We painted the back of our built-in bookcases last night! Which is totally our idea of a good time by the way. It’s the equivalent of a “Date Night” for us, if you will. So we figured we should post about the pre-planning process that went on so we can share the “after” pics as closely to real-time as possible (once the paint dries and we can put the shelves back up to snap some final photos for ya). So here you go:
We decided we needed to roughly layout the objects on the built-in bookcases before painting the backs of them (we’ll explain more about that in a minute). We were planning to put a lot of hardcover books along with other breakables (like my ceramic animal menagerie) up there on display since they’ll be away from little hands for a while (making the built-ins one of the only spots for breakable items that will still work with a mobile bambino). But it turns out the shelves are a bit too narrow for a lot of our books which ended up hanging over the edge like toes in too-small sandals.
Not to be deterred, I stashed a bunch of the offending overhanging books in the storage cabinets under the bookcases (along with my not-in-use decor store items). We figure we’ll add some kidproof locking devices to those cabinets so they won’t get raided by tiny hands when Clara is in that getting-into-everything stage. Anyway, after solving the too-big book crisis that nearly brought me to my knees (ok, that’s a little dramatic), I got to work trying to arrange a few of our favorite breakables… only to step back and realize that things were looking a bit too cluttered for my tastes. Yikes.
Forgive the bad picture – John is clearly superior when it comes to sweet talking the Nikon. And speaking of the hubby (who I’ve mentioned before is definitely the brains of this operation), as soon as he heard me moaning about things looking too crowded he walked up behind me, said “hmm” and then came up with the genius idea of eliminating one shelf in each of the four vertical rows for an airier look. This suggestion took him about .05 seconds. Don’t you just hate know-it-alls? Kidding. I loved it. And sure enough, with things a bit more spaced out, we were both a lot more enamored with the new arrangement.
Once we had landed on the right shelf spacing and had a rough idea of what we’ll be displaying, we were ready to unload everything to paint the backs of the built-ins. Why figure out shelf placement first, only to take everything down again? We learned that every time we moved the shelves around they scraped the back wall a bit, so we didn’t want to be playing with their placement a lot after giving the back of the bookcase a fresh coat of paint. So we snapped a few photos to remember where things went and unloaded everything to get ready to add some serious color.
We decided to go with a deep inky blue called Dragonfly from Benjamin Moore’s Affinity line so all of my beloved ceramic animals will pop and the room will hopefully come alive with some high contrast drama and fun. Besides, it’s only paint. So far we love it even though it’s way outside of our usual comfort zone (taking a chance = so worth it). And if we put the shelves back up and load all of our items on them only to learn that we hate it we can always give it another try. It’s just paint. But we’re thinking it’ll all look awesome once the rest of the room (and the adjoined office) get a nice coat of soft silvery gray paint, while the trim and the not-backs (sides, faces, cabinetry, etc) of the built-ins remain the same white tone that they’re already painted. Until we can stop in with those all-done bolder bookcase pics once everything dries, we’ll share these terribly lit shots from last night of the taping process…
… and the cutting in process…
That looks pretty darn dark at night, huh? Wait til you see it in the daylight though. Woot!
Oh and can you tell I’m the cutter-inner while John is the designated taper and roller? See how the painted borders stop a foot away from the top on the right? That’s because I was waiting for the stool that John was using to tape off the top portion. So I snapped this pic in the meantime…
Update: See how our built-in transformation turned out right here.
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
OOoh It looks fabulous! Good call John!
My husband takes better photos than me.. and butts in on every project I attempt… and I love it… but omg he is such a know-it-all too! hehe. Like I said, I can’t really complain b/c he’s my know it all =)
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
Rachel says
They look so much better with less shelves! I really love the arrangement, and I’m sure the new color will be awesome. I love that color blue with gray.
Off-topic – I was browsing Target’s furniture clearance online and saw some ottomans that you guys raved about but didn’t buy way back when, the Lee Industries knock-offs (linked them to this comment). I thought you might be able to find a place for them now in your new house at only $25 a pop. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the link Rachel! We still love those guys.
xo,
s
Maggie @ Black & White {Side by Side} says
Can’t wait to see the paint color once its all on!!! We have a half wall separating our living/dining room – very similar to your layout! Now I’m def considering building bookcases on top of the halfwall to finish the job!
