I DID IT!!!!!!

BEFORE / AFTER

Across from our bed in our bedroom, we have been staring at this hole in the wall that housed our TV along with other odds & ends. I wanted to re-do the closet to look like a built in bookshelf. Originally we were going to ask our carpenter for help, but I was feeling gutsy and just decided to go for it and do it on my own. It certainly couldn't turn out any worse than it already was!

This was the aftermath of the original linen closet that I (two years ago) took a hammer to and turned into an open "entertainment center", which left us with the huge hole in the wall and ceiling, an unfinished divider in the middle, a destroyed top wall board, and mismatched shelves that didn't quite fit.

So, day 1- I patched in some new drywall in the back and on the ceiling, taped & mudded, and spackled tons of holes and random gashes everywhere. After a 2nd coat of mud, I sanded everything. That was the worst and messiest part. I hate sanding. Emma loved all the "snow" that was falling all over us :)

taping & mudding....

I replaced the top frame board with new wood, ripped off the outside trim and replaced it with some decorative trim......

and one of my favorite parts- I included a hole for wires just to the right of the top shelf! I actually made up this little piece by using a desk grommet & some pipes, and it actually works!!

finally, I added some nice trim to the outside of the middle divider and topped it with a decorative square.

and....wahlah! Our new entertainment center!

we are getting carpet for the bedroom, so the paint-stained floors are not a problem!

I am so proud of this project! We totally did it on our own, from start to finish- and I couldn't be more proud! Felix cut all the lumber and helped me wtih the demo. This took a lot of problem solving, planning, measuring, leveling, drilling, sanding, caulking, and painting.....and I only hammered one thumb in the process! Not bad!!