apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


How To: Turn a Bookcase Into a Bar

020209atla-PC140236.jpgTime: 3 days including drying time approx. 12 hours
Cost: $60
Not all of us can afford a standalone bar in regards to space or cost, but most of us can afford to take a thrift store or flea market bookshelf and turn it into your very own Bookcase Bar, like Theresa did for last year's January Jumpstart project (Thanks, Theresa!)...

 
 

Before

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After

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Tools and Materials Used

Tell us the tools and resources you used for the project: :

  • solid wood bookcase with adjustable shelves,
  • sand paper (med and fine)
  • face mask
  • acrylic primer
  • semi gloss paint
  • paint brush,
  • 2 sheets of gift wrap (24"X 36")
  • spray adhesive
  • scissors
  • mini drill, small drill bit
  • 19 all purpose screws
  • 2 wine glass racks
  • 2 wine bottle holders
  • 2 pieces of 3/4" thick plywood
  • 1 piece of 3/4" thick plywood (6"X 2")


Share step by step instructions for how you completed the project:
1. Remove shelves. Put on mask and sand all surfaces (including shelves) of bookcase until smooth and free of any existing paint or finish.
**do not sand inside back of bookcase where you will be putting paper.

2. Dust all surfaces from any wood dust. Paint all surfaces with primer. Let dry and repeat with second coat. ** do not primer inside back of bookcase where you will be putting paper.

3. Take wine glass holders and 1 shelf. Turn shelf upside down and prep for making holes to fasten wine glass holders. Measure and mark where the holes will be and create holes with drill bit. Set shelf aside. ** drill bit must be smaller than screws.

4. Paint all primed surfaces with semi gloss paint. Let dry and repeat with second coat.

5. Take pieces of plywood. Take the two 6"X 1 1/2" pieces and place the 6" X 2" piece in between. Take wine bottle holders and prep for making holes to fasten them to the plywood making sure that the insides of both wine bottle holders fasten to the 6"X 2" plywood piece. Measure and mark where the holes will be and create holes with drill bit. Then, take 8 screws (5/8 size) and fasten wine bottle holders to the plywood.

6. When shelves are dry take wine glass holders and fasten them with 8 screws (5/8 size) to the shelf that you created the holes in.

7. When bookcase is dry take spray adhesive and spray one corner of the paper and fasten to one of the corners of the bookshelf. Continue to work in sections with adhesive and paper until entire inside back of bookcase is covered with paper. Making sure to smooth out any air pockets.

8. Take wine bottle racks fastened to plywood and fit to inside top of bookcase. While holding in place, screw with 1 1/4" screws into each center of plywood (3 total).

9. Add shelves in any pattern that works for your glasses and bar accessories

10. Enjoy a glass for all your work!

Comments (8)

It was an ok bookcase...

posted by HeritageWoodworks on February 2nd 2009 at 11:54pm
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This is really cute!

posted by ilovepoodles on February 3rd 2009 at 4:49am
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Like the new colour, but not the wallpaper on the back.

posted by Clap on February 3rd 2009 at 9:50am
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Great job! I want to do this with a tall bookcase I use for kitchen storage.

posted by mjr on February 3rd 2009 at 10:12am
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Very crafty! Think I would go for a metallic finish on the racks.

posted by Expat Decorator on February 3rd 2009 at 10:16am
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Very handsome! I think it would look nicer if the racks were painted a chrome color. :)

posted by Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe on February 3rd 2009 at 10:33am
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I really love this idea! We would love to do something like this in our new kitchen!

http://www.makemineeclectic.wordpress.com

posted by jessimarie33 on February 3rd 2009 at 10:48am
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Cool! I would love to do this too.

posted by jmcquary on February 3rd 2009 at 2:21pm
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