Update an Old Shelf

When you are presented with a DIY challenge you take it. You start thinking about what you are going to do, how you are going to make it a masterpiece.

Then there are some challenges you should just not even think about. 

I was asked by a friend if I could do something with her shelf. At first glance, I said, "Sure, throw it away".

I mean really...you would have said the same thing.

It was old, outdated and just plain ugly. But, she loved her shelf and it was the perfect size in her bathroom next to her sink. So what the heck. I wanted to see what I could do. 

First thing I did was pull the tarnished, faded gold brassy bar off. I could have puttied the holes, sanded and refinished it. But, instead I decided to paint the bar with Rust-oleum's Metallic Satin Nickel

Then I lightly sanded the shelf and stained it with Minwax PolyShades Bombay Mahogany.

I really like how it darkened the natural wood grain and it seemed to have brought the shelf to life. 

Or, I got it at least out of the 80's. LOL

After a couple coats and putting the freshly painted rail back on I kept thinking the shelf needed something. So I had a small spring curtain rod that I sprayed with the Satin Nickel spray paint and glued it to the wood brackets.

And, here you have it an updated shelf with a towel rod. 

It now has a multi-purpose use in her bathroom. 

A little stain and paint can go a long way to a new look on an old shelf. 

Don't you think?

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Dressed up bookshelves...

Now that it's the new year one of my goals is to finally get some projects done that I've had on the back burner. And, one of these projects was these bookshelves in my office.

I have been wanting to re-do them for awhile and since I just couldn't figure it out it became a catch all. I knew I didn't want to paint them...Love the black! The decision was to paint the back, wall paper, scrapbook paper, stencil...so many options.

The decision I made was to cover it with fabric. I didn't do the back of the shelves on all three bookcases I changed it up. That's how I roll. I like to be different. 

Since I'm always changing things around here I didn't want to do anything permanent. So I went to my favorite craft store....Big shout out to HOBBY LOBBY!! And, bought some foam board. I measured the shelves and the back of the shelves and sketched out the measurements on to the foam board.

Next step was to cut them out. Easy enough, right? NOT!! Do not use scissors they don't work well cutting foam boards.

The best thing to use is a utility knife. I had to enlist the help of hubby because I don't have much strength in my right arm and hand. And, for other reason's he doesn't like me to play with knives. 

And, this is why he doesn't let me play with knives. All I had to do was cut the corners out and if that knife would have slipped it would have been a bloody disaster.

 I'm a hair stylist and cut my hands all the time....I'm not scared!!!!

And, here's where me being different comes in. I'm covering the actual shelves on the two end units. And, the boards fit perfect.

Now that I have them all cut, it's time to add some fabric.

I use spray adhesive and I can tell you this is the best stuff, EVER!! Just don't be like me and spray it working on your floor. I now have tacky carpet. It's OK, we are moving AGAIN in a couple months.

I measured and cut the fabric.

Sprayed adhesive lightly on the foam board.

Laid the fabric over the foam board and smooth it out.

Then I flipped over the foam board and sprayed the edges and corners. Pretty perfect if I do say so myself.

All done...

Now let's see how they look...

I am jumping up and down doing the happy dance...I love them...love, love, love!!

I did the same thing to the center shelf, I just made boards for the back instead of the actual shelves. I did not have to tack anything down. The fit was nice and snug. 

Here's some before and afters of my finished bookshelves...

The shelves are in my office and I'm doing the room with French Vintage, Burgundy and Aqua accents. So I do have a few things to still do but I SOOOOO love my book shelves.

Sorry for the long post. But, I hope you enjoyed it as my as I enjoyed this transformation.

{sorry for blurry photo...I'm working on my photography skills -promise}

Oh yeah...I almost forgot a big one...I'm a new, regular guest contributor over at The Taylor-House . I'm really excited about it and want to give a big "THANK YOU" to Chrissy for having me. 

Hop on over and read about the Dresser that I Dressed Up!!

~Have a CRAZY BEAUTIFUL week~

A little organizing going on...

I've been a busy bee today at mi casa lately...and it feels GREAT!!!

