap some foam core boards that I had picked up at the dollar store with fabric. I measured the space at the back of the shelves and cut my boards accordingly.

For my fabric, I decided to up-cycle a cute scarf that was hanging in my closet. It had the right color scheme and pattern. 

I wrapped each board in the fabric and used duct tape to secure it. 

In hind sight, I would not use this type of fabric again simply because it was very stretchy.

When that was done, I used duct tape loops on the back of each board to adhere it to the back of the shelf.

I am really pleased with the final result. I know the fabric isn't completely straight (I blame that stretchy quality of the fabric I was talking about earlier), however because its the back of the shelf, I'm not really concerned about it. It will mostly be covered up.

Here is a view of the shelf in our space, ready for use. I included all of the things my husband likes to keep on his bedside table. Even the ugly alarm clock. I get a little irritated when you see a great project in someone's space that is styled in a very unrealistic way. Everything in our home needs to first be functional and then be stylish. 

This shelf is something that will be used daily. My husband needs his alarm clock, so it's a part of the shelf. However, I was able to hide the ever present kleenex box with a cute little wooden crate from TJ Maxx. The lamp is also from TJ Maxx. Everything else is either so old I don't remember where it came from or it's a personally made item. Like that cute little plane my son painted for his Daddy on Father's Day. Presh. 

Hopefully this little project inspires you to make over a drab piece of furniture in your home. I enjoy giving new life to things. This tired wooden shelf now looks updated and fresh. Which is kinda funny considering I distressed it! 

Laundry Room Re-Do

When we first moved into our house the laundry/entry room was painted stark white on every surface.  Now white can be a clean palette for some people, but I like a little color in my life.

I decided to take the room from drab to fab by painting it a bold color.

I am usually color conservative.  But I always admire other peoples bold colors in their homes, so I thought I'd try it myself.

I shouldn't have.  

I made a mistake by choosing a deep color for a small room with no natural light.

Although I really loved the color, instead of making the room fabulous, it made the room feel small and dark.

I painted the room a hot pink/raspberry color that was bold, exotic, and fun - and completely wrong for the space.  

I had originally thought to make it into a glitzy and glamorous space with a fun chandelier and a wild rug, but after I got the painting all done, I realized that finishing the room wouldn't improve the cave feeling that was prevalent.

Although I didn't love how the paint turned out in the room, I couldn't justify spending more money to repaint it.

Paint may be a cheap way to update a space but it isn't that cheap!

So, the laundry room stayed that color for over a year. 

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. 

Hunky hubby didn't love it, and neither did the boys. 

There were a few friends who liked it and there were even some people who never even noticed the color!?!?

Then, finally, the opportunity arose for the laundry room to be repainted.

We had been wanting to add some storage cabinets. Friends of ours picked a couple of matching cabinets up for us at a Habitat Restore. 

I gave the cabinets a face lift with a couple coats of paint and some new handles.

Before installing them though, I convinced H.H. that this would be the perfect time to repaint. It honestly didn't take much convincing because he didn't like the pink anyway. 

So on New Years Eve we repainted the laundry room!

I still wanted the color to be something feminine, but I learned my lesson with the bold color and decided that less is more.  H.H. helped me choose a pretty lavender color. 

It's girly without being overly girly. 

I love the color now. 

It is hard to see in the pictures, but it is perfect in the room.  It brightens up the space helping it to feel larger.

H.H. hung the cabinets above the washer and dryer.  Then he attached a pole for hanging shirts to dry and placed a shelf above that.  The cabinets add great storage and keep the room looking neater than the bare shelf that was in there before.

I would still like to replace that old gold light fixture with a cute chandelier. I'll be keeping my eyes open for something at a yard sale or flea market so I can have another DIY project. 

I picked up the wall art on clearance at TJ MAXX.

It says "smile, happy is beautiful".

I find this to be a helpful reminder when I am knee deep in laundry.  It is even more helpful when I am rushing out of the house after corralling kids and 2 dogs and coming back inside 3 times to grab the forgotten items off of the counter. In all that chaos, my face is seriously lacking a smile. I need this little reminder to stop, take a deep breath, and smile. Smiles help not only your face be beautiful, but your heart as well.