Lauren says
You mentioned silvery gray paint for the walls in the rest of the room…have you picked a specific shade? I chose that same look for my den/breakfast nook/kitchen and I’ve been having heart attacks on which shade to choose without looking overwhelming in such a big space. I know it’s just paint, but this is such a big area and such a heavily used space I definitely only want to tackle it once. I’m leaning towards Silver Sateen from the Behr Ultra. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren,
Nope, haven’t picked it yet. But when we do we’ll def. share it!
xo,
s
Carolyn says
Love the bold color! I have a quick question about your painting technique. I know you guys recommend removing the tape before the paint dries (and I too have found this makes for smooth, straight lines), but what do you do when you also have a layer of primer? Or multiple layers of paint? Do you tape/remove tape for each layer? I’m about to start painting the wood trim throughout my house and am worried continual re-taping will take a ton of time … what do you recommend? Perhaps you don’t tape at all for the primer?
Can’t wait to see the built-in color in daylight!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Carolyn,
Our rule is always to remove the tape as soon as possible after the last coat of paint is applied. Since the last coat of paint usually rewets everything under it, you should be able to get that same crisp line when you peel it off even with multiple coats that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ashlee says
dit dit dit dit…this just in:
“Our decorating editors at HGTV.com have named Silver Peony the color of the month for January. What do you think…thumbs up or thumbs down? (See room examples on our Design Happens blog!)”
I copied that from my FB newsfeed 2 seconds after I read your post. It appears that you are in to something with the silver-y walls. OR did HGTV.com make the color of the month decision AFTER reading your post as well?
We may never know.
matt says
looks great! where did you find your white rhino at?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Matt,
That was from ZGallerie although another commenter found one for $10 at HomeGoods!
xo,
s
Claire @ LTR says
I am totally enamored with your dining room-to-be and office. Looking forward to seeing those spaces finished!
Oona says
Ooooohhh…. It’s gonna look amazing! I cannot wait to see the Afters!
Funnelcloud Rachel says
Love the arrangement! And I can’t wait to see the paint job and the final arrangement! We go for bold saturated colors over here and have never regretted it. I’m the cutter-inner over here, too (though the taping is also part of my job because I’m more precise).
Vanessa says
I love the built-ins!! I think that’s a must have feature whenever I buy a house!
Amy Wolff says
Did you get some new things for the bookshelf? Looks like you got a few new pieces?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, that’s all stuff we had scattered all over the old house (and stored in our “Decor Store” – the cabinet in our kitchen where we kept out of rotation stuff). So excited to use what we have!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Good luck choosing a gray…it took me FOREVER, and at some times of the day I still ponder if I picked the right one. I went with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter…more of a griege than a silvery gray though all the silvery grays seemed to skew too blue or lavender. And it’s amazing how the lighting in the room really changes the tones of it. I wanted it to be a little cooler, so I changed out all the lightbulbs in the room to reveal bulbs and that made a huge difference.
As for the toes hanging over the end of open toed shoes (especially platform type sandals)…somewhere I heard that that is referred to as a “shrimp cocktail”….ewwwwwwwwww! LOL!
Mary Anne says
I am so excited to see you guys venture into bolder color choices!
Hilary says
Can’t wait to see the afters! Do you think you’ll use that same inky blue elsewhere or just allow it to really pop in one room of the house?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re definitely planning to use it in a bunch of other places! Maybe in the future kitchen island or the bathroom vanity- etc.
xo,
s
melarse says
You’re such teases! I was slowly and anxiously reading, dying to not just scroll down to see the final product. Only when I got there is wasn’t there! Cannot wait to see how this turns out.
Wendy M. says
I’m happy to see y’all stepping out of your comfort zone! Haha. Isn’t that one of your resolutions just about every year? :P
Kelly says
I can’t wait to see the after!! Removing the shelves was a great idea. It looks much better!
ps- Where is your stainless steel desk lamp from? Thank you!
xo,
Kelly
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelly,
That’s from Linens N Things a while back.
xo,
s
Sierra says
LOVE YOUR BLOG! I’m a newbie but have become hooked to watching the progress of your house(s) turned home(s). :) LOVE all the ideas you share! LOVE all the humor you do it all with!
Such a joy to read everyday!
Thank you!
Sierra
Maureen says
I love the placement of the items on your shelves and can’t wait to see the finished product. Quick question…what are those cute little flowered boxes on the right side shelves? Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Maureen,
Those were a DIY project. See how we made them here.
xo,
s
sandy says
So, here is the thing. Your new future dining room/ office is amazing, great natural light and details, congrats and I love it! But, have you considered swapping the location of your desk and your couch? The shelves are so pretty, but the eye ultimatley rests on your desk, and while it is organized and beautiful, it’s kind of a downer and screams WORK! Maybe the couch would give off a cozier vibe? Yall are so brave opening up your home to critiques, cant wait to see what you are going to do next! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sandy,
Scroll back through the comments for that info! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Natasha says
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to thank you for posting on the Premium XL Tight Spots 2? Angle Short Handle Brush. It is our new favorite paint brush. My husband actually prefers it to our Purdy brushes for doing cut- ins. Plus it washes out really easily. Unrelated we just painted our dining room Pitch Blue by Farrow & Ball and we are loving our walk on the darker/ bolder side. Keep up the good work can’t wait to see the afters.
