The Book Case is Now White

February 22, 2010

larsinnh before & after, books, decorating 2 Comments

Here is the new/old book case we bought at the antique store.  It was painted green, was very dirty, and had a wobbly board on the back of it.

Remember what it looked like before?  Handy Man put two coats of white glossy latex paint on it, and we moved it to the guest room.  He also removed the board on the back of it.  I started to put some pictures and trinkets on top of it, and moved some books into it.  I don’t have all the books moved up there yet, but I like how it looks so far.

And yes, that is the Twilight series on the second shelf.  I am still on the first book!  (Don’t laugh, I have been super busy blogging, and I just got the set for Christmas.  Never mind that its after Valentine’s Day now!)

We have quite an oddball collection of books.  We have new and old books of all subjects.   On the same shelf as the Twilight books, you may be able to see some light blue books.  Those are my Little House on the Prairie books.  They are paperback and I have had them since I was a child.  I suppose I could buy nicer hardcover copies; but I like the worn paperbacks.

On the top shelf are books that I have already read.  I bought several of them at Goodwill for 25 or 50 cents.  Sometimes it takes me a while to get around to books that I want to read (as you can see, with the Twilight books!), so I like to just buy them and have them around for a while.  If I don’t love a book, when I’m finished with it, I will pass it on to someone.  If I love it, I’ll keep it.  Most of those paperbacks are books I probably won’t read again, but I wanted to check them out.

Do you have a lot of books around?

Ye Olde Changing Table

February 12, 2010

larsinnh decorating, kid stuff, thrift 1 Comment

Handy Man and I bought this changing table waaaay back in about 2000, for the impending arrival of Handy Baby.  We found it in a consignment store that sold used and antique furniture and collectibles.  We liked it for several reasons:

- it was cheap

- it was sturdy, not flimsy like the changing tables we had been looking at in department stores

- it had nice, deep drawers for storage of all that baby “stuff”

- it was a project.  Handy Man painted it white, and we bought a nice pad to put on the top of it for baby changing.

- it was cheap.  Seriously, I think we paid less than $70 for it.

The old changing table has now turned into a storage dresser in our guest room upstairs.  I loved the changing table, its so cute and charming…but we’ve decided to put the new/old book case in its place.  We no longer have a baby that needs changing, obviously; and there is another dresser in that room for storage, along with an ample closet.

I’m not sure where the changing table will travel to on its next journey…perhaps we will sell it on Craigslist?  Maybe we’ll find a friend or family member who needs it? Farewell, ye olde changing table…

Paint Coat #2 on New/Old Book Case

February 4, 2010

larsinnh decorating, furniture 2 Comments

We interrupt this program to bring you the status of our recently purchased new/old book case.  Remember how it started off green?

Here it is, with two coats of white paint, so far.  Handy Man will put a third coat on it soon.  He also decided to take the back piece off; it was kind of flimsy.

We’ll probably leave the back piece off it.  There is a brace piece on it (see on the shelf second from the bottom?)  The book case is sturdy anyway, it will have loads of books on it, and it’s going to be up against a wall.  I’m thinking it can stay open like that.

What do you think so far?