A Lego bookshelf for Zoe
Zoe loves to build Lego kits, and she didn't have much of a place to store some of her bigger pieces.
So, I told her I'd poke around on Facebook Marketplace to see what I could come up with.
Eventually, I came across a teal solid wood bookshelf for $25, so I went to pick it up.
However, when I got home I was like CRAP! I didn't take into consideration that the shelves were pretty close together, which did not leave enough room for Zoe's taller buildings.
Whoops.
But then I realized something!
Remember this Buy Nothing bookshelf?
It was a disaster when I got it, and it had so much damage to one shelf, I had to turn the whole thing upside down.
When it was finished, I put it into our downstairs den, where it held books and some games/movies.
Anyway, I realized that since it's upside down, the top two shelves are pretty tall and perfect for Legos.
So, I decided to swap the two bookshelves!
I moved the shelf with legs into Zoe's room, where she promptly filled it with all of her things.
And she did put some books in there too. 😉
A nice thing about using the same paint over and over is that this shelf is exactly the same shade of white as Zoe's bed, which I painted several years ago when I took apart Sonia and Zoe's bunkbeds.
Anyway! Back to the teal bookshelf.
I almost just put it into the downstairs den as-is, but then I thought, nah, I'll fix it up, and that way if I end up wanting to sell it down the road, it'll be worth more than I paid for it.
Plus I wasn't really digging the teal.
So I scuff-sanded it, just to remove the top bit of finish, and then I hauled it inside. Because it was toooo cold to paint outside (paint prefers more temperate temperatures. 😉 )
I primed it...
And then I began the laborious process of painting it.
Bookshelves have SO much surface area, they take a long time to paint.
You start to think you're getting close and then you're like, "Ohhhh wait, the bottom of the shelves!"
And this one had those annoying grooves on the back. That took a lot of careful painting, plus plenty of caulking.
See how those grooves look dark?
Now we're getting closer!
I finished painting the shelf shortly before we left for Hawaii, so Zoe and I moved it downstairs and let it cure while we were away.
For things like dressers, I worry less about curing...most of the painted surface of a dresser gets left alone.
But it's easy to mess up a bookshelf finish by putting heavy stuff on the paint before it's reached maximum hardness, so I always err on the side of caution!
It was all good by the time we came back home, so now it's holding our miscellaneous stuff downstairs.
That room has zero windows, so the pictures are a little dark. Sorry!
Incidentally, the little stool next to the bookshelf is from my Buy Nothing group.
And the lamp was an extra that got thrown in with some that I bought from Facebook Marketplace.
Ooh, also that black chair is free from Facebook Marketplace.
It's pretty amazing what you can get for cheap/free. 🙂
I had all the supplies for this project on hand, aside from a $4 tube of caulk, so in total, I spent $25.
There is no way I could have gotten a new Lego shelf for Zoe for anything close to $25. And even if I had, it wouldn't have been solid wood, and it wouldn't have perfectly matched her other bedroom furniture.
Of course, there's an investment of time, but I just put my earbuds in and listened to the nursing textbook chapters that were assigned over winter break. So I don't even really look at it as lost time!
And as I mentioned, if the next place I move to doesn't have space for this bookshelf, I can always sell it for a good bit more than I paid for it. That's the beauty of buying used!
Furniture Painting Supply List
The basics I use to get my painting jobs done!
BOSCH Orbital Sander
This affordable little sander has helped me prep countless pieces of furniture.
Rust-Oleum Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer
This primer works great, and it's water-based, so cleanup is easy.
ADVANCE Interior Paint - Satin
I use satin sheen, and my fave white is Cloud White.
DAP INC White Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk
This is super useful to fill in gaps when you're painting with a light color.
Mister Rui Paint Roller Kit
This kit comes with foam and microfiber rollers; microfiber is what I use.
Small Brushes
You don't have to get these ones specifically, but some very small paintbrushes are SUPER useful for getting into edges, grooves, and corners!
Wow! So, so beautiful and clever- lovely, sturdy pieces of furniture.
I wish I had the courage to try this myself.
I have had the same stool for more than 20 years now. It could really need a fresh coat of painting.....
@Lea, Just try it. What's the worst that could happen?
@Lea, no courage required. Just materials, time, and determination.
Cool! Sometimes you have to think outside the box in order to get a piece of furniture to function better. I get so upset when I get a Saunders (or similar brand) prefab piece of furniture. Usually, the underside of shelves are not finished, and they are ugly particle board; you can see the undersides if you sit on the sofa, etc. I found a remedy at the Salv. Army thrift store: on a donated bookshelf that was for sale, someone painted the underside of each shelf, thus disguising the unfinished particle board. So when I got home, I took apart an entertainment center that we were using for extra kitchen storage. Instead of trying to match the faux woodgrain finish, I painted the undersides of those shelves, using a blue color that matched my dishes. But instead of installing them with the blue side down, I installed the shelves upside down. Now, the blue is on top and the "woodgrain" finish is underneath each shelf. The woodgrain edges are facing front to give it a more finished appearance. The blue on top makes it look like I put shelf paper on the surfaces and it gives the storage unit a pop of color that looks good in the kitchen.
