Living in a tiny home with very little storage means I’ve gotten into the habit of cramming anything that fits into every nook and cranny, without regard for category, common sense or convenience of access. Oh, you need a serving platter? No problem! Just squeeze behind the bed, lay flat on your stomach, turn your head to the side, and reeeeeeeach as far as you can under the bed and feel past the plastic bin with the extra flower vases, over the basket with the spare extension cords, and wiggle your fingers until you feel a bag containing something that feels like a ceramic dish. Don’t be surprised if you run into any dust bunnies, spiders or sleeping cats. This is to be expected and no cause for alarm.
Well, I’ve decided to take one small step toward sanity and create a linen closet in my oddly large bathroom. It’s the only room in the place that could legitimately be described as spacious – at least in comparison to the rest of the place! No storage to speak of in there but plenty of wide open floor space. I’m guessing the architects couldn’t figure out any other way to design it while giving access from two doors – one of which I never use. I considered turning the space into a bathroom-slash-rec-room, to take advantage of the space, but… even I have my limits when it comes to creative space-making. Instead, I have decided to use my old bookshelf as a starting point and give myself a place to put all the usual bathroom items plus extra linens and anything else that makes sense to keep in a windowless, occasionally damp room.
I try to buy as little new stuff as possible and keep things as ‘green’ and sustainable as I can. That’s one of the reasons why I love using what I already have or what I can find second-hand, to repurpose them into a second (or third) useful life. Despite the fact that spell check does not recognize the word (how about re-purpose? Yep, that’s good), I’ve noticed that ‘repurposing’ seems to be all the rage on the internet these days. Sometimes it gets a little wacky – repurposing something useful into something just plain nutty. (“I chopped up this perfectly good table and turned it into a light saber-shaped planter for my succulents!”) But, that’s okay. I like people who make nutty things for no good reason. You never know when they might strike gold, right? Anyway, consider this my way of jumping into the rage, with a rather staid example of re-use.
“Before” pics after the jump…
Here’s a hasty (a.k.a. blurry) ‘before’ shot of my bookshelf. I forgot to take a photo until after I’d already removed one third of the items on it. Yes, it was crowded.
And here are a few shots of the shelf in progress – unpainted and in position (yes, it’s creating an odd little corner – my future utility closet!); mid-paint job; and getting measured for fabric that will line the back for a bit of color. I know these photos are pretty terrible. I’ll work on that going forward!
For the paint, I used Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White. I’d never used chalk paint before but had heard that it worked well on laminate like this Ikea Billy shelf. It did indeed work well, after only a cursory sanding, and needed just two coats of paint – and no primer. I think the first coat of paint served the same purpose as a coat of primer so I probably could have used one coat of primer and just one of chalk paint and saved some money, but I wanted to test out what I’d read about not having to prime first. (I think I secretly hoped one coat of chalk paint would be enough all on its own. No such luck.) With my kitchen cupboards and most of the furniture I’ve redone, I’ve used two coats of primer and two coats of paint, though, so thumbs up on the fewer coats needed with chalk paint. It takes less paint than usual to cover surfaces as well. I only bought a quart (though it costs a pretty penny) and haven’t finished it yet after two coats on the bookshelf plus a few smaller items. It’s kind of magical how far it stretches.
[Edit: I had some not-so-thumbs-up things to say about the wax that is suggested as a finishing coat over the chalk paint. But I decided that I’m not a critic or product reviewer and, you know what? I’d rather focus on the positive aspects of my project! I know many people love the wax. My not-so-great experience was probably due to user error. I’ll just say, for now, it’s not for me!] I am still searching for a completely non-toxic and durable finishing layer that is easy to use and looks good. Meanwhile, I may stick to a low-VOC semi-gloss paint as the final layer for future projects. If anyone has advice to offer on either wax or other finishing products, I’m all ears.
So, that’s my before and during for the linen closet. Stay tuned for the next phase, coming up soon!
Happy repurposing, my friends!
~Emily