We’re super close to wrapping up the sewing room remodel–huzzah! I’ve been so ready to set down the home improvements and get back into sewing. Unfortunately, in this case, one project really does need to get done before the next can happen. It was hard enough to craft in the lackluster “before” space, but harder still to do anything in the midst of an upended “between” phase.
So far: We have some old bookcases, dismantled and cut down to a variety of heights. These, along with a few drawer units from IKEA, make up the bases of all of our workstations. We also have a couple of MDF panels, one of which has been ripped down the middle and pared down to various new lengths; these are our table tops.
Our next order of business: Paint the bookcases, assemble the table tops, and then paint those, too.
Prep Work
Really, all a project ever amounts to is a series of activities that prepare a noun for other verbs, resulting in an infinite cycle of “prep work” in which, maybe, there comes a point when you’ve decided to stop adding onto the process and just leave the thing be. I’m not being entirely pessimistic; that’s just the circle of life… sort of.
At this point in the process, we’re preparing the bookcases to support a table top, and preparing the whole works to accept paint. I learned that this includes a series of steps–which I will try to present, not chronologically in the way that I did it, but in an order of operations that might make more sense:
Add Supports
- In some places, I fastened the bookcases together at the back with flat metal brackets. This would keep them from wiggling around too much in relation to each other.
In the image below, the hardboard backing is pieced (I didn’t have quite enough material to cut these final two panels whole). As a precaution, I glued strips of the bookcases’ old cardboard backing over the seams. The seams are barely visible from the front, after a little bit of filler and paint.
- The bookcases serving as the base of my craft bar were positioned far enough from the adjacent wall that I would need something more to support the table top at that far end. My solution was to use the same kind of rail situation I had attempted to use for the slatwall installation.
Because the wall behind the craft bar is made of cinderblock, I didn’t want to try to screw anything into it. Instead, I fastened a board to the side of the bookcase on one end, and a perpendicular board to the other end. The perpendicular board (which should amount to the same depth as the counter top) could then fasten normally into the adjacent wall, as shown below.
- On the underside of the craft bar, at the back, I also added a few metal corner brackets to secure the countertop to the bookcases.
- Behind the counter I would use for my computer setup, I added spacers to the back of the bookcases. This kept a space open for cables to be threaded through behind them. It’s just wide enough that I can squeeze my hand and forearm back there, too.
- Above both counter tops, I placed rails on the wall, akin to the backsplash in kitchens and bathrooms. This is the bulk of what would actually keep my counters affixed to the walls and prevent them from falling forward if I leaned on them too heavily.
Where there was cinderblock, I mounted the rails with liquid nails. Where there were studs available, I used screws. I added them last, after the counters were on top of the bookcases–but before painting them.
All the Sanding
Power sanding tools are a boon for this kind of project, especially if you have tendinitis like I do. The vibration from the sander even functions like a wicked massage that turns those tendons right into jelly–a great improvement over the ache of manual sanding.
I’ll admit, I was still a bit too lazy with my sanding. I went over the bookcases with a low grit sandpaper (60 or 80), to scrape a lot of the veneer off, then hit them again with a higher grit (150 or maybe 220), just in case. While the outcome looked plenty scuffed to me, the first layer of paint still had trouble sticking in some places. That veneer is apparently very slick!
I also used the sander to round off the corners and smooth the edges of the MDF countertops before painting. MDF seems to get a bit soft and fuzzy when you sand it a lot, though, so I didn’t expend too much effort on the surfaces.
Paint and Assembly
Pro tip: Paint the bookcases before fastening them to the wall or countertops.
I discovered that was the better method after I had assembled the craft bar and realized I would need to tape up the carpet around the bottom edges. (I still dripped a goober of paint on the carpet–at least they’re both grey.)
So, for my computer counter, I made sure to paint the bookcases first, over a nice protective layer of cardboard.
After the bookcases were dry, I was able to position them against the wall and assemble the countertop and support rail. A coat of paint for the countertop, a bit of fine-grit sanding to smooth out the rough texture of the MDF that came through in the paint, and it’s ready to go!
I’m tempted to add a second coat of paint to everything–especially the countertops–but for the time being, I was just happy to have everything freshened up a bit. I’ll save the second coat for prettying things up again when I inevitably scrape something or spill hot chocolate on it.
Next Time…
Here’s a wee sneak peak of the final outcome!
I’ll do a proper walkthrough of the room when it’s fully cleaned, stocked, and ready for use. Stay tuned!
