Friday, December 16, 2011

before and after: orange bookcase

In lieu Five Things Friday I am going to show off my pretty new bookcase that I mentioned last week.


I have been craving two things for our main living space; more storage and color. I had decided to buy the expedit bookcase from IKEA. It was fairly inexpensive and would give us the needed storage space even though it's bland and cheaply made. The day before my IKEA run I swung by the Salvation Army nearest my house and found this:


I knew immediately that she was going home with me and I knew just what I was going to do with her! I had just seen this a couple of days previous and loved it. Michael helped me add the vertical pieces. I chose Benjamin Moore oil paint (this piece is going to see a lot of wear and oil is so much more durable than latex) in Tawny Day Lily. It is the perfect reddish orange color (though it appears more red in the photos than it really is).


The bookcase was tagged at $50. I was able to get 10% off. $45 is still a ton of money for me to spend on thrifted furniture but this bookcase was perfect! So much better than the expedit I was planning on spending $70 on. My thrifted bookcase is solid wood and it's longer and narrower than the expedit. It fits in my family room perfectly! With the cost of paint, I spent about the same as the expedit shelves but I got something that is unique and won't fall apart in a year!


On top of the bookcase I have a little teal lamp from Target, a rose votive (Michael bought it for me at a local boutique), two thrifted books- I loved the pretty printed covers, and a little bird- also from Target, a few years ago.


I am really, really happy with it. So happy that I don't want to put anything in it! But this house is lived in. It's not a museum. There will soon be library books and baskets of toys and diapers filling these shelves. As they should be.

Happy weekend!

19 comments:

Steph said...

Ooooooohh. I love it!

jen said...

it turned out great! What are you going to do with your fireplace now? ;)

Tricia said...

I love it, great find.

dandee said...

You always find the best stuff! This bookcase is no exception. I'm secretly wishing it was in the cozy brick house. Happy weekend!

Erin said...

Wow Erin! I'm giddy with excitement for your living room! So cute.

Emily said...

Love it! Those vertical pieces were a great addition/idea.

chris said...

Wahoo! I love the new bookshelf...it's perfect!

Jess@craftiness is not optional said...

it looks fantastic! Such a cute idea, painting the back.

merathon said...

it is perfect and fits perfectly with you and your house!

granma and papa said...

oh so awesome, Erin, just you. Love it and you!

Jenn Kirk said...

Erin, this is crazy gorgeous! Your home only gets better and better!

Jessica said...

Oh Erin this turned out so great, I love the vertical dividers you added, simple but takes it to a whole new level of design-y coolness to the piece!

Lynne said...

Fabulous! I love it! I so need to do this to my bookcase!

Unknown said...

Great work, Erin! It looks even more awesome in person! Xxxx

Kalleen at Second Street said...

I didn't have a chance to comment the first time I read this post, but I love your new bookcase. I love your ability to add bold colors to your home. We need to chat about oil paint someday, it scares me.

Kimberellie said...

love it so much I may have to do my bookcase the same!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

so lovely, such a great idea and inspiration!

Mara Kofoed said...

Erin - - - this is AWESOME!!! It looks perfect in your living room. Well done.

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