Bookshelves are painted and dressed!
you can find the post and color combo here.
I found this project to have a big impact
and was the perfect solution to add
a pop of color to the room.
Oil based primer (Kilz works great)
Swiss coffee in latex semi gloss
Remove all of your doors
Prep the room covering everything you don’t want painted
Remove all the hardware and hinges.
If your cabinets have gaps or dings fill them with wood filler.
Degrease all the doors, draws and frames. Tsp is a great degreaser as is vinegar and hot water.
Sand everything I used an electric sander with medium grit (80 or 100).
Prime with an oil based primer. Foam rollers will give you the look as though your cabinets have been sprayed.
Lightly sand
NOTE: Latex paint will adhere perfectly to oil based primer. Latex primer over oil paint will not work at all.
Let it dry, buff out any drips and give it another coat.
The only item purchased was the pottery on the top which I found at Home Goods. The best advice I can give on styling your bookshelves is to step back and assess the overall balance of your arrangement. If it doesn’t look right, place certain items off-center or try an item that is larger or smaller, stand back and assess again. Take things away if it’s to busy, keep doing this until you are happy with the look.
OMG Kristin I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! What a transformation. I love how light and bright everything looks and that chair is the icing on the cake!!
That is AMAZING! You did such a great job. Light and airy and beautiful!
Kristin, I *love* it! I can hardly believe you started where you did. It looks spectacular – way to bring a vision to life!!
It's so beautiful…what a transformation! I love that blue and white combo, and your styling of the shelves looks great. Job well done!
oh wow gorgeous! they look amazing!
oh wow gorgeous! they look amazing!
You earned that glass of wine after all that work. It's obvious that a lot of effort and patience went into this project-and it really paid off! It looks so fresh and pretty.
Oh what a huge painting job this was but the outcome is sooooo worth the effort you put in it. Beautiful!
beautiful, as always!
Wowsers Kristin!!! Bravo~big project but well worth the result! I love how this came out!!
I love the look of the wood top with the painted white parts. Now let me bring over the mess off the top of my desk so yours looks lived in!
~Bliss~
Kristin it is so beautiful! I love the colors and love how you styled it. That was a big project and you nailed it!
xoxo
Looks fantastic!
It looks so great! Worth all the work. Love the color combo!
Debbie
HOLY COW, Kristin! Did that ever turn out GREAT! It was certainly worth all the work you did on it. It completely transforms the whole room. Love the chair, too.
Congrats to Karena~ xo Diana
Gorgeous! Love the fresh paint and your gray velvet chair. Tres chic!
Gorgeous! Love the fresh paint and your gray velvet chair. Tres chic!
Kristin beautifully simple and I too LOVE Behr Swiss Coffee, it's by far the creamiest white with no yellow, sometimes I almost want to drink it! The contrast is perfect and your collection fits swell, now get to work!
Kristin!!! That first photo I actually first thought was your inspiration photo – it looks like it came straight from a catalog or magazine. You are fabulous!
Jealous! It's SO pretty. I'd be 'installing' a wine rack on one of those shelves – with a spot for a SINGLE glass. Don't bother Mommy, she's "working". :o)
Kristin, it is beautiful! What a transformation! You did a gorgeous job. It looks so light and fresh. Love the chair!
I adore the chair! The office looks beautiful. You did a great job! Can't wait to see the other half. 🙂
Love the color of the backs! I love that you kept it simple and uncluttered. I am in the midst of restyling our library shelves. I've found it helpful sometimes to take a picture when it isn't quite right. Congrats to Karina!
Oh my goodness I love it! You did such a great job!! Btw, like your carpet! Do you? We are putting down new carpet in the kids room {wood floors everywhere else}and just checked out this carpet sample to see how it would look!
It looks gorgeous Kristin and I love that chair!
xo~
T
It looks lovely! Adding the blue color gives it a fresh look. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the blue and white makeover, oh, and that chair is gorgeous.
You did a spectacular job from start to finish Kristin. We have this same desk set up – slightly different finish/style – that we are storing but you've inspired me to possibly use it again (with an update of course!) The white with blue is beautiful.
Wow I love it! What a big difference this is going to make now when this is what you see when you come into your home. Paint is amazing. It's funny how before it was like the opposite of your taste, and now it's like you just hit the jackpot of great built ins totally in your style! Great job Kristin, have another glass of wine to celebrate!
Simple amazing! The styling made all the difference. Such great inspiration for a home office space. Thanks for sharing!
