Stop your "wining," I'm building a bar! - How to turn a bookcase into a bar.

I like books.  You know what I like with my books?  A nice glass of red wine. But until today, I had loads of books on shelves, organized by color (I know, that's silly) yet I had nowhere to store/display/organize all that delicious wine!

UNTIL I TURNED A BOOKSHELF INTO A BAR.

I was inspired by a post on pinterest, where a girl had turned a low set of shelves into a bar - it was a cute idea, but I needed something sizable to fill the wall where I wanted my bar to go!  And it couldn't cost a lot, either. We just got married and the "budget" is TBD but I'm pretty sure I don't get to spend $500 on a bar.  So, I got creative.

First, I found a bookshelf online that wouldn't break the bank and that appeared to have shelves that were removable. This is the "Vintage Park" bookcase, bought from HomeDecorators.com.  Originally $269, with a promo for free shipping + 10% off, with another promo for $50 off an order of $200, the thing cost me just $192. 

I looked at Goodwill first, and on Craigslist, but I didn't see anything that looked "right" for this project -- plus, I wanted to avoid having to cart a big bookshelf from a store or someone else's home to my garage -- the free shipping promo was a real lifesaver with this purchase!

It arrived this week in a huge box of parts and although I know my sweet husband could and would assemble it for me, I realize that things like this aren't quite as "fun" for him as they are for me, and I set it aside for the wkend.  He went to work this morning, and I bounced out of bed to get started on my project! 

Step 1: Take the parts out of the box.

Step 2: Stare at awful instructions & wonder what the photos mean.

Step 3: Wing it!  Put shelves in slots (leaving out one shelf, the 2nd one from the top) and prepare to attach the front frame.

Step 4: But wait!  The top shelf will have a wine & glass rack underneath it!  Must attach it (thank you, Blaines, for the present!). Abby wanted to play SO badly...but hush, mama's working...

Step 5: Put the front frame onto the unit, and secure it (this effectively "locks" the shelves into their slots - that's why I put the wine rack onto the shelf BEFORE locking the shelves in...).  Blurry photo.  I think I was shaking with happiness or something. :)

Step 6: Lights!  I bought these wireless LED lights on amazon.com for $10 - they just attach to the bottom of the shelf, behind the wine rack, with super-strong sticky-back velcro!

And VOILA! It's finished!  Took me about an hour and a half to put it all together, start to finish.  Ah, so satisfying.  It's super lightweight, so I moved it inside all by myself!  

BUT FIRST...for context...

Here's the wall where it's going to go - in it's prior config, I had a console table with a plethora of mercury glass baubles all over & a triptych art grouping above...

Now....there's a lovely bar!

 

Like that sign?  Another gift - thank you Jenny!

Let's decorate!

 

 

You may recognize other gifts on display, ones that you've given us for our wedding, or Christmas, our engagement, etc.  THANK YOU, you know who you are! :)  Drew's scotch decanter is on display here too - I opted NOT to display our cheap tequila, creme de menthe, cooking sherry, & Kahlua - those are best left in cupboards for now.

That's it for today!  I should probably go do something relaxing now, after all that hard work. Maybe I'll read a book. Is 12:45pm too early for a glass of wine?

KIDDING.

Comments

[summer]

Its official. I want to be you when I grow up! On our way to the GA Acquarium for my company "holiday party". Private viewing of the fishes during cocktail hour - that's how we roll!! Miss you tons.