We’re back with the after pics of our freshly painted built-ins. As we mentioned in the last post, we went with an inky blue color with hints of green called Dragonfly from Benjamin Moore’s Affinity line (color matched to Lowe’s No-VOC Olympic paint for the bambino). We only needed a quart, and since we used objects that we already owned on the shelves this entire built-in makeover only ran us $10.97. You can read more about how we planned the shelf placement here. Oh and here’s a poorly lit progress pic from last night, just for fun. Yes John’s shirt does say “Talk Nerdy To Me” on the back. I love it.
But here’s what you really care about. The bookcases all painted! Picture us twiddling our thumbs while we waited for them to fully dry so we could put the shelves back on and load them up.
Of course by then it wasn’t as bright in our north facing room (hence the slight color variation from the last pic) but we LOVE it. It’s bold and high contrast and nothing that we would’ve have the guts to do in our last house.
We’re enamored with the color because it’s super moody and it reads as greener or bluer or darker or lighter depending on the time of day and the angle that you glance at it.
And of course all of my white ceramic animals (and other not-kid-friendly-so-I’m-glad-they-fit-up-there treasures) really pop against the saturated background color (which also makes the cabinets look crisper and whiter by comparison).
These two pics are probably the most true to life when it comes to the color (but of course how you see them really depends on your monitor):
Mr. Rhino (and his ceramic twin on the other side) likey. And we do too. Especially for under $11. In fact we love the color so much that we plan to work it into other parts of the house when we can (you know, to try to keep our whole house color scheme cohesive but not too “yawn”). We’re thinking it might be the perfect color for the base of the future island that we’d love to someday add to our kitchen – and would even work on a bathroom vanity. Should be fun…
Psst- Learn how we made those two fabric covered boxes on the right side of the shelf here.
Leslie says
Superb! It looks dramatic but not as dark as I imagined it from the previous pics!
Erica says
Beautiful! I love how artfully you arranged everything. I struggle to arrange decorative items in built-ins. Do you have any tips? I love that fabric above the squirrel. It is beautiful!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erica,
We just keep playing around until we figure out what we like. And we try to keep the color palette reasonably simple so it doesn’t look too chaotic (white, blue, yellow, gold, silver). As for that fabric box, you can read more details about it here. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Michelle says
Do the “peg holes” on the sides of your shelves bother you?
I have built-ins in my office and I just don’t like how the peg holes look. I’m tempted to fill them in and paint them but as soon as I do that I will want to move a shelf. :P
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Michelle,
We’re thinking we like the flexibility of the holes, so they’ll stay for now. But we did caulk some of them in an Ikea bookcase (once we were sure where we wanted those shelves to stay) and it made for a nice streamlined look.
xo,
s
carolinaheartstrings says
You achieved absoluate perfection for so little money. Congratulations. I love it.
Kelly says
i can’t believe the difference from the all white pics to the painted ones, it looks so great! you do things i would never think of, which is why you have a blog with hundreds of readers:)
Leah says
What happened to the post that showed your favorite paint colors? We just bought our first home and I don’t know where to start! eeek!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Leah,
Check out our Projects page (see that tab under our header?). You’ll find that post in our Paint category. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I love it – you guys did a great job.
mariah says
I can’t stop staring! It looks so good. Just when I had my bedroom re-do all set in my mind, you do this and it makes me want to switch it up. I just can’t help it, I love everything you do.
Carollyn says
Beautiful! I hate to say it, but I’m so glad you moved!! Watching you do this all over again is inspiring. Well done, guys.
KarenC says
Wow! I love that color. It looks so sophisticated and elegant. The white just pops next to it.
Can’t wait to see what else y’all do to your new house.
elizabeth Mackey says
Looks pretty spiffy!! I now can see all other cool decorating possibilities with this color through out the house.
Paint some more, Paint some more!!!!! :D
sarah says
<3 it!!
Kelly says
I would never have thought a dark paint colour would make the objects on the bookshelf ‘pop’ as much as they do. Fantastic work! Lovin it.
