Projects

Project Shelving: A Wall for The Sconces

November 27, 2013

Our reading room shelving project has officially taken off and has changed a little bit since the last time we talked about it. We discovered a legit lumber yard down the road a few miles that made it too hard to turn down wood shelves instead of painting them white. But before we even get into those, which we’ll be picking up this week, we had to build a wall that will house three sconces that will overlook the shelves.

Three of these from Cedar & Moss, btw:

We were challenged to do a weekend project as a part of our involvement in the Ace Blogger panel, and while we were able to find everything we need at our local Ace Hardware (2x4s, electrical wire, screws, drywall, light boxes, joint compound, drywall tape, sanding supplies, wall texture, etc.), it has extended past one weekend. First, Chris built the frame for the wall. Usually studs are 16″ apart, some of these boards are slightly closer than 16″ due to the fact that he had to splice some studs together since the wall was so long and to make sure the lighting boxes could be attached in the right places–on the thirds of the wall.

He also planned it so that the frame would be exactly 5/8″ from the corner by the window so when the drywall was attached (which is 5/8″thick) it would be flush there.

When it came time to wire the lights, Chris flew up into the attic and I knocked endlessly on the ceiling where the wire was supposed to come down (by the light switch and in the newly framed wall). And then we finally got smart and poked a skewer into the ceiling and I wiggled it around until Chris found it and fed the wire down. So professional. Worked like a charm.

Chris isn’t an electrician, but he built his parents’ home with his dad and so things like framing and drywall and wiring–he can do and I am so, so thankful for that. I am in standby mode taking photos and handing him the tools he needs.

The light switch box was a mess and a hazard. So Chris bought a new box and neatly put the wires back in place, including the newly hooked up wire for the sconces.

At this point, we were ready to hang the drywall.

And mud the seams and screws.

And, oy!, then sanding all that joint compound down smooth–which resulted in a dusty, dusty reading room.

Luckily, the room was sealed off, so it hasn’t extended too far out of the space, but the cleanup hasn’t been as fun as the rest of the project. The walls could use another washing in another 24 hours, but we went ahead and sprayed the freshly built wall with a slight orange peel texture to blend in with the surrounding walls.

The only thing left to do is paint it the same “reading room green” and continue to clean the dust off the walls. We’re so, so excited to see this vision come to fruition. The wood is in. The sconces are on their way. And now that this wall is ready to paint, the hardest part (knock on wood) is out of the way and we’re ready to take the rest of the week off and just focus on what we have been so blessed with. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Psst. We have our anatomy ultrasound this morning. So be sure to come back Monday so we can share the boyish or girly news with you! EEEeee!! Any guesses?

This post is sponsored by Ace Hardware. We’ve partnered with Ace Hardware as a part of their Ace Blogger Panel. Ace has provided us with all of the tools and materials necessary to complete this project for our reading room, and all opinions are our own. You can check out our fellow Ace bloggers right here.

ace hardware, book shelves, reading room

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What do you think?

nikeecha.tumblr.com says:
December 14, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Yes! Finally something about carlos vela.
Unknown says:
November 30, 2013 at 11:15 am
What a blessing that Chris can do all that! And cook too! You guys are such an incredible couple and a cute family! Boy or girl…you will be thrilled!! Boy?
Unknown says:
November 30, 2013 at 11:15 am
What a blessing that Chris can do all that! And cook too! You guys are such an incredible couple and a cute family! Boy or girl…you will be thrilled!! Boy?
Sara says:
November 27, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Its looking great… and I’m guessing a little girl! Good luck :)
Jimena says:
November 27, 2013 at 2:05 pm
so happy you went with wood shelves! It´s going to be amazing!
Happy birthday Julia!! Have a great day and I too say BOY!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says:
November 27, 2013 at 10:19 am
Love the lights! Can’t wait to watch this room come together!
Susan says:
November 27, 2013 at 9:12 am
Looking forward to seeing this project come together.
Right now, we are waiting to see when we will be going to closing-we’ve sold our home, and will be moving mid December( long story short-sold our home, people couldn’t get funding, they wanted us to rent it to them, we said OK-and they still bailed in the eleventh hour. Sold home AGAIN, now crossing fingers that closing will really be before Dec 15.) So, no home improvement matters for us for a while.
As far as ultrasounds go, I hope your daughter gets what SHE wants, LOL.
Happy T-day! ( off to start making stuffing and cranberry sauce and etc…)
Meagan @ Meagan Tells All says:
November 27, 2013 at 7:03 am
Whoa, that looked like a ton of work! I still think its so cool Chris knows how to do those types of things and that he helped build his parents home. Awesome skills. The sconces are goooorgeous.
And I guess boy!!
Caroline Nolazco says:
November 27, 2013 at 6:38 am
The lights are sexy! And if Chris ever needs a vacation… I have some work I can find him ;)

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