Ooh, that is such a creative solution!
@Fru-gal Lisa, that sounds beautiful! I am picturing it with Fiestaware of different colors.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Fiesta is heavy, though. I wouldn't put it on particleboard--it will collapse.
I hate that about particle board bookshelves. I had one at my other house that sagged over time from holding books. Books are heavy!!
@Fru-gal Lisa, Put some turquoise print wallpaper on the back?
@Rose, good thing I am only picturing it in my mind, eh? 😎
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, and Rose, and Kristen and everyone,
Thanks for your comments.
I don't have Fiestaware but wish I did; the shelf paint matches the turquoise blue 1970s dishware inherited from Grandma. Which are stored in the regular built-in kitchen cabinets above the counters. But when I set the table with those dishes, it picks up the color from the shelves -- and IMO, really makes that end of the kitchen "pop."
The entertainment center/shelf unit is more for kitchen products: Since my former roommate and I did not make meals together, we wanted to store our food separately. So she used the floor-to-ceiling cabinets for her canned goods and nonperishable foods and I used this former entertainment center.
It also has some curb finds: 6 big square baskets rescued from a neighbor's trash pile. (Which had a shelf-holder, but I couldn't get that into my car or lift it by myself...so I just got the baskets.)
I put some of the canned goods inside the baskets that fit on the bottom shelves, and kept packages of beans, flour, etc. on the upper ones. The shelves make narrow cubby holes and the baskets are used like drawers.
The stronger center area meant for an old-style TV held the roommate's waist-high dorm refrigerator, perfect size for it and it got the fridge off the floor. (That's where we stored all our soft drinks.)
I put canned goods inside the doored cabinet on the entertainment center (it's strong top was the surface meant for TVs, the one on which the fridge rested) and the inside can hold lots of weight. The lighter weight bottles are on the top shelves, in cubbyhole shelves for which I have no baskets.
When I re-arrange my kitchen, I may just store small tabletop appliances on the entertainment unit, but I haven't decided yet.
That looks great. You have found an impressive amount of things free or cheap. I love hearing about all of your finds.
I know, right? I have been blessed with so many affordable things to outfit my house.
Hello! I was just wondering what steps you take for clean up of the brushes? It is such a silly question, but somehow, after painting, I always seem to stumble on the clean up. Do you have any pro tips?
Thanks in advance,
Rebecca
Ooh, this is a good question! I'll add it to a Q&A post so everyone sees the answer, but if I'm mid-painting, I cover the brushes in plastic between coats. After I'm done, I soak them in water for a while and THEN rinse. The soak makes it way easier to get all the paint out.
@Kristen, Thank you! I was always faffing about with mineral spirits or turpentine, and it felt like a) the fumes were enough to knock me out, b) the brushes didn't get totally clean, and c) I then worried (needlessly I'm sure, but I'm a worrier) about spontaneous combustion, haha!
But reading your comments makes me realize that if it is a water-based paint, the paintbrushes need only be washed with water. Mind blown!!
@Kristen, that's what I do, but with the added step of storing the plasticized brushes in the freezer until I am sure that the job is finished.
@Rebecca, Ha! I once showed my daughter (the artist) a photo of Perle Fine, the abstract expressionist, taken while she was painting with a cigarette in her mouth. I said to her, "Sadly, you'll never be as cool as Perle Fine," and my daughter said, "Smart idea to smoke around turpentine."
@Rose, Haha! Exactly! I think my imaginings of spontaneous combustion come from the scene in Charles Dickens' Bleak House. Always such a strange part of the book, but definitely a memorable one!
@Rebecca, I do know more than one person who burned down their garage (two different people actually) from spontaneous combustion due to storing paint supplies incorrectly. So it is real.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been so happy to see affiliate links! You recommend useful things, Kristen, and I’m all for you getting something in return for saving me and others research/trial and error time. I already bought the sander when you recommended it previously—it was invaluable when repainting my car!—and that roller set is an excellent deal.
@N, I agree! I loved the list and exact information about the supplies when I painted kitchen cabinets.
That sander is so great! I love how small and lightweight it is, and as sanders go, it's not super loud and it doesn't vibrate excessively. I have used some sanders that made my hands feel numb after a while!
APPLAUSE
Hahah, aww, thank you!
Yay! for solid wood shelves! We're going through a time of moving things around in the house upheaval, and Plan A does seem to turn into Plan B frequently. And I think that's a good thing, being flexible to see the possibilities.
Oh, you have done such a great job furnishing your house and spending so little.