I was soooo happy when you guys bought your new house, new projects, new fun and I get to pick up ideas for my future home.
Thanks guys.
p.s. loved the ad featuring Diddy. We don’t get that one in Australia.
Kyle says
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the color!!!!!!!!!!!
Tiffany says
Hi Sherry and John,
I have been following your blog for some time but this is my first time commenting… on any blog for that matter.
I am definitely inspired by your put together decor. Good for you! I am lookng so forward to seeing what you do next. That bluey greeny shade is deep and impacting, but cool and fresh at the same time. Way to take a risk!! What silver colour are you thinking about for the walls? I have BM smokey green in my bedroom and like it a lot it. BTW I like the duvet choice. Keep it up!!!
Tiffany
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Tiffany,
We haven’t settled on the silvery gray color yet but we’ll definitely share our choice when we do! We’ll have to check out Smokey Green too- thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
meg says
Beautiful color, it is sooooo ELLE Decor! I like the bold John and Sherry, great Job!
Cheryl says
Omigoodness! Looks great. Love the white ceramics against the dark background. I LOVE built-ins. Sigh. You’re so lucky to have them. We don’t have any, but we have alot of storage shelves and cabinets. I’m an organizing freak of nature. Whenever I watch House Hunters I drool over those craftsman bungalows that always have built ins in the dining room and flanking the fireplace in the living rooms. I want to scream when the house hunter comments about removing them. Yikes. Or watching old 1940’s movies…those old charming houses always have the neatest built ins. Well, love your color choice. I’ve been checking in every day and when I see you’ve been up to something I get all excited. hahaha
Stephanie Phillips says
I just geeked out big time and texted my best friend. She (and many of our mutuals) is a Phi Sigma Pi brother. Maybe this will be the thing to turn her on to my favorite blog!
Kari says
Hi Sherry! Love your blog. I’ve only been reading for a month or so, but I’M HOOKED!
I am moving into a new modern loft building and LOVE this color, but have dark-ish concrete floors. Do you think this paint color will still work if we go light on the other decor? I am thinking about doing an accent wall…or two!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kari,
That could totally work! Just get the swatch and hold it up in your space to make sure it doesn’t read as black (which would mean it’s too dark for your lighting situation). If it looks greeny blue you’re in business- just try to keep a lot of the furnishings and accessories light to balance things out!
xo,
s
Jen says
Well, you have just picked out the color I’ll be using for my next painting project – thanks for saving me the trouble! XD Seriously, that greeny-bluey shade has got to be my favorite color in the WORLD, and now I know right where to find it when it’s time to paint again.
BTW, have you spotted the home-organization push they’ve got going at Target? It seems like they’ve segued straight from Holiday to “Let’s Get Organized!” – a genius move, in my opinion.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
Yes we were noticing that the other day! So smart!
xo,
s
Kelli McD says
this is so stinkin’ cute. I was already loving the ceramic animals, but they look AMAZING in their new home.
Jodie says
Amazing color! So bold and brave, yet beautiful!
Kristen says
Love the color! I think it’s awesome that you took a risk!
Layla says
They look INCREDIBLE!
And I love how you displayed everything.
Such an inspiring post!
Layla :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Layla! You inspire us all the time!
xo,
s
Brenda@Year25 says
The built-ins look amazing! I love the color you chose.
Sabbath says
oh oh oh! I love this color and I know it well – it’s the color of my bedroom! Le sigh. <3
Jenn says
I absolutely LOVE this! I really like dramatic paint colors in small doses. Also, how awesome that you were able to make such a dramatic change with such a simple task?
I am making a mental note of this post for when I finally tackle our built-ins-right now they are more like giant catch-alls.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share! I look forward to coming to you blog at the end of my workday.
Regina says
That color is gorgeous! Love that idea! (And also making me wish I had some built-ins…)
Erin says
LOVE the background color and the colors of the object!! And great shirt, too.
