DIY Gold Bookshelf

I've been on the hunt for a gold bookshelf and haven't been able to find one under my budget of $100. Maybe because the color is associated with luxury, all gold furniture I've run into seems to be very pricey.... and you know what that means, a DIY project.

Instead of starting from scratch, I decided to do another Ikea hack. I wanted something very simple, and let's face it, cheap. I found the Ikea Vittsjo for $40. Here's what it looks like before I got to it.

All I did was spraypaint the bookshelf frame, but spray painting is not as easy as it sounds. here are the Materials I used: White Primer Spray Paint, Gold Spray Paint, and 180-250 Grit Sand Paper. Optional: mask

DIRECTIONS

1. Find an open area like a backyard or garage. If you choose to do it in a garage like I did, make sure to keep the garage door open as spray paint fumes are not good for you!
2. Keep in mind that there will be "overspray" which is spray paint residue that will get everywhere and looks like a light powder, so make sure there is nothing nearby that can get accidentally sprayed in the process. Make sure to put tarp, cardboard or some sort of material to protect your floor.
3. Assemble the book shelf but do not put the glass shelves on. You can put the 2 top and bottom wood boards, or you can spray paint them separately.
4. Wipe down the book shelf and make sure it's completely clean and free of dust or other dirt.
5. Prime the bookshelf with white primer. When you spray paint, the key is to do a very light coat about 6-8" away in an up and down or right to left motion. 
6. Let the first layer of primer dry (about 10 minutes) and then do another layer or 2 until the bookshelf is white. Again, make sure you don't spray too close or too heavy or else the paint will drip and you will see that texture.
7. After the primer is dry, lightly sand the entire shelf t make sure the surface is smooth. Wipe down any sanded residue.
8. Take your gold spray paint and spray one light layer. Again, make sure to stay about 6-8" away and keep it very light or else your paint will drip.
9. Let the first layer dry and do another layer or 2 until you get the color you like. I did 3 layers. 

DRIP TIP

This was my first time spray painting a piece of furniture and I did mess up in a couple of places where I spray painted too close or too heavy where the paint dripped. In order to fix this, i took a stronger sandpaper (60-80 grit) and sanded off the paint where it dripped and had an uneven texture. Once it was smooth, I re-primed with white and then spray painted with gold. It blended in pretty well, so don't worry too much if you mess up and have to do this. 

Here's the final outcome styled with some of my favorite books, sculptures, and albums!

Savory Pita Pizzas

Now that I've touched on the Savvy part of my blog, I wanted to introduce the Savory. I've been trying to eat healthier and one of my favorite, quick and relatively healthy recipes are Pita Pizzas. It literally takes about 10 minutes to make and you can put any toppings you want.


Here's what you'll need:

• Whole Wheat Pita Bread (or regular pita bread if you prefer)
• Sauce: Tomato Sauce, Pesto, EVOO, anything you want
• Shredded Cheese: Mozzarella works great, but any should do
• Toppings: Go crazy! I usually throw in mushrooms, onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken breast chunks and any other veggies or meats you like

DIRECTIONS

1. Lay out your pita bread and spread sauce on
2. Add shredded cheese (don't add too much or it'll become soggy)
3. Add toppings
4. Pop in the toaster oven or regular oven at 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes. Make sure you watch it because the cooking time really depends on how fast the toppings cook. The pita bread cooks relatively fast.
5. Let it cool down for a few minutes and enjoy!

OTHER PITA IDEAS

• Savory Pita Calzones: most pita breads open up and have a pocket inside. You can stuff the pita bread just like you would a pizza and toast it the same way for a pita calzone
• Dessert Pita Pizza: If you're a sweet tooth like me you can spread nutella or cookie butter on the pita bread, add your favorite nuts and fruits like strawberries and bananas, then toast for a few minutes. This one isn't healthy, but it sure is good!
• Pita Sandwich: Just like a regular sandwich without all of your fixings falling out when you take a bite of it.

Buen Provencho!