1980s Planter Bookcase Update

Last week, I informed you I would be working on a bookcase over the weekend. Originally I was hoping to have it done by Sunday afternoon. Well, two days late and two dollars short. However, its done! Yippee!

What took so long? The dry time was extended because it decided to get a little chilly in these neck of the woods. And since I'm working mainly in the unheated garage I have to wait for it to warm up on most days, which is normally around noon. I'm sure my client was wondering what in the world was going on with her bookcase.

Now, let's go back to the beginning. The only before shot I took was of Mr. Uncluttered sanding her.

She was scratched up pretty bad and there was some water damage on the front.

This is mid-way during the makeover. She's all cleaned up with darker stain, but there were still a few problems.

Remember she was once a planter and was butted up to a wall so her top and side were open. We certainly had to do something to rectify that.

Here, she is in all her glory, even though that glory is still in my unglorified garage. :(

This is now the once open side.

Take a look at the top now. Oh baby! Can you see where we repaired it??? Look closely. Yup, we're that good. Ok, ok... we're good, but not that good. This is what we did. (Don't pay attention to the mess in the background.)

Ta-Dah! We added a false top. My client requested a way for her to conceal her new hiding spot. Pretty genius, right. The moulding on the edge just hides the fact there are two pieces.

The top is attached with two heavy duty hinges because that sucker is heavy! Its 66 inches end to end. Imagine all the secrets that could get lost in there. I wish I could take credit for the idea.

Here Mr. Uncluttered is pointing out his handy work. To tell the truth I could not have finished this without him. Thanks honey!!!

There it is folks from this:

To this:

I think I'll be on the lookout for my own former planter built-in bookcase.

Till next time.

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