10.28.2010

I got him to crack...

All I have to say is FINALLY!!  Finally, I found a pair of bookcases that

1. the fiancé would agree to
2. were in our tiny budget (we are planning a wedding here people, and bookcases just didn't seem more important than lets say, invitations) and
3. would fit the storage needs of his disgusting office. 
and
4. was real wood

I don't feel bad say 'disgusting office' because this is what it looks like

told you...disgusting

I'm not promising this amazing & clean office is going to happen overnight, but its a step in the right direction.

Now, I have to preface this by saying these bookcases were not my first choice.  But after seeing what was out there and realizing that I didn't have unlimited funds to get exactly what I wanted I had to figure out how to make them work.

Here is what we got


The seller told me they were from This End Up and bought them a million years ago when he first got married.  I decided to look online and found these exact same ones still in production today...selling for $549 each!!!  And guess what I paid for the pair?  A sweet $60- score!

OK, obviously they need a makeover.  The rounded tops bother me but might have to stay unless I figure out how to cut them off or sand them down.  I'm thinking paint and some new hardware might just do the trick for now. 

Here the combos I came up with:









And if these were going in my office here is what I would be painting them right this second
Oh right, these are not mine- they are for the fiancé



Like I said before this makeover isn't going to happen over night, I mean HELLO it took close to 3 years to get to this point. 

But we are on our way to getting a manly, organized space. Happy face here.

____________________

UPDATE: So many of you asked where I found my hardware choices , here are the 3 sites I used

Cool Knobs and Pulls
The Paris Apartment
Kitchen Cabinet Universe




50 comments:

Anonymous said...

YAY! VERY exciting! And I love your paint/pull options...think I'm loving #5 (Galaxy + brass pulls). Love!

Elisa @ What the Vita said...

I agree with you, the Rumba Orange is so fun!! But I think the Galaxy and gold hardware combo is very manly and very chic - really like that one for your guy!

Lauren Jade said...

I love the color and hardware of number 8! :D

paula said...

this is exactly what I have been looking for! great find. Cant wait to see them made over.

Kate {domestikatedlife} said...

Option 8, all the way!

Anonymous said...

I just installed custom bookshelves painted in White Dove and they are the bomb diggity. Good luck!

Erica Cook said...

Love Love Love them!!! And all your choices are spot on... but I'm particularly smitten with number 8. xo

Anonymous said...

will look fab!

i cant believe all the projects your taking on with a wedding coming up!

Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

can't wait to see the after!

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

love the "bamboo" one! cute!!

Jenny B. said...

Gorgeous! For the rounded tops I would just attach a thin piece of rectangular wood to the front rounded trim piece, once it's all painted it won't matter if the wood is different. BTW, do you have sources for your knobs? Even website names - I am blown away by them and literally can never find anything as cool (lucite?!, brass bamboo?!?!) and need your help. thanks!!

Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife said...

Hooray!! I can't wait to see what you decide!!

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

I cannot wait to see what you do with them! I can't decide between 1-5. I like all of those!

Saara {www.varv.ca} said...

Love 8 for a guy office! Nice score on the bookshelves.

pixelimpress said...

i like option 6. nice score! pam

pve design said...

number 1 or 6.
wow, you are the man to man-up and paint these babes.
pve

Flavia @ Estilo Home said...

Wow, what a score! I like so many of the combinations you created, but #1 and 8 are my favorites.

interiordesignmusings said...

Love, Love, Love number 1 and 5. Total transformation under way! yum. Mandi.

Katie @ Katie Beth Interiors said...

I am glad to hear I am not the only one with a significant other who has an opinion. I feel I so often read these posts and am jealous that these women can just make such bold decisions and their partner just goes right along. Mine always has something to say...but I think you are going to make these totally cute!

LindsB said...

Katie, I thought I was the only one with a pain-in-the-butt man at home haha. Sometimes I'm glad that he has an opinion, but other times I just wish he would let me just do what I want :) Know what I mean?

alison giese Interiors said...

Love any and ALL of those color/hardware combos. Can't wait to see which one you go with, but know you'll make a good call. Where'd you find such great hardware selections, by the way?

Unknown said...

Love the combos...hard to decide because they are so fab together. I've narrowed it down to 1, 3 or 4. That is a hard decision! Where did you find all those amazing pulls?
Love your blog by the way!

Megan said...

what an awesome score- love the combos, especially #8!!

Southern Exposure said...

Love #5 and #8. (And, of course I love #9!) Can't wait to see what you do with them!

Anna said...

I vote #7! but they would all look awesome!

Anonymous said...

I'm voting #1!

Anonymous said...

This is so exciting! Love hte find and LOVE your options. I especially like #7 and #8!

Fran said...

Great post!! Love your color & hardware combos!! I love them all! And, I think you can make those bookcases totally work! They're going to look like $500 bucks after you're finished w/them!!

thelittlesister said...

You've made some great choices! I love #1 and #8, especially #8! Would you please list your sources for the drawer pulls? I think I need those gold bamboo pulls!

Ashley said...

Wow, really tough choices! I'd say any combination of gray and brass is tops in my book. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Sarah @ Cubicle Sanity said...

5, 6, and 8 are my pics!
Can't wait to see what you decide!

Sarah @ Cubicle Sanity said...

I spelled picks "pics."
Thank God it's Friday :)

livingwithstyle said...

I like #2 & #9, I can't wait to see the finished product!

Laura@JourneyChic said...

Love #8! That bamboo-esque hardware is fantastic!

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

love all the hardware!! Especially #7. Where did you find it?

Chic Coles said...

That's so exciting! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Be sure to enter our giveaway over at Chiccoles.com

erin.nicole said...

I love numbers 1 and 8!! good luck making the difficult choice...i'm sure you will make them beautiful :)

Us said...

number 8 - my favourite!
good luck with your project.
Ula

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

Great idea and arrangements! My favorite is #8 :)))))))

Laura Casey Interiors said...

Can't wait to see which combo you pick! I love #'s 1, 5 & 6...and 9 too, of course!

jenna ♥ a little blue said...

if they were mine... #6 for my mister ... #2 :)

can't wait to see :)

casey at loft and cottage said...

Loving #7--hot, hot, hot! Cannot wait for the makeover ;-)

Full House said...

You have come up with so many awesome combos. Pls. share the one you decide to go with. I am saving this post for a future reference with all of the great resources...so thanks!

Anna @ IHOD said...

Looks like the elements of one fabulous piece to come!
It is tough to find common grounds with the hubby!

for the love of a house said...

Hi!!
And, score indeed! They are going to be wonderful! Good girl to get that future husband seeing things your way;) It's our job and duty to guide them in their interior design education!!!:)

oh... and I'm loving #4!

best,
joan

Unknown said...

All of these paint/hardware combos are so gorgeous and inspired I can't even pick a favorite...doesn't seem like you can go wrong here!

MFAMB said...

NUMBER SEVENNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maureen Stevens said...

oh gosh...so hard to choose, the navy blue/midnight blue seem to be my choice at this time...make the fiance happy!

No.35style said...

i like those bamboo handles!

CECELIA said...

OMG. i love every. single. options. however will you decide?! <3