We added double rows of coat hooks behind the door.

This is for my coat fetish that I inherited from my Dad. That's right, I said Dad.

We also keep the bulletin board, calendar, and phone charging station in here.  There is a row of hooks under the shelf for the boys coats, although I am sure they will be outgrowing that soon.

The peg board wall holds baskets for 5 peoples shoes. It also holds house tools, hats, and duct tape.  Behind the wall on the left are 3 shelves that hold an array of miscellaneous junk that I have a terrible time keeping organized.

I think this is the most multipurpose room in the whole house!

Personally, if I was able to design my house, I would never have my laundry room be my entry room.  But my Mama always told me  "You need to do the best with what you've got". Sound advice that can be applied to many things, even laundry/entry rooms.

All things considered, we have done the best we can.  The new color helps.  I love the clean white cabinets and trim. It all comes together to make a pleasant room to be in. Which is nice because I am in here a lot.

I'd love to hear about your painting mishaps and what you did about it.  Leave a comment below!

Thanks for looking at our space.  Organizing ideas are welcome. As long as you can tell me how to train the kids to always put their stuff away. 

Pintsperation - Candle Stick make over

 

 

I got this idea off of Pinterest. But of course I've no idea where it is now.

So let me tell you what I did.

If you like it, you can do it too.

 

I was at the local Goodwill when I stumbled upon this truly hideous candle stick.

 It looks like it would have been in a room decorated with pastel clowns.

I'm not sure what the previous owner was thinking. Or the manufacturer for that matter.

Maybe that's why it was at the thrift store.

However, looking beyond the pastel headache of a paint job, I could see it had good bones.

It posesses a pretty hand carved design and it was made out of solid wood.

It was mine for $1.49.

A bit ambitious of a price, but there is no dickering at the Goodwill, so I bought it.

 

 

 

I brought it home, and performed a little back yard surgery.  I  cut off the top blue part that would have held the candle. I used a hand saw that Hunky Hubby had laying around the garage.

Power tools kind of intimidate me, at least the ones that can take off fingers.

After the surgery was complete, I got busy with my palm sander, sanding it down to as smooth of a surface as I could.

When that was done, (sorry I skipped a few pictures) I got busy with my bff - a can of white spray paint. I sprayed a  semi-gloss coat of pristine white paint on that bad boy.

 

Here's what it looked like when I was done:

 

The top was left with this slight indentation. I couldn't sand it down any further and I'm not a huge fan of wood putty.

I put on my thinking cap to come up with a solution, I didn't really want to be able to see this hole when it was done.

 

Turns out, a penny was the perfect fit.

And wouldn't you know it, Ol' Honest Abe was sporting the year I got married?

Neat-o.

I glued that penny right in the hole.



 

I guess you'd like to know what kind of glue I used.

I like E-6000.

It sticks to just about everything and it dries nice and clear.

 

Then I put a thick layer of glue on the entire surface.

I wanted enough to basically cover the whole thing so there wouldn"t be any bubbles under the glass.

 

I should probably tell you that I got the glass globe from the Goodwill too. But I think they are at the dollar store for even cheaper. Our Goodwill seems to think that thrift stores are actually for rich people who just want to slum it.

I pressed the globe down onto the candle stick and made sure to center it. I tried to schmoo it all around so that there would be full coverage.

 

 

Let it dry and ta-da!! You have a beautiful new

candy dish/candle holder.

It's multi-purpose at it's finest.

Pretty and functional.

The perfect marriage.

 



 

Here it is moonlighting as a candy dish.

I used it when I was decorating for a wedding shower.

 

 

Or stick a candle inside the globe and you've got a lovely candle holder.

Updated and incredibly cooler than when it first began.

 

The options are endless.

I just love a good make over, don't you?

I know, I know. Now you want to run out to the nearest thrift store and make one too.

Well go ahead fellow crafter.

Go and be creative!

Send me a picture of your make over.

I'd love to see what you've done.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jana