YoungHouseLove says
So glad it worked for you! That’s totally still our favorite (in fact I used it for these bookcases).
xo,
s
Karena says
Wow you two never cease to amaze me!! Excite to see the final!!
Happy New Years!
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Robyn says
I can’t wait to see the final product. I’m loving the sneak peak of that color!
I have to say, I’m extremely jealous that you guys are able to do DIY projects still despite having a 7.5 (?) month old baby. Our baby is 6 months and the longest she will sleep is 6 hours at a stretch, which means that if we want a 3 hour stretch ourselves, we have to be in bed at like 9pm (her first waking is around midnight or 1am).
Here’s hoping we might one day have a schedule that allows for some home improvement again in the future! :)
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Love those built-ins. Wish we had some or could fit some in our home. I’ll just have to drool over yours. Can’t wait to see that room completely done, it’s going to be gorgeous. Boy you are a tease with these pics. I can’t wait for the after pictures.
Question – if you had a nice cherry wood stained entertainment center and not built-ins, would you paint the back of the entertainment center? This is what we have in our LR and unless we have the lights on in the entertainment center, we can hardly see what is in there. Maybe wallpaper and not paint? I would love to do something like this, but not sure the hubby will let me do that to this piece. Any other thoughts or products to use to lighten up the back of our entertainment center. Thanks! :D
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
Oh yeah! You can brighten up just the back with paint or wallpaper or even fabric (that you can starch and attach to the back like wallpaper, but it’s peel-offable. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Meghan says
Behr’s “Sparrow” is the silvery grey that we have all over the house and LOVE.
Can’t wait to see the finished shelves. John is a know-it-all, taking that shel out made all of the difference.
Mindy says
So you’re going from young house love to sophisticated house love ;) How fun. I too wouldn’t have thought it was too cluttered until seeing the shelves removed.. smart. Don’t you love logical boys?? My hubby is the same way. I’ve been all about gray lately, so I can’t wait to see the end result. Happy painting!
Dana says
i LOVE the office furniture arrangement.
Elizabeth says
I would like to add my endorsement for those paintbrushes…best ever! And someone here long ago suggested the painters comb for cleaning brushes and that has completely made the difference in my ability to clean and re-use the great brushes. I highly recommend getting one for anyone who paints a lot.
This is the one I have, but I found it at Home Depot.
http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-1831-Painters-Comb/dp/B000LDLPC8
Debbie says
What a huge difference that made! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Whenever you get around to locking things up, I totally recommend the Safety 1st Magnetic Tot Locks. A little more money and a little more trouble to install, but the on/off feature is totally worth it.
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating says
I love that you’re going with a more dramatic color palette!! That color is beautiful. Can’t wait to see the finished bookcase!
Jennifer B. says
I love the colors so far! I know that is going to be the dining/entry room, so I didn’t know if you would need pillows for anything. But I was browsing for pillows online and came across this one that I thought would look great with the scheme you already have going – if you do end up using pillows for some kind of seating anywhere.
http://www.pillowdecor.com/Bohemian-Damask-Blue-White-and-Olive-Throw-Pillow-p/kb1-0015-02-18.htm
Love your house!
Jennifer B.
YoungHouseLove says
Fun! Thanks for sharing the link Jennifer!
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Looks like your off to a great start. I’ll be excitedly awaiting the results! As for the desk & sofa placement…personally I like looking in at the desk. After all YHL is what you do & as you said it is an office. Makes sense to me.
Rachael says
I’m so excited to see the finished project!! I can’t wait to see how the ceramics pop against the blue. I’m buying a new condo in September and cannot wait to try out so many of the tips I’ve learned from your blog on the new place!! Everytime I see a room now, I think to myself “What would John and Sherry do to improve this place?? Get rid of the ceiling fan and possibly add a chandelier – check! Ditch the white walls – check! Add some pops of color and some fun prints – check! Hang the curtains high and wide – check!”
Keep on doin’ what your doin!! :)
Sincerely,
Rachael
Katherine says
Ooh, I bet the blue is looking very nice! I love blue hued rooms. I actually had to stop myself from painting every room in my last house a shade of blue. It can just look so classy when done right! Beautiful!
brian says
better shelf arrangement so far.. but I would even go a step further and eliminate the top shelf on the two upper outside corners.. This would allow you to place taller objects there as well, and have a bit more eye please asymmetrical balance and visual interest. It still kinda feel like you have too many shelves all the same size.
