Long Shelf Life


What do you get when you add Ikea + the need for storage of our "just got home and I want to throw everything on the floor or on the closest surface" junk + the world's best laminate painting tutorial?


My new wall shelf! This little beauty is actually a $29 Ikea special, found here.


Even when buying it, I knew that the honey oak laminate wouldn't cut it, but I couldn't figure out just what to do with the piece once I brought it home. The hubs insisted that you couldn't paint the laminate without the paint bubbling up and not sticking in places. But, duh duh duh duhhhhh... paint goddess Kate to the rescue! 

In her tutorial, Kate details the process of painting laminate, from the amazing Zinsser primer onward. And she's completely right- you don't even have to sand the surface before using the oil based primer. Just slap it on, let it dry and it's ready for regular latex paint!

BEFORE


AFTER


Besides painting, I also switched out the Ikea knobs for some that we had lying around the house (from Lowes). The new knobs are larger and better for purposes of hanging things. Not to mention that they bring a bit more character to the piece.


I originally wanted to place the shelf in the living room next to our front door. But it looked a bit cluttered when we tested it there, so David and I shopped the house for another spot.

Then it hit me- the nook next to the back of the brick fireplace in our breakfast room! It'd be the perfect little space to house the junk we need to throw down when we first get home. And only steps from the front door. Perfection. I think it fits right into the breakfast room, don't you? The shelf is caddy corner from our garden wall.


Hold on, let me call myself out for a sec.

Yup, my basil and rosemary died : ( I'd like to blame it on the lack of sunlight it got inside, but I'm pretty sure David and I forgot to water it for like two weeks. Oops....


My favorite part about the plan B spot for the shelf is that you can't even see the junk or clutter or even the shelf itself from the front door! It's like it was meant to be there. I love when plan B turns out better than plan A!



I have now dubbed myself a laminate painting expert. Which is good, because we've got a biiiiiig laminate painting project coming atcha soon! Get excited : ) I am!! 


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39 comments:

  1. LOVES it!! Such a smart storage solution. Doesn't take up floor space and cute!!

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  2. Excellent solution. The white is SO perfect. And I heart the dead herb wall.

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  3. Looks amaze! I didn't know you could paint laminate either! Glad to know, had I known back in the day I might have attempted to paint the ugly laminate counters in my old house!

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  4. I love the look of the shelf - and I think your addition of new knobs really turned it into a great piece for your house.

    Is that hydrangea real or fake? Because if it's fake, where did you get it??? ;-)

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  5. you did a great job on that shelf and you put it in a great location!! Love the feel of your home!

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  6. Well done!!!! What a great project for an awkward space!

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  7. Looks great and such a good spot for a little shelf!!

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  8. Cute! You found the perfect spot for it - at first blush it almost looks like a built-in.

    Nice job!

    Emily

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  9. That looks great! Thanks for sharing a how to paint laminate tutorial. I have an IKEA wall unit that I want to make into a bench and I have no need for the light wood, my needs are in the white department.

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  10. LOVE it! I turned out great! Can't wait to see what you have coming up.

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  11. That looks amazing! Your paint job is gorgeous and the space you put it in is perfect! Love how chic it looks even though it's for holding clutter, hehe.

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  12. wow, it came out perfect!!! i wish i was that crafty! gorgeous house :)

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  13. Love how it turned out! And can't wait to see what your BIG project is!

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  14. Great idea on painting the laminate! We have a piece we need to paint and this just might be the way! Love the cute bag too! :)

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  15. It looks great girl! It fits perfectly :)

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  16. Absolutely loving this!! Especially painted white with the black knobs!! Practical and beautiful all at the same time!!

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  17. That's fantastic! I've painted a few laminate pieces before, but it was a long time ago...before I knew about Zinsser. It took me about 15 coats of regular paint to get it to stick. Next time, I will use the Zinsser for sure. :)

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  18. That turned out so great! And you found the perfect spot for it too.

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  19. What a great little corner that is now! Good job with painting laminate. I'm always afraid of it.

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  20. That looks great in that space. I think I may be getting over my fear of laminate painting as well. It looks really good! Happy Tuesday, friend.

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  21. This is awesome! And I'm definitely going to be using this technique for some other projects I have sided!

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  22. It looks so great!! You did a great job. Your house looks beautiful from the bits I can see here!

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  23. That turned out really well!! I also painted some laminate end tables and haven't been scared of anything since :) Great job with the shelf.

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  24. it looks so much better white! you did an awesome job! i need to bookmark this for future use...

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  25. It's perfect there! And nothing is better than having a place to drop your things as you walk in the door! Can't wait to see the new project!

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  26. im just gonna say it from one glenda to one rhonda, you've got mad skillz. with a z.

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  27. Ooo Ooo I can't wait to know more about painting laminate. Nothing good comes from laminate .... (and on TOP of that, I repeatedly spell it wrong because the A's and I's are too darn interchangeable in my very humble spelling opinion)

    Looks fabulous!

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  28. Love it! This gives me hope for painting a hideous laminate table I have.

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  29. That shelf turned out amazing- I'm sorry your garden wall hasn't faired as well:) I can never keep herbs alive!

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  30. nice job! i love your herb garden wall too ... very creative!

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  31. A perfect way to make use of that space and a great Ikea make-over. Painting laminate CAN be done!

    Cathy @ Room Rx

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