Where did you get the fun little gold boxes and the other patterned boxes?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
The gold boxes were from West Elm a while back and the patterned boxes were actually a DIY (check out the link at the bottom of the post for more info). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Roeshel says
Beautiful color choice. I love it with your white accents. Great job! :)
Danette says
I must say I was a little unsure about while scrolling down through the photos, then everything was in there and I was like “wow”, then I looked at the before photo again and WOWEE, I thought it looked good before…shows you I have much to learn…because now it is AWESOME!! Well done! I am holding my breath for everything else wonderful that you will do! (well not literally of course!) xx
Monica says
That colour is AMAZING! I love the way it turned out and you’re right, definitely pops with the white/bright colours of all of your animals and knick-knacks!
B.I.M.L says
What material are the built ins? We just bought a home and in our basement we have a narrow built in shelves above a built in bench, but they feel like formica/but have the same cork holes with metallic gold…how can we paint over them? Also have a formica desk we wanna paint that is built in…what kind of paint?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey BIML,
They’re wood, which takes paint really well. Formica usually can’t be painted with much success, but maybe ask around at the hardware store if they have any suggestions or new products? Good luck!
xo,
s
megan e says
Loving the new bold choice. Looking forward to more awesome paint choices. As for that new dining room, I think it needs some new (clearanced) white ceramic salt and pepper shakers! http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17501577&RN=2208&
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, cute! Thanks for sharing the link!
xo,
s
Katherine says
I love it! And it doesn’t seem like too big of a stray for you guys, probably because it works so perfectly and it’s still in the blue/green family just way more bold and dramatic. Way to go. Can’t wait to see where you use this color next!
deena says
I would stare at that all day. Awesome!!
Erica says
I just had a “duh” moment-I hung shelves in my husband’s office and was overwhelmed by all of the various book spines and colors and I just saw you had a whole stack backwards to front the nice creamy pages. If I organize that way (instead of by Finnish language books, medical books and how to be a gentleman type books) it’ll save me the frustration of grouping. Thanks again!
Susie says
love the new colour, love your blog, and LOVE John’s t-shirt ;)
Elle C. says
AWESOME color choice! I am so in love with those shelves, the color, and all your little do-dads arranged so artfully. Lovely!
Caity says
LOVE that color and those shelves! Looks like something out of a magazine :)You’re an AMAZING decorator–my husband and I are looking at buying our first home, and I’m getting lots of ideas from your blog! Read it everyday :)Thanks!
elle C. says
So, I know I already commented, but I just had to go through the pics again and noticed the other subtle colors thrown in (before all I noticed was the blue-green and white). But when I went back, i noticed the yellows, golds, limey greens and other shades of turquoise. Very subtle, but it adds that extra sumpin’ sumpin’. Can I just say, I think you guys are color GENIUSES!
Kristin says
Holy AWESOME!!! So need good inspiration, this is great stuff (w great price tag!)
Nice work. Glad you are trying new things and color schemes
Claire says
Love the final outcome. Like Elle C above me, I also adore the subtlety of your other colors and how well they all contrast and harmonize at once!
Cathy says
Love it! I’m so excited that you’re experimenting with different colors this time around. It’s still YHL, but a little grown up.
Angela says
i LOVE it!!! the color is awesome, your shelves look great!! ya’ll rock :-)
Erica S says
Love how your animals are all facing inward! I was yearbook editor in high school and I remember our advisor telling us that no one should be looking off of a page, it’s more pleasing to the eye if they look inward. I’ve remembered that now for years. It’s funny that it was the first thing I noticed after admiring the color…
Kristen says
The color turned out great!! John’s t-shirt is too funny!
Jessica says
you guys are so great at this!! Im so excited to be moving soon so I can switch up some of my decor and add to it. So many ideas in my mind from your blog. You guys rock!
Kelsi @ Modern Mom Redefined says
wow and yay! I was super nervous for ya’ll to be honest- you two are brave! I figured it’d turn out well since you two are pro, but I can’t believe how great it turned out! Go figure, no surprise with you two!! And that color? WOW! I’m stashing that in my book of dreams for when we finally buy a home. It’s gorgeous!
Jennifer says
This is stunning. Absolutely beautiful…makes me wish I had built-ins!