Closet Makeover

The unveiling is here!!!!!!!!

What started has TJ’s idea to install shoe racks for my birthday evolved into something bigger (and therefore much more time consuming) – the conversation over the past month went something like this:

Let’s install shoe racks…of course if we’re going to do that they are going to be pretty permanent so if you don’t like the flooring it’s time to get rid of it now. …..oooh I’ve been wanting to install tile……if we’re going to do the tile I should paint before we rip the carpet out….now the trim looks aged….we should do this the right way and paint it as well. Okay, now the trim, shelves, and walls are painted – let’s install the tile.

Before the tile was installed I came home from work on a Friday to find the chandelier of my dreams installed in the closet. *shriek* And then came the tile itself, we took a trip to Lowe’s and found the most adorable white tile that wasn’t too shiny or too flat….then we started walking around the store and decided for some deco tiles, I warned TJ they would be more complicated to cut but don’t you know he was a natural with the tile saw?
Okay okay, no more….feast your eyes. I wish I had more 'before' shots but you'll get the general idea.

And now....







Here are some shots of how the tile was done, first we dropped in one of the main tiles and worked around it - the deco tiles were so tedious to cut and place properly but I'm so happy with them. I was worried about the added cost a little but in the end I only got three at around $5.00 apiece.





And then the final product after the mortar.



And then came the shelves themselves. A lot of cutting, a lot of painting, a lot of going back to the home improvement stores for things we'd forgotten or run out of. In my experience these projects never run according to plan.





I wish I had more pictures of the wood as it was being installed and before it was even painted - I must not have loaded them to my account and they are being held hostage on my laptop at home. Oh well.

Do you love it? I like all the little details, the satin covers on the bars, the little belt hooks TJ mounted for me. It was the best birthday gift I could have gotten, not just an important part of my house getting a makeover but the difference a year makes. When life hands you lemons you refuse to settle and chunk 'em.