busy week :: project one: complete!

I know, I know. You've been on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what I've been up to. Well, maybe not. But let's pretend, shall we? Thanks. In case you couldn't tell by my sneaky sneak peek, I added a wall of beaded board and a display ledge in my entry. Which before {go back and look at the before picture. I'll wait.} looked like a giant hallway. Well, I figured we could do something about that.

This is Frank. He's my main squeeze when it comes to fixing. Well, now he is. Don't worry, my hubband knows all about it. He's about to be my hubband's main squeeze, too. We went to church with Frank. Frank is awesome. Frank even entertained my baby while he worked. Home fixing + baby entertaining = totally worth my money. I got so much done while my little one was preoccupied barking and talking to Frank.

We removed the baseboards {ha ha, ok Frank did it.} and measured out a level line, both horizontally and vertically. My walls and floors are crooked. Yours probably are, too. From there, every piece went in measuring level and square up to that line.

I chose to do the panels at 65 inches. Because I am the perfect height, regardless of how often my hubband tells me I am too short. Maybe this will help him remember.

Then we {again, please read as "Frank"} added a 1x6 on top of the panel all the way down, and a 1x4 on top of that for the ledge. He suggested we use a door stop {you know, the thing inside the door frame that makes it stop swinging? You hang your door on either side of it?} because it would look prettier than my original suggestion of the cheapest thing. Plus, since he added it to the front, it doesn't take any space away from the ledge, like what would have happened if he'd added some little trim on top as a stopper. Am I making sense? Probably not. Also, I was a little bit worried about our rounded edge walls, but Frank suggested rounding the shelf out too, and it turned out great. No need for taller people to worry about poking out their eyeball when turning the corner.

Frank picked the already primed stuff -- which was only like a buck more expensive -- and painted it up after all the caulking and filler had dried. He trimmed the baseboards just a smidge, and set it all back up.

Fantastic, no?

Now all that's left is the accessorizing. What's funny is that I was so excited about doing this ... and it's been done for nearly five days and there is still nothing up there! Originally I had thought I'd display some fun art things ... but I'm really picturing the wreath from my front door up there now. I'll do one more follow up post when it's all decorated and pretty.

My hubband wants to put up hooks on the flat 1x6 ... but I think that means it will be covered in ugly brown and tan and green jackets all the time. {I wear pretty sweaters, but they make it back to the closet.} I don't want junky. But do you think the practicality of this is worth it???