BEFORE: 
And AFTER: (shelves not back in yet)
You all remember the bookcase found at the yardsale for $50. I’ll show you step by step on how it is now transformed into a whole NEW look.
Went to Home Depot and spent $18 on a sheet of pine beadboard. I wanted the real wood look and they even cut it for free. I took off the old backing, measured it carefully, and asked the guy to cut a new piece that would fit exactly on the back. I even have some left over pieces for another project.
I went ahead and primed the whole piece, including the shelves, as well as the beadboard.
Went to Home Depot and spent $18 on a sheet of pine beadboard. I wanted the real wood look and they even cut it for free. I took off the old backing, measured it carefully, and asked the guy to cut a new piece that would fit exactly on the back. I even have some left over pieces for another project.
I went ahead and primed the whole piece, including the shelves, as well as the beadboard. 
Love this tiny foam roller for jobs like this, it makes quick work of painting the flat parts. A brush comes in handy for the molding.
Here it is with the first coat of black.
And you can barely tell this is blue on the beadboard, but it is! I ended up putting 3 coats of black on most everything to get the depth I wanted.
Turned the bookcase face down inside on the carpet, so it wouldn’t mess up my new paint.
And with a hammer and small nails, I went around all the beadboard edging, nailing it to the back of the bookcase. Worked like a charm!
And here you have it…the new and improved bookcase! Don’t you think it looks a LOT better now? For a total of $68, it can’t be beat. And the beadboard really kicks it up a notch.
The beadboard color is lighter than this & you’ll see it changing in all these shots as the light is different.
It’s hard to get a decent pic of black furniture, but here are the details. I took some sandpaper & distressed it slightly and then rubbed some stain over those spots to deepen the wood. There were already some little holes in the pine that gave it a more rustic look, so they show up with the black paint too.
Not too much distressing, just a bit.
I love it!
Fairly accurate color of the beadboard. The color is Sherwin Williams Rain.
Another fun project! I’m really getting geared up to finish this room now. I may muddle through those slipcovers and see how I do with it. I’ve got the paint purchased and am ready to start painting any day now, so you will see a new room in a few weeks! 
I have to put in a plug for this new movie, Fireproof. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and GO! This is from the producers of Facing the Giants and I love that Hollywood is finally taking note of Christian-based movies and that people are responding to them. Kirk Cameron (of Growing Pains fame) stars in this movie and it’s a wonderful story of love and forgiveness and how God can put a marriage back together again. I hear it’s doing well at the box office and I hope all of you go see it too. Let’s support this movie!
Hope to see a few of you Birmingham girls at my yardsale on Saturday (8 a.m.) If you want to drop by & haven’t emailed me for directions yet, please do! I’ll be sure and post some pics of the sale later on. I’ve been busy this week with some projects and getting all that yardsale stuff together. It will be great to clear out the stash closet!
Don't Miss a Post, join my list!
I love your inspiring blog!
Denise Nantasket Beach ,Mass.
Oh my gosh – that looks sooo much better in black! Love the beadboard backing – it looks very “Ballard”!
Manuela
What a beautiful job you did on that bookshelf! It’s amazing what paint and alittle bead board can do. You would have paid hundreds if you bought that new!!
Hi Rhoda,
The bookshelf looks great…and very expensive!
The beadboard backing is a wonderful idea. Thanks for passing that on!
diane
It looks great! You’ve got such a good eye for things.
I love how this turned out! I would not have thought to paint the beadboard a different color, but it is wonderful! You’ve got me wondering where I can use this idea. Hmmm…
It turned out great Rhoda. I love how you used the beadboard in the back. Good work.
Wow! That looks fab!
I love beadboad – improves the look of most anything! That shade of blue paint is great.
I could hardly wait for my slow computer to load. I saw the before and had to WAIT anxiously for all those side bar pictures. I LOVE IT…I would never have thought of adding separate bead board. WOW!
It looks great Rhoda! I love beadboard! I just painted my daughters bookcase black including the beadboard, now I’m wondering if I should have kept the beadboard white? Oh well, I’m not redoing it!
I’m hosting a “Support Women Entrepreneurs” on my blog, so please stop by and add your link for your decorating service!
Hey Ro, I have that SW color "rain" in my master bath and I love it!! Nice before & after! XOOX cousin April
OKAY the book shelf is AMMMMMAZING.
I loved the movie Facing the Giants so I am sure I will love this movie. Cant wait to go check it out!
Wow! What a change. Can’t wait to see the finished room – with your wonderful bookcase – and all the extra bits and pieces that will be on those shelves. Thanks for sharing your process with us. I love the idea of adding beadboard. ~Adrienne~
A great big WOW!
Can’t wait to see the movie. I’ve heard from several others that it’s really really good.
Hugs!
Kat
Okay, you KNOW I’m loving the bookcase….It would look perfect with the stuff in my house Rhoda…sure you don’t want to sell it??? Ha ha! 🙂
Layla
The Lettered Cottage
Beautiful job on the bookcase! You are one impressive lady!
Oh I am going to have to go paint something black now! That came out amazing and I still can’t get over the price, you really found a lovely treasure 🙂
Hugs,
Dena
Rhoda, the bookcase is amazing…why can’t I ever find pieces like this for so little…I need to come down there and go sale-ing with you!!!! Love this.
Wow! The bookcase looks amazing! I love that you can find something and make it look so good. I am now on the lookout for a bookcase!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Frannycakes
Love the “new and improved” bookcase look. I can’t wait to get started on my office with the blue walls and black furniture. The blue color I’ve beening looking at is Palladian Blue for the walls to go with the black furniture….repainted the day bed black so I’ll have the bed, desk and bookcase black with the blue walls. Still can use the black and creme toile and will have to get creative for window treatments. I’d like to try my hand at making a valance and have an initial monogrammed on it. I am almost finished with the kitchen, putting shutters at the kitchen window and making a valance over the bay window to soften up the blinds. Then to work on finishing up the bedroom before I tackle the office.
Hope to see you soon!
Judy