From Drab to Fab...A New Bookcase!

I have to explain the title of this post. Whenever I talk about repurposing furniture or other stuff, or show Dan something I saw on a blog, etc. He usually makes some joke and says, from drab to fab! in a mocking, cheesy tone of voice. So, kind of as a joke, I decided to make that my title. Hahaha, I know, I'm just soooo funny.

Anyhoo, back to my post. A while ago, I mentioned that I found a bookcase on the curb. It was actually on my way visiting teaching (blessings from doing VT? I think so!). I stopped and tried to put it in the back of our van, but it wouldn't fit. I went back after Dan got home and it was still there and this time I didn't have the kids with me, and was able to fit it in. That was just about two months ago. I'm been DYING to get it done and finally, after what feels like an eternity, it.is.finished!

I forgot to get a good before picture. This is while I'm priming it.

Before

It was just plain old boring wood. The top of it was actually warped and someone had tried to pull it off. So we (by we, I mean Dan) had to take the top off and replace it with a new board.

I didn't bother sanding it down. It had a light finish on it, and I just primed right over it.

And here is the new and improved bookcase!

In addition to adding a new board on top, we (ahem, Dan) added trim around the top and replaced the backing with bead board.

It seems so simple when I type it out-prime it, paint it, put trim and bead board on and done! But this project really just seemed to drag on. My biggest mistake was not using white primer. I know, you're shaking your head in disbelief at my stupidity. When we went to Lowe's to get spray primer, they were out of white, so we got grey. But then a whole month went by before I even got around to priming it, so I could have just gotten white. But once you have two kids, the less trips you make to the store, the easier your life is, so I figured grey would be okay. I was planning on doing a few coats of paint anyways, and I figured the gray would be covered up. My plan would have worked beautifully, if it weren't for the darn corners and crevices. I used a small roller brush and it wouldn't get the corners, so I had to use a brush, but it just was taking forever to be covered up. It didn't help that I was doing this outside and it was cold, so that seemed to affect the paint.

I originally wanted bead board as the backing, but kept going back and forth if I REALLY wanted it and if I would be okay without it. I finally decided I wanted it, after I had painted the rest of it. But getting the bead board was a hassle in and of itself. I went to the gym and then Dan called me and told me Alex was asleep, so if I wanted to get bead board, now was my chance. I went to Lowe's, got an 8'x4' piece and had them cut the size I needed. I was left with a 5' piece to take home. I thought it would fit in the van, but it wouldn't. So I had to go back in the store and have them cut off 12 inches and then go back out to the car again, pushing the extremely large and bulky cart they have for wood. It finally all fit and I was off, all they while thanking the heavens above that Alex was still asleep and that Dan didn't have to try and deal with a hungry baby while I was gone.

Dan's Spring Break was last week and I painted it over a couple of days.

A shot of it in different lighting.

Overall, I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It's obviously not perfect, but I think it cleaned up pretty nicely.

Cost of Materials:

Paint: already had

Trim: already had

Primer: $5 (two cans, didn't use all of the second)

Bead board: $7 (portion of what I used)

Cost: $12 (give or take)

Not too shabby for a "free" bookcase.

We're still deciding where in Anna's room is the best place for it. We may have to move some things around. I think we'll end up putting a lot of her toys from the family room in it.