New Built-in Shelves

Introducing new  upper shelves and a fresh coat of paint on the old golden oak bottom cabinets, once again proving the power of paint.  This project has been going on since February but well worth the wait!

Here is the built-ins before, hubby made the bookshelves and the bottom cabinets are stock cabinets.  You can see how the TV sat in the shelves on the right.  Yes, old style huge TV.
This picture is old, there has been a new wall color, new couches, new chairs and new drapes but this is the only picture I could find of the entire wall.

a close-up of the oak shelving

We took down the corner cabinets and had a cabinet maker build symmetrical shelves and some molding to make the flat screen TV appear built in.

I knew I wanted a white color to paint all cabinets and Paige (my oldest) has had really good luck with Sherwin Williams Pro Alkyd Interior paint on all her woodwork.  Next up was the color, I just did a search for Sherwin William white and came up with Thistlewood Farms' Six of the Best White Paint Colors and went with her choice, Alabaster.

It is mostly white with just a hint of cream.

I cannot express how much I love this whole look.  Eliminating the corner cabinets from our wall of built-ins, just opened up the wall so much.  Then the TV on the wall, gives me back the mantle and I can  decorate that area again - hurray!!

But above all the white color, just adds so much to the room.  My cabinets are now modern and not the dated golden oak.  The amount of brightness in the room is remarkable.

I had the electrician put the plug in for the television a bit high.  This results in the TV up a bit and the wire showing (HDMI cables for dish box, DVD player and wire for the surround sound) , I put some paint on the wires and that helps disguise it.  (oversized this last picture - click on it to see in full view)

Behind the TV is just the wall, but the cabinet maker suggested to paint that area with the Alabaster. It gives the appearance that the back wall is part of the built-ins and custom made.

My cabinet maker friend did a fabulous job and something my husband could not do and partly didn't have any desire to do.  It did take a couple of weeks for me to paint all the cabinets but worth every minute.  I love, love the new look.

In fact, several people at Mother's Day said they never knew the family room was a  light blue, with the white cabinets the blue color really pops.


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