Friday

DIYP Challenge Before & After




Remember this little $8 thrift store find?


I'm so glad I asked your opinion on what to do with it. There were so many fabulous ideas, I was wishing for a duplicate or two. I loved the idea of putting it in the kitchen and making it a
message center and also of painting it pink and using it for my daughter's accessories.

But I didn't go with either of those.

(I did discover that it isn't from a church and isn't that old. I didn't learn it's original use though.)

Here's what I did:

I spray painted it with a high quality black enamel paint. (The kind that doesn't require any sanding. What can I say? I'm a lazy decorator).


An empty wall and a box of photos, special linens, mismatched dishes and antique salt and pepper shakers from the great grandparents farm solidified my decision to create an heirloom shelf.

I used scrapbook paper to line the small drawers and one of the square spaces. I found some cute coordinating ribbon and although it looks like it's hanging from a funky knob, I've really secured it with heavy-duty hangers.

I hung a teacup passed down from some family members on an "S" hook in one of the holes on the shelf ledge.

Adorable damask push-pins keep old photos in place.


Every other year, we travel to a Family Reunion on my hubby's side and we enjoy a fun family auction. I've collected a box of special treasures, plus a few items passed down from my family and my hubby's maternal side. But that's where I've stored them, in a box.  

Until now.

For the "W", I printed out a  font and traced it onto a blank stencil sheet. It was so easy!

P.S. One of our family treasures is a Civil War picture from the 1860's of my hubby's great, great, great grandfather. Anyone know where we can get it restored?

 Swing over to The Remodeling Guy's Round-Up to some more before and afters!

49 comments:

Amber D. said...

Great job- I love it!

mommy4life said...

Beautiful. Check with a photo lab on restoration. Find someone local and if you can, scan a copy just in case.

Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Oh my - It looks UNBELIEVABLE!! So cute - love the black and white.
And I'm laughing at the prior post, because that is SO my family (yes, I think I've decided we have many similarities. :)

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Oh, and I am late to the Procrastinator's Party, and haven't finished my Remodeling Guy post, so I am impressed - you are ON IT!!

Lazy Mom Leslie said...

Great job. I too am a lazy decorator so I can toally relate! Love it!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing idea. It looks just fabulous, and what a treasure. I love how you have it on the same wall as your silhouette portraits; The past and present blended so beautifully!

Muthering Heights said...

It looks so nice! :)

Unknown said...

it turned out beautifully!

arkie said...

That looks great! Looks like it was made just for what you are using it for.

Heather said...

I love it! Check with a locally owned photo store for photo restoration. Walgreens also offers photo restoration, but I don't know how well their prints turn out. Like someone else said, said a copy of the photo first, just in case.

Hillcrest Cottage said...

So great what you did!
A friend of mine who is a SCAD grad is who you should use for the restoration. She was trained in NYC by a very qualified person to restore pictures through photo shop. When she is done, it looks exactly like there were no rips or tears...even if they occurred through the face. I would be glad to connect you if you are interested.

Jadehollow said...

Great Job! Love it. It looks totally different. Thanks for sharing.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Debbie

Remodeling Guy said...

I Love it! The scrapbooking paper in the one open area is brilliant! I can't believe you found that for $8 Bucks! You've made it into something much more valuable than that now!

Thanks for including it in the Round-Up!

Tim

Joy@WDDCH said...

I love you, my talented friend! Just loving this!!!

Precision Quality Laser said...

Very nice! I was mislead by the earlier post on this project...I thought this was a MASSIVE item. I thought it sat on the floor and took up the whole wall...lol...so imagine how surprised I was to see that you had finished it already!

Great job! I love the heirloom shelf idea :)

Nikki said...

love, love, love it!!!!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wow...that looks great! I love those red plates.
sandy toe

Marci @OvercomingBusy said...

That turned out awesome! I have been so anxious to see how it turned out. Great job.

Courtney said...

Love it! Such a great idea!

Tara said...

Okay, that is just adorable. I don't know why but I was thinking the piece was much larger than it is (I was thinking it was like 3-4 feet tall!) You've done an amazing job.

I have one small concern, however. Are the piece and its contents in danger? I'm thinking the staircase it's hanging in looks awfully similar to the one your kids are "sleeping bag sledding" down in your previous post...

Jennifer Murray said...

That is too precious for words! Pat yourself on the back!

southerninspiration said...

Oh,I am very inspired!! I have a piece I got from goodwill that I've wanted to do something to, but haven't....and this inspires me to just do it!! Thanks!

Suzanne

Maddy said...

Very cute but I'm not sure how long it would stay on the wall on our staircase......we tend to get traffic jams there.
Cheers

LaDonna said...

A great transformation! I love the color, and the paper background you used adds such punch to it. Very nice!

nicole said...

Looks great!

Jaden Paige said...

I love it! Great job :)

Marie Reed said...

Voila! You added such charm and an amazing family treasure!

Anonymous said...

Oh it looks wonderful!! I had envisioned tea cups, pretty plates and linens on it, but you took it even farther and it looks great!

Anonymous said...

So sweet! That looks great and looks like it is sooo you!
Ginger

Annikke said...

It looks so great! I love it!

Ali said...

Beautiful job! I want one lol! What a great transformation =)

Jessica said...

It looks so good! You did a wonderful job!

Beth S. said...

This turned out so awesome! I am going to keep my eye open for fun treasures like these and a shelf with lots of different cubbies to display my grandparents treasures in! I might wait until my 2 1/2 year old isn't quite so curious, though. Isn't it great how just simple black spray paint can make something look so good? Very impressive, indeed!

bridget {bake at 350} said...

REALLY cute, Kristen! I love the old photos!

Sarah said...

Wowza! Looks great and it's so creative!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love your family memory shelf and what all you've displayed. How wonderful to get all those lovely things out of a box and display them. Hugs, Marty

Julie Willis said...

Very Cute! What is a Family Fun Auction???? We'll be having a North and South Family Reunion next summer and your aution sounds interesting.
I'd love some details when you have a chance.
Julie

Kristin - The Goat said...

Oh goodness, I thought that piece was about the size of full sized headboard. Ha! I couldn't figure out how one piece of scrapbook paper would cover a whole section -- NOW I see :)

I think you made this into something your family will treasure and something that holds treasures. Perfect.

Amy said...

I think it turned out great! What an awesome way to display those family treasures!

Lori said...

Holy cow - it looks amazing! Way to go. :)

Kayluray said...

Awesome! Your thrift store find is a work of art. Great job!

Michelle said...

It looks great!

Alexia said...

That is awesome!!!!!

joyh82 said...

Very cute and creative! Love it.

Lorie said...

I love it! What a creative way to use it. You stated in your post that you found out what it's original use was, but you didn't tell us. Care to enlighten us? Just curious. Thanks!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Wow! What a clever makeover. I wouldn't have known what to do with a piece like that, so I admire your creativity. Looks great! :-)

abigail grace said...

Looks great! Very clever idea.

randee said...

like several others, i though it was a really large piece, too! and now that it's all finished, i know what it used to be. a long, long time ago, we used to have one hanging in the lobby or narthex or foyer or whatever you call it just inside the front door at church.
it's where the attendance & offering were posted for the previous week & literature was placed behind the rails. the drawers held the little numbers to post.

the piece turned out absolutely beautiful. hmmmmmm, wonder where i can find one?

Terri said...

Lovely. Just lovely! I am inspired!! Blessings!