Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Before and After: The Little Ballerina's Book Shelf

It's still project central over here. Just downshifted into slow gear while BSD is away. But there is one project that is basically complete that I can't wait to share. So here goes.

One of the goals of our redecorating is to gain some sort of organization. As I've said a million times. I am not an organized person. Put that together with a young ballerina who loves to play with all-things-small-parts and you get one big-fat-mess. That mommy has to either clean up. Or shut the door so she can't see it.

Finally fed up with this chore, BSD and I decided both ballerinas needed a desk in their rooms. We were all set, thanks to a dear friend who took the ballerinas for the night, to drive four hours each way to IKEA to get each girl a desk. At the very last minute, BSD said, "I don't think a desk is the answer."

*crap*

So...we scrapped our overnight trip to DC and made it a local date night instead. Stopping off at a local furniture store along the way. Where I spotted this fun shelving piece.


I love this piece. But I have no space nor place for it. I just tucked it away in my head as FUN! And $2,000. And off we went to dinner.


Weeks passed. I cleaned up many toyswithmanyparts. Many times. Until BSD, pumped up by his recent hallway project success,  finally told me, "Find some baskets. And I'll build a storage unit for LB."


That was the plan. Until one day I stopped by my favorite Habitat for Humanity store. And I stopped short. In front of this.




Are you with me? Do you see where this is going?


If not, that's OK. BSD didn't either. He thought I was just dragging home another piece of junk to clutter up his precious garage.


Not this time. This time I had a clear vision. I was motivated. I got right to work. But still wound up needing BSD to bail me out on the finishing paint layers. Because I am a lousy painter. I don't know WHY I can't paint well. But I can't. And BSD thinks I am ridiculous for being paint-impaired.


ANYWAY...


That doo-doo brown, faux wood grain piece of ugliness became this oh-so-fun, Steven Shell inspired storage shelf for the Little Ballerina.




And the best part was all I had to buy was a second matching tote on the bottom right. Luckily Target still carries that pattern because these fit perfectly. And now house her American Girl doll clothes in one. And her Barbies in the other. The upper purple tote holds all her Barbie clothes. Although it's a bit overflowing.


And the VERY best part??! LB helped me organize it like this over a month ago. And I pinky swear that I did NOT clean it up before taking this picture today. She is keeping it clean HERSELF! *snoopy dance*




I still need to finish hanging the art on the wall above it. But I can't seem to locate the poster I bought over 3 years ago that I want to put there. hmmm...imagine that.


Oh, and I have to tell you about that drawing. I got it from my neighbor. It was a wedding gift from the artist to my friend's husband and his first wife (who sadly passed away). The artist now fetches a pretty penny for her works. Everyone in my family hates the picture. I love it. Before I hung it up in her room, LB told me, "That scares me." I thought perfect! It kind of looks like the person is in jail. Hopefully, it will scare her straight!

22 comments:

Gabe said...

Scare her straight. . .love it!!!

Way to go Kim!!! It's fab and seems to have solved the clutter problem!

Loved your mothers day post!! Nothing like dance therapy!

Kerri said...

Holy smokes Kim!! That is one heck of a transformation! It looks awesome in LB's room! LOve the color, love the funtionality and love that you were able to turn it into something so similiar to that expensive piece! Good job you!!!

Pam said...

ok wow! that book shelf looks amazing!! love that color! great job!!! happy moms day to you!! :)

Dana @ Bungalow'56 said...

I just thought, No way! when I saw the habitat find. Just awesome. It like it even better than the original $2000 picture.
Dana

Erin (Out on a Limb) said...

Wow! What a find! It's beautiful! The whole shebang looks amazing. Great job! I actually really like the art.It looks kid-like, albeit a little creepy ; )

Debbie said...

Redonculous! Amazing job- looks fabulous! And I love the painting too.

Megan said...

I love the vision and the finished product! I NEVER find anything at thrift stores. Did you use spray paint or paint paint?

Kim said...

Thanks, Megan...I cleaned it. Primed it with paint paint, but it was taking forever so I bought spray paint primer for all the legs. Worked like a charm. Then we paint painted it the green color.

If there had been a spray paint in the exact color I wanted I would have used spray paint but I wanted this exact color b/c it worked with the bedding in her room.

humble habit said...

Really amazing change, It looks fantastic. I love that yellow. I have just found an amazing round table in the hard rubbish we are having in my area. It is weathered and striped of any varnish, Just a classic turned leg table with a scalloped underside. I am searching for ideas. Paint it or oil it, such a dilemma, I have high hopes after seeing your transformation.

birdsofafeatherdesign.com said...

LOOOOVE the shelf! I am so heading to my local habitat as soon as I drop off my own ballerinas! I hope I got my mojo today...thanks for the inspiration! -Ann

mandy said...

okay,i'm bowing down to the awesomeness that is this post.

AND i'm never going to look at a piece of faux wood furniture at the thirft store the same way again...
...usually it's like how i feel about buying a vintage polyester dress...like no way, i don't like the material...but LOOK WHAT YOU DID to the horrible material faux wood; you made it incredible...

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! I think I need to paint my bookshelves this color! I love your blog!

What kind of camera do you use to take your pictures? Thanks!

{cindy} said...

wow kim this looks amazing!
the color is prefect and so fun.:)
yeah target for still making the baskets...bummer they still don't make those liberty of london ones...that was my favorite mini-line target did!:)
have a happy day kim

PS
did that art work:)

Anonymous said...

Kim, that looks fabulous!!

The drawing was one of the first pieces I noticed in the room. Very whimsical and fun. It would scare my boys, too.

When you're done revamping your fabulous home feel free to travel this way. I could certainly use your eye for design :)

Mitzi

Nicolle said...

I love the shelf. LOVE it! I do not have a vision for re-doing something like that, at all. You certainly do! I would have that in my room in a heartbeat. I mean, it just looks so great. One of my best friends has that vision too, and she makes money re-doing people's old furniture. Her work is amazing, just like this. I love everything on her shelf, and that drawing is pretty cool!

Have a great weekend!
xo.

Jen said...

Oh my gosh...that is the exact same bookshelf we had in our tiny apartment when we first were married. I promise. How did it get there? Well you know...almost exact.
It looks fab-u-lous! I totally wish we still had ours. You have an eye for great finds! I love it!

Bridget said...

I love it, it's just too cute! You and hubby did a good job :)

sloan said...

kim - there are no words ... it's so incredible that it's truly taken my words away!! these recent before/after posts are killing me - clearly, i need to relocate so we can be bff's and i can apprentice with you ;-) LOVE THIS!!

Jessica B said...

OK that looks straight up awesome!! You have such great vision! I would have seen the brown one and been all thinking, "I'll never get it to turn out right..." and you totally rocked it. So cool. :)

Megan {The Brick Bungalow} said...

Great find! And such a fun piece in a bright color. We are in need of organizational pieces that will help my little one. Baskets and boxes are what we use a lot of right now but we're running out of places to put them! I'm hoping that in her big girl room, we will find some space to put some shelves!

Eliesa @Pinterest Addict said...

Love the shelf! The painting looks like someone stuck in a burning building... it would scare me too! Glad I found your blog - is there a way for me to sign up for email updates??

Karina said...

Glorious. Love the color. Have those same polka boxes. Sweet