Adding character to a laminate bookcase
January 12, 2010
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I told you awhile ago how I was obsessing over wanting to move furniture around in our house. I also mentioned how that just doesn’t happen often in our house because of the open layout. Poor me, I know.
But one day a couple weeks ago I was standing in our loft/playroom and found myself staring at a corner that drove me nuts:
It’s that area over by the window – the bookshelf has always bothered me there. It just felt too cramped – especially when every. single. book. is taken off the shelves. I either wanted another shelf for the other side of the window to balance it out or wanted to move it out of that spot completely. I couldn’t get a second bookcase because it’s actually a hutch that goes on top of a desk – and I got it on my one and only glorious trip to the local Ballard Designs outlet years ago. We went with an empty mini van and couldn’t see out the back window on the way home. ;)
Enter the moving of furniture. I slid the sucker over by our stair way and it turned out to be an absolute perfect fit!:
So I thought up a solution I think turned out pretty well. I measured the size of the top of the hutch, then went and had a piece of wood cut to the same measurement. I also grabbed six “bun” feet to raise it off the floor a bit:
I measured the same distance in all around and drilled starter holes for the feet:
The bun feet didn’t really twist in super tight, but they work fine. I also got a piece of trim molding to dress up the base of my new “bookcase” and cut it with my miter box to fit around the front and the two sides:
A coat of my trusty Black Suede paint from Home Depot and it was done. I absolutely love how it turned out!:
It’s just that little something it needed! I removed the meeeellion stuffed animals and now it’s such a lovely, warm spot when we go up and down the stairs:
I didn’t attach the base -- just set the bookshelf on top! The accessories can be seen as you come up the stairs, so because I’m just a little bit crazy, they had to be items that look good from both directions – which is harder than you’d think, especially when you’re shopping your house!:
The corner where the shelves were before is SO empty now, which I’m OK with for now --- I’m enjoying all the space.
Before:
But now I have an idea for something fantastic by each window! Yippee! I love moving stuff around!
I’m working on a mini redo in our family room I hope to show you soon. It started with a rug and it’s spilling into the rest of the room. :)
Love it!
ReplyDeletelooks absolutely better! great job!
ReplyDeleteStunning and PERFECT. I agree- it looks fabulous where it is now by the stairs and you did a WONDERFUL job making the base. I have some serious envy happening right now... ergh....lol!!
ReplyDeleteSo, i'm reading your post to use what ya got. And i got that lamp (base actually) those candlestick bases AND A VERY SIMILAR BOOKSHELF. only in barn red. Thanks a bunch - now i feel i have to go move something. other than this pile of laundry under my feet. It looks great though :)- cute bun feet!
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love a free makeover! I love adding the base on the bookcase idea!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to find when things just "click" into place.
ReplyDeleteGreat job upgrading your shelf. Looks great!
very nice makeover! you're so talented!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great makeover! Love the transformation!
ReplyDeleteWay cool, I'll take 2. You should sell those! I like the placement better, less cramped.
ReplyDeleteMegan
It changed the whole piece. It gives it a much more high end look! Good job lady!
ReplyDeleteI can't really see the dinosaur terrarium. PLEASE share more!
ReplyDeleteLove the room, BTW!
Dang! I hate that you inspired me at 9:30 at night!! Arrgh! Hope I'll be able to sleep. Maybe I'll dream of the perfect spot to move something that I already own!! Thanks for another inspiration. PS - I just moved a little bookcase into my sunroom (after rearranging) and love it!! A little lamp - a couple of baskets - viola!! Nite Nite!
ReplyDeleteI love it! We got the same footings and raised my husband's bed side drum table. Such an inexpensive fix and it looks so pro! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great. Love the way the shelf turned out when you added the base. You are so creative. Love it!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job!! This piece looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with the bookshelf, and I think it fits perfectly in its new home!
ReplyDeleteI love how it looks, I love the new base. Fabulous. I don't want to be a party pooper, but my kids were climbers. Is your Bub a climber? I forget how old he is, but my guys used to climb their book shelves, and even open up their drawers to make themselves a ladder to get to the top of their dressers...
ReplyDeleteSeriously, sorry to harsh anyone's mellow, but just thought I'd toss that one out there.
It sure looks great though!
wow what an amazing improvement!! I would never even think of doing that! great job :)
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great idea, Sarah! I love that you added molding to the base you made ~ it really finishes it off nicely.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love moving furniture around. It's always fun when something works put perfect as well. There are those times that I scoot a bunch of furniture around, only to move it all back where it started!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that amazing what such a "small" change can do for a piece? The visual weight at the bottom really evens it out, and gives it authority in it's spot - great piece.
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks great! What a great idea! Is thatblack suede paint, spray paint or in a can?
ReplyDeleteVery nifty idea Sarah! Love the bun feet and the fringe lamp. :)
ReplyDeleteYou make it look so easy! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteYOU GO GIRL! The idea you came up with for the base looks GRRRRREAT! Love it, love it, love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thought and it turned out so nice. Way to go.
ReplyDeleteLove the *new* piece. It's "fierce," to quote Mr. Siriano. ;) Did you know PR comes back on this week? I am so pysched!
ReplyDeleteGirl! You did a FABULOUS job with the bottom of that hutch! Love, love, love it!
ReplyDeleteGrins!
Pamm
Such a clever idea! Looks fantastic!
ReplyDeletei absolutely love it! You are sooo good!
ReplyDeleteOH. MAH. GAH. You totally just solved a problem I've had with this big hutch I've got in my kitchen. I wanted to take it apart but wasn't sure how to make it work. So after forcing my husband to read thru your blog he's agreed that it's "do-able". Thank you thank you thank you! I will try to post with the outcome!
