Is any project ever really 100% finished? Not in my little world. Still, I’m going to call this one done.
If you are just tuning in, the goal was to re-purpose a closet in a tiny bedroom to accomodate a queen bed without looking like a bed-in-a closet. So I’ve included an early photo with closet doors and organizers removed.
Phase two was to paint the alcove a soothing green.
Phase three is the custom shelving. If your closet is symetrical and your walls are plumb, this is pretty simple. This was not the case, so some (hours of) tinkering was required. We also cut a notch in the back corner of some of the shelves to allow for the passage of electrical cords. I still hope to get one more coat of paint on the shelves, but they work.
For the alcove ceiling, Cottager built a frame out of 1×2 lumber to fit the space, with a two inch divider in the centre and 6 inches extra length. I bought two Artscape faux-stained glass window decals, each measuring 24 x 36, and some 16 mm clear vinyl. After painting the necessary parts of the frame, we affixed the window art to two pieces of vinyl for stability, then carefully stretched and stapled the vinyl across the back side of the frame and trimmed away the excess. Then we strung some led lights up in the top of the closet, and popped the frame up to rest on top of the shelves.
Bottom line – It looks pretty good. I had originally bought clematis-themed window art, but one of the packages I bought had been opened, used and then unscrupulously returned to the store, where I bought it. This proved to be a lucky turn of events, since I was able to look at the product off its backing, and determine that it would do the job, but the pattern was too busy. So back I went to the Depot, where I exchanged them for . . . wait for it. . . a bamboo pattern!
The pictures don’t really do it justice, but, lying in bed, it is quite pleasant to look up at. Much nicer than the stuccoed ceiling of the closet anyway. The LED lights are just ok – they don’t show in the photos owing to flash – and we are thinking of buying a couple of low-voltage puck-type lights to install on top of the shelves so we can really illuminate the ceiling, when desired. Eventually, there will be a window in the wall above the headboard, but below the false ceiling. But that is a another project.
I think it looks nice! Was the window thingie hard to put on…those thing scare me because I’m just so and I’m afraid I’ll be messing with it if it’s not “perfect.” I think the room is very relaxing!
Thanks for your enthusiasm Billie.
The decal was pretty easy to use. It isn’t really sticky; it is vinyl-like and re-usable. It is intended for hiding unsightly views and for adding additional insulation properties to single-pane glass. At one point I thought of just stapling the window art to the frame alone, but if someone was curious enough to poke it, they would probably leave a stretched indent.
The clear vinyl adds extra strength and gave me some extra meat to staple into. Also, it protects the back of the window art from accumulation of dust, so it remains re-usable if I decide I want a change at some point.
To apply the window art, you wet the window or vinyl with a sponge or spray bottle, then you lay the art out as smoothly as possible and use a squeegee or – in our case – credit cards to drag excess water and air bubbles to the sides. Cheers!
I’ve never seen a window decal used quite that way… it looks good!
What a creative idea! That definitely looks neat… and like it was “supposed to be”.
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Great idea! Sometimes its just easier to work with whats already there than to start all over. Personally, I think its more fun as well! And it lends a touch of the unexpected to a room.
Kudos!