(the trained graphic designer in me can’t help but make the suggestion)
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Hey Jen,
Oh yeah! You can brighten up just the back with paint or wallpaper or even fabric (that you can starch and attach to the back like wallpaper, but it’s peel-offable. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Oh Sherry, you just gave me a great idea. I can put wallpaper or fabric on thin cardboard or similar and just place that behind the glass shelves. Maybe a little double sided tape or some 3M product in the corners should hold it all in place. Thanks for sparking a great idea. I’m going to have to work on that one now. Thanks!!! :D
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome idea Jen! Good luck and post pics over on Facebook for all to see!
xo,
s
Amy says
Holy Cow, Dragonfly is one of my most favorite colors EVER! I desperately wanted to paint our northwest facing bedroom that color, but alas, it truly was too dark. We went with Ben Moore’s Covington Blue and dang, it’s amazing. I can’t WAIT to see how the dragonfly looks behind those white shelves!
Tanya says
It definitely looks great with fewer items, spaced out a bit. Good call! I’m excited to see the finished product!
~Tanya
dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com
Minnesotamom says
Looks like it will be gorgeous! You guys are challenging me to think outside my own comfort zone here, which is a good thing. I don’t have any built-ins (sigh), but I have been considering some darker colors for our basement.
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
“Awesome idea Jen! Good luck and post pics over on Facebook for all to see!
xo,
s”
I definitely will. :D
Christa M says
Sherry did you kill the plant that was in that small pot from Wal-Mart or do something else with the plant? I purchased the same one around the same time and mine is still going strong and I always forget to water it…
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Christa,
I killed one but the other one (we got two) survived. 50/50% odds for plants in my house I guess. Haha.
xo,
s
Lilly says
Hi I can’t wait to see the end result I like alot so far, but I don’t think I’ve ever disliked something u guys did. Also I’ve been snooping aroung ur moodboards because I wanted to check out the one u guys were dreaming about for ur new bedroom and just a heads up those tangerine lamps are half off ($39.99). Have a nice day guys enjoy ur new home making process.
heatherb says
You two are absolutely ridiculously adorable. We recently started the renovations on our house (since the yard, building a garage and the start of a barn took 3 1/2…I wish I was kidding. The landscaping isn’t even done yet).
So I took a ton of photos and what happens? My SD card fails as it gets put into the computer. Despite multiple tries to recover them through various softwares – no dice.
Here’s to hoping I have a before photo somewhere in my dusty (digital) collection of the house photos from when we bought it!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! We’re crossing our fingers for you Heatherb!
xo
s
Morgan Mayes says
You guys are so popular. I just got notice that you updated the blog, and there’s already THREE pages of comments.
I’m sure you realize, but a few photos were broken links. And the YHL followers need to know what those photos are of. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Morgan,
Ooops! That’s the first we’ve heard of broken links! Is anyone else having an issue seeing the pics? Which ones are broken? If it’s the first one it might be because you’re at work and they’re blocking youtube videos, so it might just not be loading that image for ya. That would be our best guess. Anyone else having any image issue?
xo,
s
Katie says
Love the bookshelves so far. How do you guys minimize the paint fumes for Clara? We have some built-ins that I would love to repaint soon, but we also have a 9 month old and I’m worried about the paint fumes irritating his little sinuses(even the low VOC stuff still stinks). Any tips or tricks?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
We use no-VOC (which is even less fumey than low-VOC) since we color match everything to Olympic’s no-VOC paint. We also run fans, crack windows, and even open doors for ventilation during and after. Oh and painting when Clara’s off in bed for the night keeps her out of the room so it’s nice and aired out and dry when she’s up in the morning. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
denise says
did anyone else think that your post said…”just ask diddy in these new CROC commercials”? i could not for the life of me figure out why diddy was doing croc commercials. i had to laugh at myself when i watched the video and saw that i was mistaken.
can’t wait to see the built-ins when they are done. i can’t wait to see the whole house go through its transformation.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, Diddy + Crocs = pure comedy gold.
xo,
s
Kristen @ JustLiveSimply.blogspot.com says
I am so excited to see the changes you are making to this house. We are always moving (military) so that means we are more often than not….renters. I live vicariously through your home ownership & home improvements!!
Navy Bean says
Looks fabulous already… I can’t wait to see the finished results. You did a great job with the display layout. That is always the hardest part for me!
Yuliya says
I love your new post in real time approach, I hate that I’m so impatient…can’t wait to see it all done!