Vintage Bookcase Makeover in Country Grey

I spotted this 2-piece vintage bookcase in a Facebook ad for an estate sale.  I forgot to take my own Before photo before I started working on it, and this photo makes it look deceivingly taller than it really is.  It’s only about 5 feet tall, and I’m only a few inches taller than it.  haha

It’s a simple piece, but has some charming details – the perfect candidate for a farmhouse style bookcase makeover.

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Prep the Bookcase for Painting

First, I removed the rail on the top shelf and filled the holes with wood filler.  Those rails usually make a piece look more dated, and they’re pretty easy to remove.

I took the back of the bookcase off for easier painting, and nearly sliced my wrist open on one of the nails that was sticking out.   (Learn from my mistake – be extra careful when using sandpaper on a board that has sharp nails!)

I also removed the doors so paint wouldn’t get all over the hinges.  Then I filled the old hardware holes and drilled a new one right in the middle for new pulls from Hobby Lobby.

Paint the Vintage Bookcase

I painted most of it with one coat of gray but it didn’t seem like the right color choice.  So the gray ended up being just a base color, and then I painted over it all in Country Grey Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan which is sort of off-white/cream.

I lightly sanded it around the edges for a naturally distressed look, and finally protected it with Fusion Mineral Paint’s Tough Coat (now I usually use Annie Sloan’s clear wax as a topcoat).

And here she is…

It ended up being more work than it should’ve been because the paint was extra thick (bottom of the can) and was a little difficult to work with.  But in the end it turned out just fine.

The little shelf right above the doors was a bit of a pain.  I had to use a small roller brush to get in there where the paint brush couldn’t reach.

It’s a cute little bookcase for extra storage, with a charming farmhouse style.  And it’s very easy to move around since it’s two separate pieces.This bookcase makeover turned out pretty adorable.  I love updating old pieces like this one and giving it some sweet farmhouse charm!  – Jen