Hello, beautiful friends! I’m continuing through the last few pieces of my haul this week and today, this 80’s towel rack shelf thingy is getting some love:
I always pick up these little shelves when I spy them because they can be updated so easily! This one was $4.95 at the thrift store.
Clean
This makeover started like most, with a good cleaning!
I usually mix one TBSP of White Lightning with a half gallon of warm water, but for a tiny project like this one, I halved that…
I swapped out my bucket for clean water and gave it another wipe down to remove any residue. White Lightning is a degreaser and a deglosser so gloves are recommended.
Then, I looked around my garage for something to fill in the gap on the back and came across this scrap of bead board:
Perfect! I save it all ha ha!
I used my miter saw to cut it just a bit bigger than the opening on the back.
Paint
Unlike the more needy antique pieces I like to drag home, this one had little risk of any tannins bleeding through, so I was able to go straight to painting!
I chose Cotton and painted both pieces:
I gave the shelf two more coats for solid coverage…
Sand
Once that was dry, I sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper. You can use these sanding sponges:
These foam sanding sponges are fantastic for smoothing out a chalk painted finish if you don’t like a ton of distressing or hardly any at all.
I do like a more distressed look, so I follow up with traditional 220 grit sandpaper, which is rougher, wrapped around an old sanding sponge:
Adding a mini transfer
I just restocked the Classic Vintage Labels mini transfer set that includes 26 mini transfers:
I chose one that was just right for the spot in the middle on this shelf!
Seal
Finally, I sealed with Best Dang Wax in clear using my La Petite brush to apply it and a clean, soft cloth to buff it in and remove the excess…
All I had left to do was attach the bead board which I did with small finishing nails.
This transformation was now complete!
The After
Here is how this dated shelf looks now:
This could be cute in a kitchen too holding a few essential spices.
I cut these flowers from my window boxes outside…they are Dipladenia from Rio and have just shown up in our garden centers in the last few years. I have been adding a few white ones to our porch and they thrive so well in heat, sun, shade, etc.
This year I traded my purple petunias in the window boxes for these…
After returning from Key West, I was really feeling the pink!
They should grow and trail over the sides.
The only thing I have left to do to our front porch is swap out my wreath, but I can’t just yet as these sweet babies aren’t quite ready to fly the coop yet!
There’s four baby birds in there. It’s been so fun watching them close up from the other side of our door!
I love how adding the bead board added some much needed charm to this little shelf…
The mini transfer adds the sweetest touch though.
Short and sweet!
If you enjoyed this one, you can see 10 more makeovers using these mini transfers HERE:
That’s another piece complete!
See everything I’ve completed from this haul so far below!
Hot Mess Magnolia Dresser
Petite Antique Dining Chair Makeover
Vintage Magazine Table Makeover
Painting the Smalls #21 (Six seven more mini Makeovers!)
Update an Old DIY Toolbox
How to Make a Tray from a Picture Frame (Super Easy!)
Freebie Chair Makeover
Vintage Stool Makeover with Terra Clay Paint
Mini Basket Box Makeover
Mirrored Wall Shelf Makeover
Rolling Buffet Makeover
Painted Antique Side Table
Pretty in Blue Box Makeover
A Great way to Repurpose a Chair
Painting the Smalls #20 (Six mini makeovers!)
White Painted Desk with Transfer
I’ll be back on Thursday sharing what I did with this fancy tote:
Told ya it was fancy 🙂
UPDATE: This tote got a fun color for spring! See it HERE now!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh my gosh that turned out so sweet. Love the transfer on the back. I love the beadboard in the gap to fill up the space. That will sell really quick in your booth. What a sweet little bird family you have on your front door. I just saw a post from Ann on Suttons Place that all you have to do to stop the birds from putting their nest on your wreath is to lay a fake snake on top of your wreath and they won’t go there! I wouldn’t go there either because I don’t like snakes. She bought them off Amazon and put two on top of the wreath and hasn’t had the birds come near it! Who knew!!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Good tip about the snakes lol…I too would steer clear! It has been fun watching them this year though but not looking forward to cleaning the poop ha ha! XOXO
Bonnie Hipps says
What a lovely transformation. I have a couple shelves like this if I get my butt up and do it. LOL
Have a sunny week whatever you do. Hugs
Christy says
Thank you, Bonnie! I always keep my eye out for them. Now go get yours done ha ha! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Jackie C says
Very cute!
