Outdoor Étagère, My Way
June 15, 2009
In summertime, we spend many evenings eating or entertaining in our rear courtyard. I wanted a shelving unit where I could store linens, citronella candles, and melamine plates, ready to set at a moment’s notice. Our California home is French Country in style, so I knew I could get away with painted wood shelf.
Last week, I found a shelving unit at the local thrift store, and transformed it with outdoor paint for my unique purpose. In a cheerful shade of pale yellow, this baker’s rack style shelf fits my needs perfectly.
I was inspired by this blue shelving unit I saw at Crown & Crumpet on last weekend’s San Francisco adventure.
I bought my own version of a spindly wood shelf at the Goodwill for $12. Then I brush primed it will oil based primer for durability.
I then gave the shelf a light sanding, and covered it with Rustoleum’s ‘Strawflower’. This indoor/outdoor spray paint is a pale yellow hue, and blends beautifully with the shade of the exterior stucco. What I love about this paint is that since it is designed for outdoor furniture, the shelf should withstand multiple seasons of sunshine.
I also added some small hooks to one side of my shelf, to hang some colorful tea towels.
To the plant shelf, I added a thin plastic liner (available wherever oil cloth is sold) just in case the herbs overflow after watering. An extra hook was added for the wasp trap, which is both decorative and functional. I don’t want any of those pesky buggers invading my garden party.
The personalized herb pots were created with plastic paint and stickers, using the same spray paint I used here and here.
The second shelf houses napkin rings, melamine plates and melamine glassware. I lined the shelf with a crisp white tea towel, restaurant style.
The bottom shelves hold various cloth placemats, napkins, and citronella candles, ready for setting our outdoor dinner table.
This wall was bare before this newest addition, and I loved decorating it with an étagère that I will use all season long to hold all things culinary.
Have you added anything new to any of your outdoor spaces lately?
Tags: brush paint, etagere, outdoor decor, primer, spray paint
THAT is gorgeous. The yellow is very pretty. The only things I've added lately are 12 Belinda's Dream rose bushes. Hopefully, this next summer, they'll be picture worthy bushes.
I pulled a Kate yesterday and found a $10 coffee table on Craigslist for my screened porch to place in front of my wicker swing. Btw, I've had a terrible time finding the American Accents spray paint. I called some small hardware stores and one guy said he thought it might be on it's way to being discontinued.
That turned out so beautifully! Where do you find the American Accents Rustoleum? I didn't see it at Lowe's or Walmart.
WHERE in the world do you find the time for all these projects? You are amazing!
I love it … I have garden envy, big time. My hostas are wilting as I type.
Great! It is lovely! Very chic and sophisticated! Job well done!
I love your new set up. So cute! I wish I could do something like this but the shelf would NOT hold up in Chicago weather :)
My parents have an old shelf like that in storage that my mom is about to trash…I may have to take it off her hands now! I am loving the yellow- it is so fresh and beautiful! I love the herb pots also! What a great idea!
I've had similar difficulty finding the American Accents series by Rust-oleum, but my father-in-law is able to order it through Do It Best, since his store is a subsidiary of the larger corporation. His website is http://www.handrenshardware.com if anyone wants to contact him with paint questions. =) Anything ordered through the website is included in revenue for the store, so shop away!
Once again, you've exceeded expectations! Pretty, pretty color and LOVE those linens! =)
hey, neighbor! i love this project–all of your "something out of nothing"-ness (pardon me while i make up words and phrases!) is definitely right up my alley. i am about to re-do my patio and something like this would be a great addition. I'm so glad to have found you.
Great find Kate…I love the splindyness of it
Kate~I love what you did this~it's a great color and I love what you put on it!
Sigh. I want to be able to put that shelf on my deck. But it and all the accessories would be gone in a few days after the first thunderstorm. ;) LOVE me some thunderstorms but they cramp my style. This is beautiful!
Kate- WOW, seriously. But you never cease to amaze me. Love your blog. I'm here everyday. I think this is my first time commenting though.
