DIY Problem-Solving

I'm not sure how it got to be Friday, this week has been a blur of last minute plans, fighting sickness, and trying to trouble-shoot a few DIY projects. DIY problem #1- making attempts to permanently fix a dresser promised to a friend that keeps balking at me and coming unfixed when I turn my back.  When will people stop leaving perfectly awesome furniture out on the curb in the rain??  If they had just put it for free on craigslist, I wouldn't still be arguing with a warped top that refuses to stay where I put it.  That being said, it MAY be fixed now, but I'm waiting to make sure before it gets painted.  I WILL NOT let a dresser get the best of me!!  Rant over.

My other DIY problem to solve is a bit more fun and a bit more photogenic currently.

It's less of a problem and more of a puzzle- figuring out how to put all the pieces together to build the corner bookcase of my dreams.  Lucky for me, I don't have to reinvent the wheel.  When I was starting to plan for this project, after I had my plans sketched out, but before I really planned out the construction, I came upon this:

Remodelaholic's detailed plans for a corner built-in bookcase.  Not only do they tell how they created it, they show it step by step in 3d.  Thanks guys for the awesome tutorial!!  I obviously need to modify it a bit to make it work for my space, and I'll be adding on another level of detail to make it match the existing wood detailing that's right across the room:

but Remodelaholic's plans were such a great place to start!  Finding the tutorial helped make the project a lot less intimidating.  Phew!

So far I have the whole thing planned out and the shell constructed on my wall.  I've added a little extra blocking on the top to make it easier to attach my small crown molding (which I have discovered is not true crown, but actually "bed molding" since it's so small),

and also added a little extra blocking at the base to help me level it with my not-so-level-114+-year-old house.  All the gaps at the floor, ceiling, walls, will be covered with trim and caulked to make it look like it's always been here.

I'm already shocked at how sturdy it feels, I can imagine it'll only get sturdier the more I glue/nail together.  Today it'll get shelves!  and maybe I'll even start applying some finish trim... we'll see how it goes.  I can not wait for this project to be finished!!

I hope you have some fun projects planned for this weekend too!

Liquid Gold

Among my lofty plans for this here lil'ol' blog this year is to share at least one DIY with you guys each week.  My goals were only reinforced when I discovered that my DIY infinity scarf (and dorky headless selfie that went with) has been my most popular post on pinterest to date!  If you're new here from pinterest, Welcome!!!  Even if you aren't new here from pinterest, I still love you- there's enough to go around! Last week, I told you about all my super duper exciting (to me) living room plans.  And I am impatient.  Unfortunately, my built in bookcase will be waiting until I'm done working on Frankie-the-Fliphouse, and a new sofa won't be purchased until said fliphouse is sold, so if I want to get started on this room, I have to start small.

Like painting a coffee table.  or rather 2 coffee tables.  Our coffee tables are these from Overstock and they are perfect for our space.

As I mentioned in my plans post, I'll be dialing back a bit of the high contrast in the furniture (don't you worry, much excitement will come with the accessories), so I decided our black and glass coffee table should be less black.  and more gold.

Nothing was wrong with the black per se, I just think the gold will go better with the end result of the room.  I decided to give liquid leaf a try as opposed to a flat-looking spray paint.

For such a small jar, this has a very strong odor, so be warned.

After one coat, I debated leaving it streaky for a pseudo-deliberate antique look, but decided to go whole-hog and make it all solid gold.  Aside from the stench, I'm so far pleased with the finish that the liquid gold achieved- it's a little bit more dimensional than most gold paints and somehow looks more 'real', although that may just be me trying to justify the time this took vs. spray paint.

I still have to do a few small touch-ups and seal it somehow, but so far I totally dig it.  Once the rest of the space transforms, they'll fit in perfectly.  And if they don't, the miracle of spray paint will transform them magically back to black, but I have a feeling they'll have a long life in their new gold forms.

I hope I'm not the only one with the urge to paint everything gold lately- maybe I'm just craving a little sparkle in the dull winter months.  That must be it.  Sound's like a plausible excuse reason to me.

Revamping

I know I'm definitely in the right career field.  No doubt.  Why so sure?  Even in the midst of flipping a house and painting and the daily messes out at Frankie, I'm still planning design changes around my own house.  It's a sickness, really.  I come home from Frankie totally pooped, melt into the couch, and look around at what I want to change. I've left my living room alone for the past year and a half, although I've never been 100% pleased with it. Here's where it stands today:

Things just didn't mesh as I had hoped and the stark contrast of Clifford the giant red chair vs. the turquoise stripe wall is starting to grate on me.  With an idea in my head, I dug my (very very dusty) sketch pad out of the basement and decided to try putting my plans on paper.  I am not an artist and only usually sketch for a specific purpose (like my chair art), so please forgive the rather skewed perspectives.

Years ago I had the idea for a corner built-in bookcase, but put the idea aside thinking that it wasn't worth the effort.  Well, I'm still thinking about it 2+ years later, so in my book, that calls for another consideration.  Being a little more comfortable with building things and tools now, I feel like it's a totally accomplishable project that will completely make the room.  (plus I've found tutorials online that help to make it less intimidating)  Architectural interest, here I come!

Furniture-wise.....  Mr. couch must go.  He's a fine couch.  Just fine. and rather comfy ....but he's out of scale with the room, a little style-less, and I've been craving a different sofa for 3.5 years (we've had this one for 4.5... maybe I'll vent more another day).  Something like this sofa would totally do the trick.  Classic and stylish (and less lumpy), but still very versatile.  *swoon*

The red chair will get switched with our antique one that's currently in hubby's office which will get reupholstered with a more neutral pattern.

If this fabric wasn't $80 a yard ON SALE it would be a frontrunner.

The coffee tables will remain, but get an undisclosed make-over in the very near future.  They're gonna be sexy, let me tell you.  And the end tables which are some of the only remaining furniture from my "bachelorette pad" will get replaced with craigslisted or thrifted pieces similar to these which have been tempting me on Craigslist

The paint and rug will remain the same, the plate wall will remain, and the tv wall will be untouched, so it's not a TOTAL do-over, but I'm super duper excited!  We probably won't be buying a couch for a few months and I'll spare my building-buddy (Handy dad) and wait until the weather warms up a bit to do the bookcase, so I have plenty of time to obsess and plan (oh, and finish a fliphouse).

Are you planning any room do-overs or modifications?  or have you built any bookshelves?  tips are invited!