DIY: Antique Makeover for Built in Bookshelves

Give your existing built-in bookshelves a "Shabby Chic" style, antique makeover! This project requires drying time between coats, so it will probably take a full weekend or two to complete.

For this project, you will need:

- Built-in bookshelves

- Cream colored, latex based paint

- White colored, latex based paint

- Polyurethane sealer

- Medium grit sandpaper

- Hot water

- Steel wool

- Tack cloth

- Painter's tape or masking tape

- Glass door pulls (optional, for any doors that are on the bookshelf)

You will want the bookshelf to be unstained, unpainted wood prior to beginning this project. (Sheetrock built-ins will not work with this project.) If the built-in already has paint or stain, use a bit of paint stripper (available at your local home improvement store) according to manufacturer directions.

Start by removing any cabinet doors and lightly sanding down the base with medium grit sandpaper. Once the entire built-in base has been lightly sanded, remove all dust with a tack cloth. (It is important that there is no excess sanding dust on the bookshelf before painting, or it can interfere with the antiqued effect.) Repeat the process on each of the doors, if any, which will need to have the door pulls removed first.

Paint the entire cabinet with cream colored, latex based paint. Allow the paint to dry for four to six hours before adding a second coat. After the second coat has dried, apply one coat of white colored, latex based paint. Allow the white paint to dry for twenty minutes or so before "antiquing" the built-in by applying hot water and scraping the top layer of paint off with the steel wool. This will allow the cream paint to show through the white paint, adding the worn look. Allow the built-in to dry overnight. Repeat the same process with any removed cabinet doors. Once the doors have dried fully, install the glass door pulls.