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New & Improved Bookcase

October 9, 2008 By Rhoda 95 Comments

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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.
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!

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Filed Under: Paint Project, Projects and How-To 95 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. KMfamily says

    October 9, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    That book case is a JEWEL!!!!
    I LOVE THE TWO TONE!!!!
    all black would have been so boreing.Great choice of editing color!!!!

    Keep up the great work!!! -can’t wait to feast my eyes on your newly decorated room!!!!

    Reply
  2. Bella Casa says

    October 9, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Love the bookshelf, stunning 🙂

    Bella

    Reply
  3. Carrie says

    October 9, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Can you say ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!?!?! Love the bookcase and your blog!! You have GREAT taste and definitely an act for decorating. Keep posting all your wonderful ideas, I need all the inspiration I can get.
    As far as the movie, I have seen this movie recommended on so many of my favorite blogs. I even asked my husband to go. (Even though I told a little fib and said it was about a Firefighter…well, it wasn’t a complete lie. LOL!!) but when I looked in our local newspaper I didn’t see it listed. UGGHHH!! I will have to check again, I was in kind of a hurry when I was checking it!!

    Reply
  4. Niesz Vintage Home says

    October 9, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Fantastic make-over!
    Love the beadboard.

    Kimberly 🙂

    Reply
  5. tardevil says

    October 9, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Congrats! My 1st time over, and I love your background…it is so me! I’m all about some rabbits too! Enjoyed seeing your “new” floral arrangement, and love the frog!

    Reply
  6. Linda says

    October 10, 2008 at 12:05 am

    My hubby is taking me to FireProof tomorrow! I can’t wait although I know I will have to take kleenex with me. I cried through Facing the Giants and Fly Wheel!

    Reply
  7. Debbie says

    October 10, 2008 at 1:14 am

    GORGEOUS! Your shelves turned out simply gorgeous. I have an entertainment center that I have been wanting to paint black. I now have the inspiration, thank you very much. I just need the man power to help me get the tv out of it. The beadboard was a great idea.

    Debbie in Florida

    Reply
  8. Sher's Creative Expressions says

    October 10, 2008 at 2:15 am

    Great Bookcase Re-Do. That Bead-Board makes all the difference in the world!! Love it in black.

    I’m still trying to finish my master bedroom redo, but had an accident, which put my back out of whack for a while. I start physical therapy next week 2x a week for 6 weeks AAAUUUGGGHHHH!!!

    Blessings,

    Sher

    Reply
  9. Southern Lady says

    October 10, 2008 at 5:50 am

    Rhoda, your bookcase is gorgeous and has just the right amount of distressing. It truly looks like one you’d find in a furniture store for thousands of dollars.

    I want to see Fireproof. I’ve read about it and have seen Facing the Giants and Flywheel which are by Alex Kendrick, too. Kirk Cameron is a fine young man and donated his salary for making the movie to his Camp Firefly.

    I wish I could come to your yard sale. I know it’s going to be fantastic!

    Sincerely,

    Janie

    Reply
  10. The Quintessential Magpie (Sheila) says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:13 am

    Good job, Rhoda. Have fun at your yard sale. Wish I could be there.

    XO,

    Sheila

    Reply
  11. The Quintessential Magpie (Sheila) says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:16 am

    P.S. The movie looks good. Thanks for the rec. 🙂 I also want to see the one about Billy Graham that premieres soon (maybe this weekend). Think it’s called “Billy.” I adore that man. You can tell he’s fine to the bone and loves the Lord with all his heart.

    Reply
  12. Shelia says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Good morning, Rhoda! Oh, how nice your bookcase turned out! You did a wonderful job – now put all your little pretties in it and post that really soon!!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  13. Becky says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:44 am

    You are a gal after my own heart.
    Fabulous job on the bookshelf and I can’t wait to see your new room.
    Love the blue you used inside the shelf.
    Fireproof is an awesome movie.
    So happy to see others promoting it.
    Hugs
    Becky

    Reply
  14. Inspired Kara says

    October 10, 2008 at 11:53 am

    Rhoda-

    Just another big ol whopping pile of beautiful inspiration!

    Thank you for continually giving us new material!!

    Reply
  15. Anna says

    October 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    I am loving that bookcase! You did a fantastic job.

    About Fireproof:
    I have yet to see it. Several of my family members are practically begging my husband and I to find the time to go see it. I can’t wait to see it! Did you know that the “kissing scene” in the movie with Kirk and his “wife” was in fact his real wife? He refused to kiss another woman so they had his real wife dress like the actress in the shot. I really admire that!

    God bless you,
    Anna

    Reply
  16. Donna says

    October 10, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    Rhoda, your bookcase looks fabulous! Love the colors and the distressed look. You’re amazing!

    Hugs,
    Donna

    Reply
  17. Southern Heart says

    October 10, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    Hi Rhoda…I love what you did with that bookcase! DS and I took our neighbor’s cast-off bookcase last weekend for DS’s room, and I showed him your photos. We are going to do his bookcase in black, also, so your photos were great inspiration for us!

    I also loved your recent finds. I have a Chef Bunny just like that, which I bought at a sale last summer. You have such a great bunny collection!

    I’ve missed you so much, and am looking forward to catching up on all that you’ve been up to! xoxo

    Reply
  18. Cindy ~ My Romantic Home says

    October 10, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Wow, it looks great!!! I love the blue beadboard!

    Reply
  19. Sandy says

    October 10, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Hi – I recently found your blog and now am a true follower! You have such great wisdom and taste and so kind about sharing.

    This week I painted my entertainment center and really want to distress it like your bookshelf, how do you deal with the primer underneath though? It doesn’t show in your pics. When I take sandpaper to the edges, the main edge goes down to wood but each side of the wooden part shows a small strip of primer, like (primer)(bare wood on edge)(primer). Confused yet? 🙂 If I use Rub’N’Buf or wood sealer, will it cover the narrow strip of primer now showing? I’ve tried to sand more but just end up with more wood showing and more primer showing.

    Thanks again!
    Sandy
    [email protected]

    Reply
  20. Christina says

    October 10, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful shelf you turned this into. What a fantastic transformation. Thanks for showing the steps you took.

    Great job, Rhoda!

    Reply
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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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