Kitchen Cabinets Turned Into a Bookcase

I'm so happy to report that the new bookcases at the beach condo are finished!

I'm over-the-moon thrilled with how they turned out!  Pookie worked so hard and dedicated every single weekend that we were at the beach since early March to building these.  I big fat-heart thank you, Pookie!  *smooches*

The bookcases are filled with an assortment of thrifty items that I've been accumulating for the few years.  Yes - I said years.  I've dreamt of having bookcases here ever since we renovated our beach getaway.  

A painting by my Auntie Syl inspired me to use orange as an accent color.  I love orange and any shade of blue mixed together.  

Let me show you around just a little.

My sweet stepdaughter, Ms. B, surprised me with this painting of a seagull for my birthday a couple of years ago.  I finally found the perfect place to showcase it!  (She is one talented young lady.  You can see another piece of her artwork here.)  The other items came from TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.

I found this little lamp at Maxway for a mere $12.  I love it and thought that I'd be repainting it somehow, but I think I'll just leave it alone.  The piece of coral came from the aquarium section at Walmart, the sandpiper came from TJ Maxx and the starfish dish came from Jeremy's.

A little rattan tray filled with a combination of shells that we found ourselves and a bag of beach filler.  The book under the tray has a lot of sentimental value to me.  It belonged to my mother who had such an adoration for the ocean.

I found the large coral thingy at Goodwill.  And the metal painted container came from One Kings Lane.  I sure do wish they'd have another sale on these containers!

In case you're wondering, the back of the bookcases is painted with ASCP in Provence.  I normally wouldn't have used costly chalkpaint for this application, but I have another project planned for this room that I plan to use it on and I want them to tie together.

Now here's a question for all of you.  Should I put knobs on the cabinet doors?  I haven't so far because I'm concerned that it will look too busy.  I would use some sort of simple decorative knob if I were to add them.  What do you think?

This wall has come such a long way, baby.

BEFORE

AFTER

You can take a complete tour of the condo and see all of the before and afters here and here.

Update:  I put together a post with some tips about building these bookcases and why we built them the way that we did.  Click here if you'd like to read all about it.

I'll be sharing the bookcases at these parties:

2012 Favorite Projects at TaterTots and Jello
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Sunday Showoff Linky Party at Twigg Studios
Best DIY Projects of June at Beneath My Heart
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick

Thrifty Treasures on Monday at Southern Hospitality

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations
Potpourri Friday at 2805

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Feature Friday at Blissful and Domestic

DIY Link Party at AKADesign

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Weekly Top Shot on Saturday at The View From Right Here

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home
Sundae Scoop Party at I Heart Naptime