Sunday, January 6, 2013

Living Room Shelves


Hi there!  I hope you had a nice weekend... it's hard to believe it's almost over.  

We have a large wall in our living room that I've never known exactly what to do with.  With our recent living room updates, I've been trying to do a little "freshening" in the room.  Recently it dawned on me that some shelves might provide a nice contrast and also be an inexpensive way to add some interest. 


 After suggesting the idea to my husband, he so sweetly agreed (let me tell you, I am thankful to have such a handy husband that doesn't mind all my crazy ideas) and a trip to Lowe's we made.  We picked up four of these wooden shelf support brackets (two for each shelf).


 And we also bought two 48" pine stair treads to use for the actual shelves.  Once we brought them home, I primed them and then painted two coats of Titanium by Benjamin Moore, which is my all time favorite gray. Then Justus screwed them into the wall studs.  Once he finished, I filled in and painted the screw holes.  It was such a simple project.  Overall, for two shelves, the cost was about $50 (not including the paint and primer, but I already had both on hand). 


 I love how they turned out and how they look on the bare wall but I did struggle for over a week with what to display on the shelves!  I wanted a neutral look but the vignette also needed to stand out from the wall.  In the end, this is what I came up with, although I make no promises that it will not change in the future (smile).  


   This weekend Justus finished all the trim work in the living room, so now I just need to paint it ... and dare I say... we will be finished!  (Please tell me that you too have projects that end up taking you 4 months to complete!)  

Do you see the stained corner trim in the above picture?  The previous owners had painted the corner trim white.  Once we raised the ceiling, the trim needed to be replaced anyway, so we opted to stain the new trim to match the walls.  It's a change somebody else probably would not notice, but we love how it creates a more cohesive look.  (Soon I'll tell you about the stain we used... it was amazing!) 


 The natural wood bead board walls in our living room are original and when I first walked into this room, my first thought was paint... but since then, I've not only came to respect the history of the walls, but love them.  Somehow over the span of eighty years, they were never painted and still remain in superb condition. So even though decorating has been a struggle for me in this room and wood in its natural state may not be popular, I just can't bear to change their originality.  I've grown to love how the sun gives the wood a golden hue when it goes down in the evening and how the smell of wood becomes strong when it rains.  

I guess you could say it just feels like home


P.S.  Look what Justus found in the garden today!

29 comments:

  1. Your shelves look great and it sounds like a fairly simple project that has a big impact! Now you can swap out your accessories whenever you feel like you need a change ~ love that. I love the natural wood in your living room, too. I bet it makes the room feel very cozy!

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  2. Absolutely beautiful as always! what a wonderful husband you have!! loved how they look against your walls!! the paint is a perfect color too!

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  3. Pretty! Those will be fun to change out seasonally.

    Great carrot shot!:D

    Linsey

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  4. The shelves look great !!! Hope you have a great start to your week !

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  5. Good for you for honoring the history of your house and not doing "what everybody else is doing". I think it looks lovely and just think-you have the pop of paint on there with the shelves and it really stands out nicely. It looks great- xo Diana

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  6. The shelves look great! Your husband sounds like a keeper. Your arrangement looks really nice.

    Have a good week!

    Judy

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  7. Your shelves look perfect.Everthing you have on them looks so lovely.

    Kathy

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  8. Love the white shelves against the bead board. They turned out nice. I'm with you. I'm glad you didn't paint the walls. I love them the way they are too. I'm envious of Justus still finding that little gem of a carrot. Our garden was so pitiful this last summer with the drought. This has been a dry winter here in the Midwest as well. Oh Mother Nature!

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  9. Oh how I love your natural bead board walls! I always wince a little when historical wood does get painted. I love your description of how you came to love your walls and how they make you feel like home. The new shelves are a beautiful enhancement to your lovely walls. I also think that trim pieces can make all the difference. Sometimes it's the little things, right?! Have a wonderful start to your week!

