Thrift Store Bookcases Transformed to Built-Ins – Before and After (Hallway V)

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Hallway Makeover with Thrift Store Built-In BookcasesI’m done!  With elbow grease and a vision, thrift store bookcases have been transformed into built-ins for my Hallway Makeover Series.  Whew – that was quite the learning curve!  It looks amazing and I am now ready to tackle even more projects that I originally thought may be out of my skill range.  Board and Batten just may be in my foyer’s future!

Breaking down the cost

Thrift Store Finds (I received 20 percent off the listed cost below as it was discount day) total:

$12.99 x 2 bookcases

$14.99 rug

$6.99 small rope table/stool

= $38.37

Home Depot total:

$14.00 quart of paint

$32.00 gallon of paint

$36.00 trim

$3.50 nails

= $85.50

Total: $123.87 – I did go over the $100 but hey, not by much 🙂

Here is the before.  I purchased the nasty bookcases from the thrift store and brought them home.  hallway thrift store bookcasesHallway Before

And here is the after!Hallway Built-Ins for Under $100

Before:Hallwayhallway before

After:Hallway Makeover

Aside from cleaning, sanding and painting the bookcases (and melting a plexiglass paperweight that was stuck onto one of them), this project required a lot of trim work.  I had help from my girls and we knocked it out using a miter box.  I’m proud of how it turned out!  Once the trim was applied, I caulked it all and applied another coat of paint.Hallway Before Hallway Makeover with Thrift Store Built-In Bookcases

I painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Guilford Green (I had it color matched at my local Home Depot). The $14.99 rug added color and I added curtains that I had in my stash.  The little rope table is perfect to sit on when putting on shoes from the hall closet and I know it is originally Pottery Barn as my sister has one!

I also added a gallery wall. I already had the frames but switched out the pictures to more recent ones.  I had no idea that I could print my Instagram pics at Target – awesome!  I’m happy to have taken some of the baby pics out and moved on to some more current pictures of my family.  Hallway Thrift Store Built-Ins with Gallery Wall Hallway Thrift Store Bookcase Built-Ins for under $150Hallway MirrorHallway MakeoverHallway Built-InsHallway Built-Ins from the Side ViewHallway Built-In Thrift Store BookcasesHallway Thrift Store Bookcase Built-Ins 2Hallway Makeover on The Painted Drawer

And the last of the series of video tutorials.  Enjoy!

 

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  2. The change is remarkable. How neat to take bookcases appropriate for the trash and turn them into something so clean, sleek and beautiful. So well done! (I was waiting for this post : ) You inspire!

  3. Great job! I love how clean and fresh it looks. I’m curious, after all the hard work restoring, would it have been easier to build the bookcase yourself?

    • Hi Bethany, Honestly I think it would have been easier to buy Ikea bookcases but when I saw these at the store, I knew they would work and I couldn’t beat the price (plus they are solid wood). They were a lot more work than I had anticipated lol!

  6. Just amazing! I can’t believe the difference in those bookcases, they have been totally transformed into a lovely built in! And I love, love, love that soft green color – I am going to get a sample to try it in my kitchen. Your hall is gorgeous!

  8. Those sorry looking bookcases look like a million bucks now, Suzanne! Your entry looks so warm and inviting, especially with the family photos hung above. Love the wall color, the fabulous color and pattern in the carpet, and the color and texture in the woven stool. Nice job!

    • Thanks so much Marie! I really appreciate it! I know that you and your husband do a lot of carpentry (your gorgeous window seat) and am happy to have given it a try!

  9. Wow, now have to go to a specialist to pickup my jaw after viewing what you did. Very beautiful transformation. Thanks for sharing.

    • Hi Ivory – I found it at my local thrift store. I typically don’t bother looking at the rugs because they are typically kind of gross but this one caught my eye! It was quite a score!

  12. You have created a terrific addition to your home. Not just the carpentry work, but the concept and design. Good for you. It’s lovely. But…please loose the rope table/stool. Makes it feel crowded.

    • Hi Laura, thanks so much! I actually need the the rope stool because it is useful for the kids to sit on and put on their shoes. Function over form in this case lol! I also like it as it is one of my great finds that I like to show off for awhile 🙂

  13. Well, you are a magician! These cast aways are now pristine. Super great job. And love that yummy minty wall color and rug, too. ….And I’m still trying to figure out how to get that blue chest to fit in my car….LOL….#anotherstory. XOX Susie from The Chelsea Project

  18. Oh my Suzanne!! You did such a great job! It is literally night and day the transformation you achieved on these bookshelves. So much storage and they look AWESOME!
    Have a great day!!
    Maxine:)

  19. Amazing job on your hallway transformation, Suzanne. Just another skill to add to your resume! (I do hope you took it off that floppy disk, by the way!) 😀 Seriously, what a great place to store baskets with flip flops, shoes, dog toys, etc. Love it!

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