I am envious of your local facebook market stuff. I live in a major city and while there are often some really n ice things, most stuff is still overpriced and the good free stuff goes in a minute (so many people constantly eyeballing and a lot of people literally have a business of getting stuff free and then repurposing and selling).
There are one or two local web sites with free stuff, but again, same thing.
I literally saw something posted as I was scrolling and responded and was told it was already taken? Geez Louise. How can you do better than within 60 seconds of posting.
I personally prefer to repurpose things, recycle and reuse whenever I can. I hate when I have to replace an appliance or an electronics item because it has died in a short time of usage (Looking at you, microwaves! No matter the brand or price or model, they seem to last two years tops. And we do not microwave all our food.
Products are simply not built to last. Manufacturers just want you to buy new as much as possible. It's wasteful on so many levels.
Proof that they don't make them like they used to? We've had a toaster oven since the mid-80s. Now granted we did not use every day but we did/do use several times a week. We bought a couple of others over the years (for certain features and lower wattage), but they just didn't last.
The other issue we have with getting stuff free or low price and second hand /used? Cost of getting it picked up and transported here in the city where most of us don't have cars. You can find a cheap-ish bookshelf, or table or chairs but it costs much more than they do to hire someone (And renting a van is also more expensive plus I don't drive and even if I did, you'd need two people to pick up because someone has to stay with the van while the other person (s) brings it upstairs. ) It's just such a hassle. Buy new and you get delivery, which is why so many of us are forced into that option.
Oh, that's a good point about the cars. I live in the suburbs and I have a minivan, so that makes it way way easier to pick things up.
@Kristen, Yes, I really miss my Mom's old mini-van, which I inherited and drove for many years. For that very reason!
I love both bookcases. Buying used is the bomb! There are so many positives. You seem to find a great deal of reasonably priced furniture on Facebook Marketplace in your area. I have been looking for a bookcase for months. Also, your BN group must be amazing.
I do love my Buy Nothing group! It's big and busy, and it's great for giving things away and also for getting things every now and then.
Awesome job!!!
I love a good furniture flip and swapping out bookcases sounds exactly like something I would have done!
This post demonstrates the wide range of your talents--from acquiring cheap or free furniture to sanding and painting it to making the most efficient use of it. A tour de force! (And as bonuses, we get a look at Zoe's impressive Lego skills and a couple of cameo appearances by Chiquita!)
@A. Marie, I'm glad Chiquita supervised.
Ooh yes, painting with Chiquita around is an adventure. Luckily in the dry winter air, the paint dries really fast, so I didn't have too many problems with her walking in my wet paint.
That bookshelf looks nice. And actually $25 was a good deal for solid wood bookshelf.
Many people think only about price & not about quality. So much is now made of pressed wood & glued together with quick spray paint or thin sealant. Your bookshelf should not only last your lifetime but Zoe's also.
My teen still into Lego builds (& I love adult builds they have). We took a few long foldable plastic table & set up in basement & he works on build/creations there. He builds me some of my Lego builds which I incorporate into our house decorations. We use clear large storage totes to put Lego's in which are easy to store.
FYI---older Legos (we have some from 1980s to today version) fit/interlock today's Legos, just different colors & not as hard plastic.
I really, really hate pressed-wood or foil-coated furniture. It is so terribly hard to rehab it, and it eventually turns into trash.
I'm taking a wild guess that the Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft belongs to Lisey.
Great job on the bookcase, and it's real wood, too! I well remember my joy at finding an old, solid wood, twin-sized Ethan Allen bedframe at a yard sale I happened to pass for $25. Not only did it serve my daughter well, but my granddaughter, too. I'm not a wood purist either - I painted the bedframe. I happen to like painted wood, and always have.
Also, good job in realizing you could just switch shelving units. That's the kind of light bulb moment I usually have when it's too late!
Yes, and also all the books from motorcycle driver's ed. Ha.
Great job on the bookshelves.
DH is a major Lego lover too so there are sets all over our house. 😉
Looks really great!
I love the black chair that you got for free! And, great work (as always) with the painting projects. I wish I was nearby & could be your apprentice for a few projects, and then learn to do them myself. I'm always inspired by your work!
Aww, I would def. help you if you didn't live all the way out on the west coast. lol
But also to encourage you: no one showed me what to do when I started. I just tried it, started small, and learned as I went. I've gotten better at it as time has gone on, of course, but with something as low-stakes as a small project, it's ok to not do a perfect job at first.
Zoe’s Lego sculptures are amazing! And I’m always impressed by you furniture rehab projects.
Thank you!
Taste is certainly an individual matter, because I thought the distressed teal was perfect with the unpainted wood. However, what you did looks excellent.
