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    The Evolution and Reveal of the Built-in

    October 16, 2014 by Ashley Mayes 9 Comments

    You guys, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am with this little makeover. I wish I would have done it eons ago! Seriously. But, as with everything, I'm such a slow decorator/decision-maker when it comes to house stuff. So, maybe it all happens at the right time.

    Anyways, I pulled up two pictures of the last time I showed the living room (back in June when I painted the crown moulding):
    Living Room Built-In Before

    That cabinet is pretty bad, right?

    Living Room Built-in Original to House

    One day in August I got tired of looking at it and took the jigsaw to the scroll part on top. Then, it stayed like that for like two months. Finally, last week, I had just had enough. I took off the glass door, ripped off the checkered wrapping paper and painted the whole thing bright white.

    I was left with a bright white cabinet with glass shelves and glass backboard (the people who built this house LOVED glass... we have it everywhere!). I wasn't feeling the plain glass, so I tried a few options.

    Fabric Options for built-in corner bookcase in Living Room

    I kinda loved the yellow, but I'm getting away from the yellow in the main rooms. So, onto the other options. I finally decided on the bottom right, farthest right one.

    I measured the glass backboard and then cut two panels of fabric. I used push pins to attach the fabric to the inside wood.

    Use Tacks to temporarily put up fabric in a bookshelf

    I decided to stick with the push pins long-term because, after I tried the different fabrics out, I realized you couldn't even see them once they were put up. Plus, it makes it much easier to change the fabric out when I get bored.

    From there, I used a screwdriver to push the fabric down between the crease of the wood and the glass.

    Use a screwdriver to push the fabric down

    Fabric lined bookcase DIY

    Once I had the panels and the glass in, I had to address the old hinge area.

    Filling Hinge Holes in a built-in cabinet

    I just used what I had on hand to fill the hinge spot. I filled it and then let it dry. I sanded after it was dry and then filled and sanded again.

    After the hinge area was taken care of, I loaded some stuff on the built-in and then was less than impressed. It just seamed a bit too "pretty" or something.

    Closeup of Built-in

    DIY Fabric Lined Bookcase

    I had some scrap plywood leftover from when we made the DIY Anthropologie Mirror, so we decided to cut that the same size as the glass shelves.

    Cutting plywood for shelving

    We used a jigsaw (our tool of choice) and cut the shelves out.

    Use a jigsaw to cut plywood for shelves

    We then layered the wood over the original glass shelves. We did this to make the shelves extra sturdy.

    Use plywood to layer over glass to warm up a shelf

    Putting the shelves back in was a bit annoying, because I had to redo the back panels.

    After I got the panels back up and put the decor back in, it felt like us.

    Built-in Corner Cabinet in Living Room

    Built-in Corner Makeover

    The feather art is a free printable that you can get here.

    Built-in Makeover DIY

    DIY Built-In Corner Cabinet Fabric LIned Makeover

    Both wooden picture frames and the white candle holder are thrifted.

    Cabinet Makeover for Built-in

    Flipped Books in Built-in Shelf Styling

    Shelf Decorations for Built-in

    The straw geometric shape was inspired by this tutorial from Vintage Revivals.

    Gold Alligator DIY for Built-in Shelving

    The gold alligator was a DIY from the summer.

    Modernize a built-in with a few easy stesps

    Linking up to:

    C.R.A.F.T., Restless Arrow, The Makers,  The Winthrop Chronicles, Home Stories A-Z, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Outside the Box,  Work It Wednesday,  Think and Make Thursday, Fry Sauce and Grits, Liz Marie Blog, The Inspiration Gallery, Creativity Unleashed - The Bold Abode, Remodelaholic, Whipperberry, The Creative Collection, Tatertots and Jello, and Frugal Crafty Blog Hop.

     

     

     

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    Reader Interactions



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    1. [email protected]

      October 16, 2014 at 6:11 am

      What a transformation! Looks so pretty

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        October 17, 2014 at 3:49 pm

        Thanks Julia. Have a great weekend.

        Reply
    2. Charlotte

      October 16, 2014 at 9:51 am

      Wow! Taking the scroll work and door off really helped to modernize it! Great job! One more cream element down, how many more to go? 😉

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        October 17, 2014 at 3:50 pm

        I know, right? I can't believe how much it really helped. Oh boy, don't remind me on the cream trim. BUT, serious progress has been made!

        Reply
    3. Marybeth

      October 16, 2014 at 10:17 am

      First of all, I love that! I redid my little corner hutch a few months ago, but still haven't gotten around to painting the back walls of it.... Maybe I'll give fabric a go!
      Second, I jumped when I saw that painting of the ship next to the hutch. I swear my grandmother had the same one in her house. It's in storage, I think, at my parents house. I'm going to have to go digging for that!

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        October 17, 2014 at 3:51 pm

        Thanks Marybeth. You should definitely try the fabric. Oh, dig out that painting. I would love to know if it's the same one. I'm torn on the painting in the living room thought. I really like it, but yet, it feels more vintage than what I like. I'm thinking about having a mat cut to help brighten it up, but I'm not sure. Just can't decide.

        Reply
    4. Janice

      October 22, 2014 at 9:21 pm

      Love the alligator! Just spray painted??

      Reply
      • Ashley Mayes

        October 23, 2014 at 6:32 am

        Thanks Janice! Actually, I used gold leaf and just painted it on. It looks so good in person. Fun and cheap!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. The Ugly Truths says:
      July 14, 2015 at 12:12 am

      […] that picture is pretty old… we gave that cabinet a makeover and the furniture is totally arranged differently, but let’s talk about that lamp. We have a […]

      Reply

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