From bookcase to bench seating...

I can't really take credit for this project, well the idea at least, I found it on another blog and adapted it for my own use. I have been wanting a breakfast nook with bench seating for ever.  But with all the projects this house needed when I moved in and all the renovations and redo's I've done, bench seating took a backseat. And while this option isn't what I dreamed of, it's a good (and thrifty) solution for now.  Let's look at some pics first and then I'll give the 411...

 

Ok, so, yes it's a bookcase turned on it's side.  An Ikea bookcase to be specific. And to be very specific... this exact  bookcase http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20116274/. I did however get it for even less than that, $50, thanks to the Ikea family card.  You can sign up here http://info.ikea-usa.com/FAMILY/?src=ikea_web.  It's pretty awesome, you get nice discounts that are only offered to family members.  Let's face it 10 bucks is 10 bucks!  Back to the project!  

So I brought it home (bring a friend, trust me, it's awkward to load and get in the house) and put it together.  It was a quick assemble, really!  Then I made a trip to my Lowes with the exact measurements of the bookcase from the link above on the bookcase and got a piece of really thin fiberboard cut to the exact size I needed.  (Sidenote, you get the whole sheet of board, so the leftovers go with you for another project!)

Next, a trip to JoAnn's for some foam to make the seat.  It's a little costly, so make sure you have a coupon with you.  JoAnn's is pretty good about coupons and you can usually always get a 40% - 50% off coupon.  I got a 1/2 in thick, but really now wish that I had spent a little more on the 1 or 2 inch to make a really cushy seat.

That fabric?  It's a curtain panel that I got at World Market and I love it.  That's what I love about re-upholstering, you can use a curtain panel, a shower curtain, a bed sheet... anything that has a patter you love, can cover just about anything! 

So with some spray adhesive (really the easiest way to do this!) sprayed on the foam, I attached it to the fiberboard.Then covered with the fabric and attached it with my staple gun.  I think it came out great.  I really love it.  And I know, when I get tired of it in the dining room (which will happen!) I can use it in any other room and recover it with another pattern.

But of course I didn't stop there.  I have some saddle seat stools under my bar in the dining room too.  Why can't I cover them too?  I can and I did. 

Cute, right?!  So here's the finished product.  Until I get inspired again... :)

What's in that fabulous bag?!

I am not a fan of Monday mornings, or Mondays or mornings separately, and definitely not a fan of those too peppy people who start off sentences or e-mails or blogs in this case with Happy Monday!  Yuck!  Shut up!  (That's definitely more me!)

So anyone who has been with me for me than 5 minutes knows that I love a nice bag on my shoulder and have a deep affection for pink.  So what is in that fabulous pink Michael Kors bag of yours you may ask?  Well, here you go my  nosey friends...



 Let's start off with the bag.  It's awesome and I heart it and Michael Kors deeply.  I obsessed over this bag on facebook and finally gave in.  It was well worth the splurge. 

Next the red (I switch bags way too much to have the wallet always match!) MK wallet.  See above for the MK gushing and love.

My make up bag is from www.thirtyonegifts.com as is the sunglasses case.  Note they are not pink!  But they definitely are monogrammed which odds are if something I own is not pink, it will definitely have my name, initials or a big ol' J on it!

Below my make up bag is my purse hanger.  Because lets face it that bag is too pretty to sit on a restaurant floor! Whoever invented those things is a genius.  I know it had to be a woman!

2 note pads, I'm not sure why, just because they are both cute.  My fav pen ever is the Papermate Flexgrip.  Stole it from work of course.

The lemon wipes are from the dollar section at Target.  I think I've mentioned before the dollar section is my first go to spot when I enter those magical red doors.  And yes my hand sanitizer is Steelers hand sanitizer, the best team EVER!

Tissues, because I have the worst sinuses/allergies ever.  The hand lotion is Eucerin and almost gone because I also have the driest hands ever.

Juicy Fruit because I like to go old school with my gum.  No 12 fruity mix, dessert flavors, or teeth whitening promises for me.  Straight up old school gum, thank you.

The baggie of Advil is yes very ghetto and I should totally have a cute pill container in there.  My bad.

And that little tape measure is just because you never know when a shopping emergency will happen and you need to measure a fabulous desk, armoire, dresser, bookcase, etc, etc etc... will occur.  It happens a lot in my world.

And there you go.  That's what in my bag!

Happy Monday!  (that was total and complete sarcasm right there!!!)

My new fav inspiration site...

First and foremost, Happy Freaking Friday!  Summer is here and I am so happy that my Casper like skin will be making an exit and a nice brown hue is in my future! 

I found this awesome site on one of my every day blog reads... http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/.  It's an awesome site where you can design rooms from the floor up.  I plan on creating my dream house!  A dream house that I will most definitely have one day!  Check it out here http://olioboard.com/!

And last but not least, here's today's creation.  My ultimate dream office (for today at least) that I would love to have if my current office didn't have to serve as a guest room/office/gym/storage!

Have a happy and stylish weekend!