It is so satisfying to move furniture around to find the best locations, and it is a complete thrill to inventory and survey possessions to see how resourceful you have been. I love to ruminate on how most of my furniture is salvaged, old, gifts, restored, inherited, recovered. (I know, get a life already)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I agree about the teal! My favourite colour 🙂 But I also agree that Kristen did a great job!
I love chippy, distressed furniture* and have put a bunch in my guest/rental cottage. It doesn't work in the Arts & Crafts main house, though. Also that turquoise is DANGEROUSLY colorful for Kristen.
*My organization lady is really befuddled by my taste, by the way. I bought an unfinished stool from IKEA (for some reason I no longer remember) for the cottage and said to her yesterday, "Want to paint it? I have white or navy." She wanted to paint it wood color. I thought to myself but didn't say, "If there's anything I can't stand, it's wood painted wood color." She also doesn't get the battered wallpapering table I have as a console. It's all coming together fairly nicely, though. She opted for white.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Same! I saw the teal with the distressed appearance, and swooned just a little bit. But I agree, Kristen did a wonderful job rehabbing it.
The bookshelf looks marvelous! What a find. I love picking up quality wood pieces at tag sales and estate sales and feel no guilt of refinishing. Well done! There is a lego group at the senior center where I am volunteer. They are currently working on the 'Home Alone' house, they have such fun.
Yep! It's very freeing to have an item that was cheap/free. And in the case of this bookshelf, it's not like it was some kind of heirloom design, or a MCM piece that's really valuable right now.
It was just a plain old bookshelf that is fine in white. 🙂
Just realized that I have a bookshelf almost identical to this one, but blue instead of teal. (It's at the cabin which is inaccessible in winter, so out of sight, out of mind.)
My 40-year-old niece just requested the Lego grand piano for her last birthday. It is truly amazing, and even playable, although you can hear each key click.
I use to build Lego stuff with our daughter when she was young. After retirement, I began building again. There is no age limit on love of Lego.
@Linda Sand, Agree! I just bought a Lego succulent centerpiece off a wedding registry as part of our gift, so fun...
Love the bookshelf! And I also love the cat-reading-a-book pillow.
Again-- well-done-YOU! BTW: Did Zoe see the chap whose LEGO Dulles AIRPORT is now on permanent display there?
The turning upside down is brilliant. Also adding/ removing legs.
That looks fantastic!!! You always do such a nice job redoing furniture pieces!!
I am always impressed by your furniture rehabs, but this time I am more astonished by the cool stuff your daughter put on the shelves!
I just realized something!! While I might not be frugal with a lot of stuff, almost every single piece of furniture in this house was here when I moved in (I lived with my father for the last two years of his life) and because my father/stepmother generally bought good quality 'stuff' I've not had to replace any of the furniture OR paint it OR have to deal with particle board (now moving that china cabinet from the hallway into the the master bedroom plus that blasted heavy entertainment center--by myself, no less--was not pleasant!!). One entire wall of the master bedroom is: china cabinet (which holds books), entertainment center (miscellaneous stuff as the TV in the bedroom is mounted on the wall), dressers (one left by an old roommate, one given to me by my next door neighbor--he couldn't handle looking at it after his wife passed away), and a four shelf bookshelf. My dining room table(which belonged to my father) is in the corner of the living room doing double duty as a TV stand. My actual dining room table belonged to my mother, and I moved it 350 miles one way so I could have a table in the dining room. I have two sofas, one given to by same next door neighbor, and one owned by my father. I always say my house is 'decorated' in early garage sale LOL but it works for me
Came out looking so fresh and pretty! Great solution. And the other shelf you had rehabbed is such a perfect fit for Zoe's Lego projects, too. Love seeing your resourcefulness!
I am a bit concerned re: no window in the room in the basement. Are there an egress window(s)? The basement in our current home was a death trap (my term) - no egress anywhere. So an addition to the house has a full basement with a large egress window (with custom, well built window well cover). I probably need to put a two/three step stool/ladder in there - I'll need to make sure I can reach the latch if I am in the well.
Hi Kristen!
Long time lurker and fellow nursing student here ( just started my last term!). We have the same Nursing Foundations textbook. How do you listen to it? I am soooooooooo over reading right now and we have a new puppy so being able to listen instead of just read would be wonderful.
I plan to start posting once I pass my finals, and the NCLEX, and get a job and catch up on sleep.......
You, this community and all the kindness here has kept me going through some hard times. Thank you all! Hi A.Marie!!!!
Barb in CNY
Hey there! So, I listen to mine through the Bookshelf app, where I have all of my Lippincott books loaded. Do you have digital access to your book, or do you just have the physical version?
If you have the digital version, then you should be able to use the Bookshelf app!
Wow! So beautiful! Love what you did with it
Great job!
Did you consider just painting the area that was teal, rather than the whole thing? That could have tied it together without as much work.... Those grooves, gah! Looks great!
That occurred to me AFTER I started sanding. lol Whoops.