A side note: Diplandia is GREAT for attracting hummingbirds and bees 🐝
Christy says
Thanks, Jackie! And yay I love that! XOXO
Peggy says
Everything you touch turns to LOVELY! 🌷 🦋 🌼
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Peggy, thank you!! XOXO
Janice Holt says
I really like this shelf and it looks so much better with the back on it. Great idea as usual. Thought I heard on the news that yall had a tornado; hope everything is ok. Of course I was busy and just heard Virginia Beach or at least thought that is what I heard.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! The backing makes a big difference for sure. Yes, we had a tornado touch down here about 25 minutes away from us. Thankfully, we were spared! XOXO
Nana Diana says
Really cute makeover. Love your front porch and I have always loved the Keys. I haven’t been in years but used to live in FL so spent time there years ago. Have a great week. Diana
Christy says
Thank you, Diana! This was our second visit, but the first time was just a one day stop on a cruise. It was so nice to get to spend more time there. We’ll definitely visit again! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Michele M. says
Wonderful re-do, Christy!! It looks great!
Those wee baby birds are so sweet. I hardly ever put wreaths on my door because we use the front door a lot and it sorta freaks me out when there are babies in a nest on them….I am always so afraid we will forget and slam the door and it will fall. So I have sold most of them. (Plus we upgraded a few years ago to a full leaded glass window door and the light is so nice! When I have a wreath there it gets darker again – so……anyway, keep us posted on those little birdies. Do you know what kind they are? At this stage they all look like aliens. LOL.
Christy says
Thanks, Michele! We have really enjoyed watching them and we don’t use the front door that often, so it has been ok so far. Although one has been flapping the heck out of its little wings, so we will really have to be careful when opening the door now. I snapped a photo of one of the parents and did the google info thingy and google says they are house finches. XOXO
Lizzy says
Adorable! I love it.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I love a shelf with a towel bar! So useful in the kitchen or bathroom, and after you do your magic with it, it’s also beautiful. I don’t think this one’s going to be around long, Christy. The flowers are lovely, too, but I was so busy looking at the shelf I didn’t notice until you mentioned them.
I’ve never seen birds take up residence in a door wreath, but why not when it looks so inviting? 😁
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I hope it does sell quickly! The birds have been so sweet to watch…one of the babies was perched on the edge flapping its little wings just as fast as it could a little while ago, so they’ll be flying the coop soon! XOXO
Denise Zdziennicki says
The towel rack is adorable. I have those transfers in my stash… you’ve inspired me to find something to use them on! And omygosh… those baby birds, lucky YOU! So sweet that you can watch them grow. I have morning doves that nest above my mailbox every year. They scare the bejeebees out of my mailman but they are so sweet. lol XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! We have SO enjoyed watching the birds! They weren’t even hatched a month ago and now they are trying to fly the coop lol…it happens so fast! I bet it’s fun to watch your doves too! XOXO
Kathy Farrar says
I would like to know where you get your transfers. I would like the roll of small labels. I have a big wooden dresser that I am wanting to redo and use as a buffet in my dining room.
Christy says
Hi Kathy! You can find them in my Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1236750164/classic-vintage-labels-redesign-decor If you ever see blue text in my posts, those are linked to the products I use. I love seeing dressers repurposed as buffets…so much storage! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
Such an adorable little shelf!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Rose! XOXO
Petra says
Love the shelf – would look pretty holding perfume bottles as well 🙂 Love the pops of pink with your black on your front verandah. Also…you have a (real) bird’s nest in your wreath? 😮
Christy says
Thanks, Petra! Yes, but sadly, they have all flown the coop as of yesterday! Not sad for them as we see them hopping around the back yard in delight but missing those cuties in our nest! XOXO
Terri Gibson says
When you mentioned herbs for that 80’s towel rack redo all I could see then was potted herbs in silver pots on the shelf and drying bundles hanging from the shelf! I pass by these items but now I’m inspired!
Christy says
Oh yes, how sweet would that be! Good luck in your search! XOXO