What a transformation! Looks great!
Wow! What a transformation. It looks fabulous. Enjoy looking at it. Ange
Kristin!!! It looks AMAZING!!! Seriously!! Such a beautiful space!! I love the white & blue!! So bright & clean!! Enjoy your new office!!
p.s. I would have totally had a glass of wine after all that painting!! 🙂
Hi Kristin, your office looks amazing! What a fabulous job you did and I love the inspirational chair – beautiful colours. Well done! 😉
Wow! what a change!! The magic of paint! I love it!
Well, Kristin…you never cease to AMAZE me! This is a FABULOUS transformation. Gotta love white paint, it is amazing what it can do for a space or a piece of furniture! You are a lucky girl, that is one fabulous office space you have! ;o)
Mary
Wow, wow, wow Kristin !! I'm super impressed with what you (and your bottle of wine, lol) did in transforming this space !! The chalk paint was the perfect choice … truly makes it look custom. And, I know you're enjoying how much brighter this space is now. Job well done … thanks for sharing and inspiring us!
Your bookcases and desk look fabulous. I love your chair and the blue backing.
Your office and shelves look fantastic, Kristin! I love how you arranged things that I would have probably cluttered up. It looks very sleek and chic! I love the blue chair, too. Perfect!
XO,
Jane
looks good! I love what paint can do!
Wow Kristen that looks fabulous. You did an amazing job. Pinning this!
~Mandy
My, my, my! You really did an amazing job, Kristin! The bookcase is gorgeous!
Kristin thank you so so much I am so excited to win the Boutique de la Mer Gift!
Your office looks amazing! I love it especially the chair!!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
It's gorgeous! I love your styling and your chair is beuatiful. You must be SO proud!
Gorgeous!!!
Wow! Wow! Wow! I see desks like this all the time on Craigslist and pass them by not realizing their potential! Beautiful transformation!
This is such a great transformation, Kristin! Wonderful proof of what a difference paint can make. That blue in the back of the shelves is wonderful and I love the inspiration chair.
GORGEOUS!!! I'm so glad that you did not get rid of this piece…it looks stunning! I'm loving the chair too, simply spectacular. Great job.
What an absolutely gorgeous space! Nicely done!
What an absolutely gorgeous space! Nicely done!
better then I imagined!
Absolutely beautiful! I can see why the chair was an inspiration piece…lovely!
Simply gorgeous, Kristin! 🙂
Your shelves look amazing!! Great job on the office side of the makeover!
What is the blue color? I love what you did!
You're right, what a difference paint can make. You have a whole new room. Beautiful!
Your newest follower, Mary Alice
AMAZEBALLS!!!!!! you did it again.
A-MA-ZING!!! Kristin they look absolutely stunning! So bright and fresh and that chair is fabulous. Well done my friend! 🙂
Vanessa
Hi Kristin~~~
What a great transformation. I absolutely love it. The blue paint on the back of the bookshelves ads so much warmth to it. LOVE the chair too:)
~Cheryl
I am SO in love with this, K! White, pale blue and chocolate are my must-haves at the moment. So wish I could unplug my laptop and plug it in on that desk – it looks GORGEOUS and so serene. Clever thing! x
Where to begin? Umm, I want it.
Love the colors, vibe & elegant feel of the room. The makever is fantastic. Paint still surprises me too. Every time.
It's wonderful.
Just gorgeous Kristin!! LOVE them in their new painted colors and you styled them beautifully!! 🙂
I love seeing befores & afters… yours is amazing! Would you mind telling me what your wall color is in that office? I am using ASCP duck egg and old white in my LR and you have found the perfect match with your walls. Thank you!!! toushay73@gmaildotcom
Beautiful! I love the new shelf color and you styled them perfectly! Love it!
it looks amazing! So fresh and pretty 🙂
It's completely gorgeous! What a huge change. I would have thought it was a whole new set of shelving, rather than just the old ones painted. WELL DONE!!
Sarahx
OMG Kristin.. it's so beautiful!! I looove it … and also I like the chair a LOT! you have magic hands darling!
Kisses
Etta
I love white woodwork and the cabinets look light and bright – the blue behind the shelves looks fab! Can't wait to see the other side of the room. A few more glasses of wine and you should be ready!
Kelly
I think you've got everything in the right place. It's an excellent transformation. I found your blog by chance, but I can see we publish so many common things. I've now added it to my blog roll on my own diy blog so I can remember to pop by again.