PS- I asked my Lowe's about Rustoleum's American Accents, and they are dicontinued there. You can't find it anywhere around Phoenix unless you special order it. Any tips?
would love to know… how do you keep it all in nice condition? i live in an apt in san francisco that has a great outdoor space (porch/balcony) that is constantly dirty dirty dirty. i cant put anything out there that i dont mind getting covered in a layer of "city grime". its so sad! any suggestions? or is your neck of no cal dirt free?
anyways, love/am jealous of the project.
xoxox
This is so cute! I love how you pick out the potential in things! Fabulous!
How pretty! It amazes me that paint can totally change a piece of furniture that easily.
Wow, I love how the shelf turned out! Before it looked like an old-fashioned piece of furniture, but you have turned it into an amazing piece of art – and, I love everything you put on it – very functional!
What a great idea! And if everything is tight there at your fingertips you are more likely to use it!
I created a mosaic of our yard, won't you hop over to see?
Have a great day! :0)
Tara
Looks fantastic!
I recently bought a china cabinet from a thrift store, painted it green and put it on my patio for storage.
LOVE it, I'm going to be on the lookout for shelving like that. Is your shelf placed under some kind of shelter? If i use the primer and outdoor paint, it will be safe??? thanks for sharing.
Lovely!! I love the potted herbs idea. I am actually on a mission today to get my herbs planted. Now that I saw your post, I'm going to be on a mission for some spray paint and letter stickers! Thanks!
Your etagere is so cute. Love the pale yellow, the herb pots, and all the other pretty decorations on it. great job!
This is great, Kate!
Where do you buy your spray paint? I can't seem to find the American Accent line of Rustoleum paint anywhere – and it seems like it comes in such a great array of colors. I really love that Strawflower.
I love it! You had vision!
Lookd great! Now I'm looking at old helves in a new way!………Jo
I don't think you ever sleep! You amaze me!
Beautiful! And, I must know about the wasp trap… where does one get one of those, and do they work well? We have a real problem with them around our house!
Wow, I definitely couldn't get away with putting linens outside! Good for you! I recently picked up a shelf, but am not sure what to do with it yet!
I love this and gosh I wish it didn't rain in Texas. My luck would be it's blow down the street and never be found again. I would love to be able to have something like this on my porch :) Great job :)
What a great project and it is so pretty too. I love all the attention to detail. I know you will use it often. Great idea. Hugs, Marty
What a transformation! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!
What a great idea. I would have never thought of it. My mom has one of these in the original finish for her bath and I try to get her to throw it out and upgrade. Now maybe I will try to buy it from her. LOL.
I love this and I am totally going to rob you of this idea. But would a wood piece really last very long outside? How much does the spray paint protect it?
That's so cute and I could totally use something like that in the outdoor area where we eat. But what do you do when it rains and how do you keep that stuff clean so it's ready to use?
Hi all. The American Accents line is available at OSH and in smaller quantities at Home Depot. It is designed for outdoor furniture, like wicker, so I expect this shelf will weather just fine. I will bring it indoors for the rainy season. Our weather in Northern CA is fair May through September, so I won't worry about it gathering to much dust or grime.
Thanks for all of the wonderful comments !
It is just darling! I am sure your will get a lot of use out it ;o)
Wow! I love it! Another great idea made real! I have a very similar shelf unit and really like the idea of redoing it! Thanks for the step by step instructions and pics! I will most likely try this too! Most Appreciative!
This is good. This is really good. I'm so glad I found you.
I've been working on my screened in porch, and I've been trying to decide what color to paint a couple of things. You've inspired me here. YES, I do want to paint. What a difference it can make.
Thank you!
I absolutely love your ideas!
Love the idea, I should try this on our screen porch. So cute.
Oh, wow!! I love it. Totally transformed. :) I like the added hooks for tea towels.
super cute!!! love the idea!!! =)
What a great transformation!
I love the makeover!!! Great job!
You're just so smart! I love the makeover & wonder if your area is covered at all. That's what I have to be careful of outside.
I've got a little makeover coming up tomorrow, so drop by and see!
That is just perfect!
m ^..^
Wow it looks amazing! What a transformation. I seriously am in shock over how great it looks. Before it was just a standard borning shelving unit and now WOW! I need one!
I tried the labeled pots and blogged about it. Thanks for the great inspiration. http://projectjunky.blogspot.com/2009/06/project-potted-herbs.html
Love it!