From the Desk of Clearissa Coward’s Command Center via Divinely Organized
The Shelf Project
Before my vacation, I, Divinely Organized, was commissioned for two small projects. Yay! One was to refresh a powder room in a rental property and the other was to paint a shelf to match a picture frame. I will write a post about the powder room refresh later. But for today, I wanted to share the shelf project.
A friend lost a family member and wanted to create a memorial wall. She had already purchased a beautiful frame and added a large photo of her loved one to the wall and wanted a small shelf to match the frame. Her request was for the shelf to look like it and the frame were a set.
After seeing the frame in a cell phone picture, I began the process. The first step was to find a shelf with similar lines as the frame. I was lucky enough to find a solid wood frame at AC Moore. It was reasonably priced and the length was right. The original surface of the frame was just a wood tone. I wish I had taken a photo of the frame before the primer and paint, but I did not.
I primed the shelf and once it was thoroughly dry. While the basecoat was drying I made my own chalk paint using an equal parts of flat latex paint and Plaster of Paris. I used two coats of the chalk paint in white on shelf allowing each to dry between coats.
Although the frame was white it had a light purple detail, my deceased friend’s favorite color, around the entire frame and I knew I would have to come up with that same color to add detail to the shelf if I wanted the two to look like a pair. I mixed purple acrylic paint with my chalk paint to attain the light purple color on the frame. I used stencils to apply the purple paint in several places on the shelf. There are roses, her favorite flower, and the word love in a couple of places as well.
I and my client were pleased with the color match and the design.
It was a small project but it was an important one to me because of the way my client wanted to use the shelf and because I am a friend of the family. I was a little nervous until the family said they loved the frame and shelf together. They were pleased and so was I.
What do you think? I wish the photo was a little better, as you know, it is difficult to match whites. There are so many different hues of white, but I am happy to say, the colors are right on. While I was working on the shelf for my client, I also picked up one for myself to add to my laundry area. I refreshed and organized my laundry area a while ago, you can read that article here.
I painted my shelf yellow. Again I used paint I already had and add the Plaster of Paris to make my own chalk paint. I just love the way chalk paint covers. I was undecided as to whether to stenciled my shelf or age it via sanding. I decided to stencil. I can always age the shelf later.
The shelf is a cute addition to the area. Not sure what I will place on it yet. Probably something pretty but it was fun to be away from the computer and actually working with my hands. I have to find more time to do just that.
I hope you enjoy these two little shelf projects and I’m happy I was able to get everything I needed from AC Moore. They were my one stop shop for these two projects. Have you worked on any small projects lately? If so, share.
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That shelf DID look like it came with the frame. 🙂
It looks great Clearissa, what a lovely idea!
Thank you Maddy. I thought so too. Sometimes little things make a big difference.
Thank you Patricia. It’s wonderful when a plan comes together ?)
What a fun project. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your post with the #homemattersparty community. We’re happy to have you.
Thank you so much Amnanda. You guys are so talented, I know I’ll learn a lot and I am looking forward to making some real friends. Thank you for reaching out. 🙂