I'm making my way through my crazy 2012 checklist...woo hoo (happy dance)

My first trip was my purse...and you can say "WTH" with me...Not sure what was going on here and I can't even make excuses to what happened...

Yes that all fit in my purse...LOL

Don't worry I got this!!!

(along with this purse organizer I've had for years)

Much better...

It will stay like this for awhile...I hardly carry a purse ;-)

As I was putting a few things in my nightstand I realized...NOOOOOO!!!

Nothing more can go in the nightstand...See what I mean...

You know what I had to do next!! Empty the drawer and clean it OUT...

I had a couple little baskets from the dollar store to help organize this mess and they worked perfectly...Now I can actually find something in here ;-)

BEFORE & AFTER

While I was on a role organizing...One of the things I have on my list is to purge and organize the front entrance closet...I haven't touched it since we moved in this house in May...

It's not a total disaster (like my bedroom closet) but I couldn't stand it...I felt like I was fighting everything to get one thing out of it.. The rack on the door used to be in my pantry and was perfect for that space...Unfortunately, it doesn't fit in the pantry at this house so I stuck it in this closet and it turned into a crap collector...See where I threw all the baggies, kitchen foil and cling wraps!!

(Darn things fall all over the place when I open the door)

Everything else was just tossed in there and not really sure what all the coats are...We seem to wear the same ones all the time...

The only way to get started on this project is to take everything out of the closet...

I'm not putting any thought into this...If I dont' use it...say buh bye!!

Here are the coats that we are going to donate to the homeless (top pile)...and, my Columbia winter coat (bottom pile) I will store away for when I have to make a trip up North in the winter...I'm from PA and my husband is from MD so it's a good possibility I will need that coat again...It's too thick for me living in the South..

I grabbed some extra baskets I had (Thanks to my dear friend, Roberta) and used them in the closet...They worked perfectly...Especially for all those kitchen baggies and stuff...

I now have room for "NEW" coats...LOL

(You'll see what I mean in a few)

My battle getting the vacuum cleaner out of the closet has now come to an end and the hubby's shoes have a new home...

The closet now looks nice and organized the way I like it...I utilized every inch of it including the rack on the door...I used the rack for umbrella's, gloves and scarves...

BEFORE & AFTER

And, lucky me!!! Hubby bought me a new coat...LOL

(I'll be purging that closet again in no time ;-))

It has been a VERY productive day for me...Organized, Created my budget planner spreadsheet, Downloaded my photos from New Year's Eve on my personal FB page for all my friends to see, Blogged and talked to my dear friend, Roberta @ The Love Shack for 2 hours...We always have lots to say!!!

Now time for me to get dinner going, work on my life journals and I think I'll play on Pinterest...There goes my night....lol

HAVE YOU HAD A PRODUCTIVE DAY???

Spiced Up IKEA Expedit

If you know me or have been following my crazy life then you know that my SHELVES drive me nuts...

I love them but decorating them is quite the adventure...

Place objects on shelve...step back and look...take objects off and move to another shelf...step back and look...REPEAT!! (for months)

Makes me "CRAZY"!!!

One of the shelves I have is the IKEA expedit and I love it because of the all the dividers...just if I can get them decorated to my satisfaction...

(Are we ever really satisfied???)

I vote NO!!!

My expedit has wicker baskets...love them...and drawers and cabinets...which I love as well...great storage...It's just they make the darn things "White" and to me it's distracting...

See what I mean???

No matter where you put them the eye just stops...boring!!!

If you sit and look at something long enough you get an apiffany (my big word for the day)

I busted out some supplies...

It was time to give my expedit a makeover...

Don't you just love mod podge??

I took them boring...eye sore...white drawers/doors and gave them a much needed face lift...

(Boy do I wish mod podge could do that to my face..lol)

Ready for the big reveal???

Taaa Daaa....

What a difference...it gave my expedit some chicness...

I went from BORING....

To fabulous....

Now I will stare at it as it sits on the wall across from my desk and work on getting the decor where I want it...But for now I don't have "WHITE" distracting doors/drawers...

I'm open to shelf decor ideas!!!

TELL ME ABOUT A MOD PODGE IDEA YOU HAD TO REVAMP SOMETHING???