ReplyDeleteA great switch! Funny though, because I thought it would be much more sturdy with the new base you built (very handy of you, by the way!).
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's fun to start moving stuff around and see what happens!
It's perfect for that spot. The base and feet really make it look like a bookcase now. Love this.
ReplyDeleteLooks perfect there! Moving furniture around it one of my favorite things...like free decorating! I think I've passed the gene (or is it a disease?) on to my kiddos too.
ReplyDeleteYep, I like it much better with the base and in its new location.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely made that work! Such a great transformation.
ReplyDeleteOne word...BRILLIANT!
ReplyDeleteYou always always amaze me!!! Well done! ox
ReplyDeleteVERY nice and effective! And so simple. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow do you think of these things! Wow, great idea! Made it look expensive! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
I'm surprised at how much better that corner looks with the bookcase moved. Good eye.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm especially impressed with how you whipped out that new base for the bookcase. What a difference that made. Great job!
You little carpenter. Making what you need to get what you want! So smart such a great change.
ReplyDeleteYou really do have a great blog here. I have a blog myself which brings inspiration and guidance to people all around the world. Life is hard enough, and I hope my site can contribute anything positive to someone's day.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to exchange links with you to help spread some traffic around between each other. Please let me know if this is possible. Until then, keep up the good work.
Jason
TheWISDOMWALL.com
What a difference such a small change can make! It looks like it was made to go in that spot by the stairs!
ReplyDeleteLove it with that base on it! You are one smart chick!
ReplyDeleteCute, cute, cute !! The bookcase looks perfect in its new spot. I, too, love the bun feet ... job well done (as always) !!
ReplyDeleteYou take after my husband...he always wants to move furniture around. I'll only move furniture to clean behind it. The base looks wonderful as well as the new home for the shelves.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a difference! Love it!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I want to be you when I grow up. Too bad that I am already a senior citizen! Seriously, you never cease to amaze me. Keep up the great work. Hugs, Carole
ReplyDeleteVERY cool. I do like it better! Both spots! Can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve.
ReplyDeleteCompletely love it! :).
ReplyDeleteGreat spot for it, rearranging is fun!
ReplyDelete~Michelle
Very nice almost freestyle. I love rearranging furniture and shopping from home. It's amazing how much a room changes by introducing or removing something. I'm excited to see what you end up doing with the family room.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job! I'm loving this!!! But I'm DYING to know....what is the vinyl saying under your floating shelves? :)
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! It's amazing what we can do when using what we already have! :) I really like the new spot for the bookshelf too, you're right, it looks perfect there!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Stacey
bookshelf makeover really made a huge difference! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great! I really like what you did there. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks so good. I have a loft and I want to convert it into an arts and crafts room. I just don't have any good ideas on what I need to buy or how to even decorate it. any ideas? Frugal ideas?
ReplyDeleteI love it! Great job!
ReplyDeleteOk... Now that is a SMART idea! So impressed... Way to go!!
ReplyDelete~Whitney
That is a great idea, and it looks so much better! Great job!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! It's amazing how much better the shelves look with the base on them. Aren't you clever to come up with that solution? :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm always shopping my house, too. You just inspired me to try something new with my SLAH tray.
ReplyDeleteYou have taken a piece of knock down type furniture and made it into a classic. It looks great. Since you like moving furniture around, I bet this piece would look equallly as nice in other parts of our house - as it goes with evertyhing.
ReplyDeleteLOVE what you did, it did GREAT!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! Thank you for sharing your decorating ideas...I don't think I have bought a single magazine in 4 months. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteHey lady! Love the bookshelf redo and move . . . and just so you know, if you are ever in insanity land by me, I have a Ballard outlet just 25 minutes away. If I go more than a few weeks without checking it out, I start to get hives! You are always welcome here! :)
ReplyDeleteit does look great, but i'm with vivienne above that i couldn't pull off a bookshelf next to a staircase 'cause my little kidlets are major climbers. i love the base, though. it doesn't even look added on!
ReplyDeletelove your blog. you're very inspiring!
I love it! The room looks so "decluttered" I wish I had more pieces of furnishings to work with...that's my problem Or not...I'm think of layawaying stuff at TjMaxx so my husband doesn't know I'm buying pieces but might be pleasantly surprised when new, paid for stuff arrives. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up, Sarah! :)
ReplyDeleteHow clever are you! Looks awesome! I love the shelves of photos, they look fantastic
ReplyDeleteLooks great, like a custom peice made for that space.
ReplyDeleteSandy
What a good idea! It looks great!
ReplyDeleteGreat job - such a simple change made such a huge difference :)
ReplyDeletevery NICELY done!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! :) It looks a litte more serene in that corner and I love what you did with the top of that shelf-cute! :)
ReplyDeleteSince your blog is all about Decor, I wanted to share the $50 DECOR GIVEAWAY that we have going on. You and your readers can visit this link to enter:
http://theclassywoman.blogspot.com/
What a difference that makes, love it!
ReplyDeletei love the bun feet - there is just something about them that makes me grin! i am in awe of the fact that you have the art supplies on a low shelf with a preschooler! my younger boys are 4,6 & 8 and I have the art supplies hidden in a different spot every other week!
ReplyDeleteGenius idea w. the feet, it totally gave that a new look! Love it.
ReplyDelete2010 perfect year for reusing. Design using what you have (plus)- that's us at www.MyDesignGuide.com
ReplyDeleteAhhhh...that does look better!
ReplyDelete