Hi Kristen,
You did a wonderful job. What a transformation. Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the space.
These turned out beautiful!
This is just wonderful! A huge congrats on the hard work and beautiful result–you've outdone yourselves yet again :o)
What a great space! I'm sure creativity and tranquility ooze from you when you're in this gorgeous room.
What a great space! I'm sure creativity and tranquility ooze from you when you're in this gorgeous room.
Kristin, this is stunning!! SO beautiful and what an impact paint makes! LOVE the chair…love everything! Awesome!
Lou Cinda
WOW! Kristin, it is absolutely spectacular!!!! Magazine worthy! Great, great, great before and after. This is sure to be one of my favourite makeovers!
Hello,
It's a gorgeous space! I would be sitting there all day with a cappuccino and Pinning! So inviting and pretty!
Take care,
Claudia
It turned out fabulous. I think transformations are my favorite thing to see on blogs because they inspire me so much! I would love if you would consider linking this up to "Drab to Fab" this Friday (tomorrow). The theme is taking the ordinary or simple and turning it into something fabulous! This post totally embodies that! I know my readers would get a kick out of seeing this! Here's a link to more info about the party.
http://www.amynjesse.com/p/drab-to-fab.html
Hope to see you tomorrow!
Just gorgeous – love the blue backs. That pop of color makes them look fantastic.
Through all of your blood, sweat, and tears, Kristin – you created an extremely elegant and beautiful study!!! Wow!! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Kristin, what a beautiful and elegant desk you've created! I love the chair too, the fabric color and nail heads are perfect. The bookshelf styling is perfect! You're going to love working in your new space.
I went through the brown to white transformation with a dresser a while back, I'm always amazed at how paint can transform an old furniture piece. Enjoy! 🙂
Hugs,
Karla
Simply gorgeous! I love it all! I would love if you would share this at the Crazy Cute link party happening at Between U & Me right now! I've got a totally awesome giveaway this week, too!
OOH! AND, I'm your newest follower! 😉
http://www.betweenuandme.com
Simply gorgeous! I love it all! I would love if you would share this at the Crazy Cute link party happening at Between U & Me right now! I've got a totally awesome giveaway this week, too!
OOH! AND, I'm your newest follower! 😉
http://www.betweenuandme.com
Beautiful!
wow! it is looking really lovely!:D
parenting articles
THey came out so so great Kristin! I love the top of the desk with the white – so beautiful!
Wow! All of you hard work painting paid off they look amazing. I kept looking at the before and I am still shocked they are the same book cases. Enjoy the new look. Hmm now I am looking over at my bookshelves in my office and visualizing white…
Oh my goodness, Kristin!! Simply…STUNNING!!
Your desk and bookshelves look amazing…they are truly ready for a magazine feature.
You have got to be kidding me???? I am blown away. Of course I knew you could pull of an amazing transformation, but holy cow. Kristin, it is so fresh and stunning. What a peaceful, light and bright area from which to work. Congrats!
What an amazing transformation Kristin!! I love it! Can I ask why you did not use Annie Sloan paint for the entire project? Just wondering.
Gorgeous!
I am linking this post and referencing your beautiful bookshelves in my post that will be submitted late today or early tomorrow (Jan 30 or 31). They may be my future inspiration! 😉
This is a stunning transformation!!! I love it <3
Simply stunning Kristin!! You are just so brilliant!
WOW! I need to get my paint out. I know it was a lot of work but it sure is lovely. Your whole home is just fabulous!
I LOVE this! I seriously, really am totally in love with this!!!
Beautiful! I would never of guessed that was the same bookshelves and furniture! That chair is a great inspiration piece!
This so completely lovely!!! Great job. I can use this to show a client why they should paint a bunch of stained wood (we are getting blocked by the husband).
It would be fun to see this in person!
they look LOVELY. Probably following your lead on that color combo for the back of the shelves. Beautiful.
🙂
shaunna
What a great project! I am sending this post to a friend of mine to hopefully inspire her to paint her built in bookcases. She uses the room for an office and the icky brown is just that, icky.
Carrie
[email protected]
Kristen – I think I’m going to paint the cabinets in my living room. How have yours held up? Did the stain bleed through the white at all? Thanks for your help!! Amanda
Beautiful – I love the combo of blue on the back and cream on the front! You are so clever!! Pinned!
Hope you filled up that wine glass by now! Your office shelf is so beautiful! Amazing transformation Kristin!