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  10. Love the addition of the shelves. Really love your walls.

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  11. Natural wood, which has lasted for eighty years! My husband (who loves wood working) would just hug you! It almost physically hurts him, when old wood is painted. :-)

    And what a lovely way you chose, to add interest to the wall.

    The plates/cups in top pic... Brown on white... Oh they are sooooooo beautiful! -happy sigh-

    Gentle hugs,
    "Auntie"

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  12. Good job, Andrea! The shelves turned out great and look so nice the way you decorated them. We once lived in an 82 year old house and loved the special features that those old houses have. Your wood walls are beautiful and it is nice that you have left them in their natural state. Shannon

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  13. Your white shelves really stand out nicely against those gorgeous wood walls. I'm sure you'll have fun trying out new vignettes to have a change now and then. What you've styled now looks perfect!!
    Mary Alice

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  14. I'm so glad you chose to retain the original integrity of your beadboard walls- they are too beautiful to be painted! There aren't many homes today that have unpainted original beadboard- it is a rare find!

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  15. I'll add to the chorus of those who love your walls just as they are. The question of what to change in our home, what to keep, and what to try to restore is one we wrestle with all the time. More and more, I find myself on the side of keep/restore--especially if the question is about something original to the home.

    Our house doesn't have nearly the character that an old farmhouse does, but I keep telling myself that's just because it isn't as old yet. Someday, our 70's split-entry will be that old, and I think some future owner will be glad that we've kept the original elements we have. HIstory is part of what makes a house beautiful, I think.

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  16. I think your home is beautiful, but admit I have wondered how your living room would look painted a lighter color than the current wood. Hearing, however, the age of the wood, I agree with your decision to keep it the way it is. A great detail of your home.

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  17. Love your new shelves and they look striking against the dark wood walls. PLEASE don't paint them! It is hard at times, especially looking through blogland, not to want to paint everything WHITE. Truly the warmth, history and character of older homes should left as is, BEAUTIFUL in their own right!
    Even furniture pieces, it kinda' breaks my heart when I see beautiful furnture, that isn't in need of refinishing, being covered with paint. I do believe that one day those folks may wish they hadn't. :)
    Blessings to you and enjoy your carrot!
    Cindy

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  18. Andrea, Love the shelves.
    And it's all about what you love, and what makes the house a home. Enjoy them.
    xoxo
    Lisa
    Leeshideaway.blogspot.com

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  19. Love the shelves and I love the color! Have a lovely week, Xo, Ashley

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  20. andrea, i paint loads of wood, but, i don't think i'd be able to paint your beautiful wall. (my husband loves granola--i'll show the recipe below--thanks for sharing:)

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  21. Great idea to use the stair treads, it gives it a much beefier look. Just so pretty against those fab walls!!

    Lynn

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  22. There is a difference between renovate and restore. I admire you and Justus for keeping the integrity of your home intact. You ARE really lucky to have a handy husband!

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  23. I love your original wood walls. They are beautiful.

    The shelves are great and will be so fun to change up on a whim. Such a sweet husband you have.

    Hope you and your sweet family are doing well.

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  24. LOVE your white shelves! They are perfect against the wood wall. I agree with you...those wood walls have charm and character. They're so beautiful just the way they are - don't paint them!

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  25. I love your shelves! I've been trying to figure out shelving for the nursery and maybe this idea will work. I'll have to ask my husband of this is something he could make. :) I really like the display that you came up with on the shelves. The wood walls are beautiful! I wouldn't want to change them either. Have a great week! ~ Jamie

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  26. Gorgeous picture of that carrot! Trina

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  27. Love your shelves; your hubby did any awesome job.

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  28. I love how your shelves turned out, I would have never thought of using stair treads but they look fantastic!

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  29. Love this shelves...what a great idea. I have been thinking about some shelves lately in an empty spot in my house...I might have to try this! I'm a new follower!

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