This week I got so tired of moving it from one room to the next that I finally decided it was time to do something about it.
I also made sure to find out what it’s called: A trough or as we know it a Vintage Book Rack. And this is how I up-cycled it and made it fun.
I looked it up and the broader definition is “any of several similarly shaped receptacles used for various commercial or household purposes.”
The actual images had various names, book shelf, book case, desktop bookcase but they all did the same thing, mainly hold objects that were the dimensions of books or dvd’s.
In this case it is used to hold books. This may actually be a British word. So now I’ve learned a new word and I got to up-cycle it.
Aaaaaand I even bonded with my daughter.
What I Used:
- Sandpaper
- Decoart Americana Chalky Type paint in Everlasting
- Decoart Craft paint in blue, white and yellow
- Paint brush
- Daddy Van’s Decorative Wax in Black
- Round brush for wax
- lint-free cloth
The How to:
I then went over the whole thing with two coats of chalky finish paint.
I had a few left over craft paints and mixed them together with the chalky finish paint to create that soft blue which you see below. I may have added a bit of yellow in there too- just for fun!
This was the resulting paint color. I then used the sandpaper to distress it in all the right places.
And to seal it, in I used Daddy Van’s all Natural Decorative Wax in Black. Put it on with the round brush and then wipe it off with a clean lint free rag.
All that heavy distressing really came out great, I wanted to pay homage to the vintage look of this book shelf.
Kinda like how we like our books to look – old and worn out – because they have been read.
Now you tell me have you ever heard of the word “trough” before, and is it British or is it just my imagination?
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Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal
Saturday 29th of September 2018
Hi Mary! I had seen these book troughs before but didn't know that's what they are called, either. Love how yours turned out! It's nice that you all share books. My daughter and I would often share books when we were at home together, though she is a much faster reader than I am, Lol! ;) Great project!!! Pinned and will G+, too. <3 Happy weekend to you, Barb :)
Michelle Leslie
Monday 30th of July 2018
Cooooool Mary, I haven't seen one of those in years. My Ouma had one for all of her recipe books in the kitchen. Such amazing memories, she always called it a trog, which when you say it in Afrikaans sounds so much like trough in English. I wonder if the word didn't perhaps originate from Dutch or maybe even German? So glad you got to spend bonding time with your daughter too, that makes this one extra special
Mary
Monday 30th of July 2018
You know something it does sound like a German word now that I think of it. I had seen it described this way on British websites that's why I thought it was British, but German makes much for sense.
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces
Monday 30th of July 2018
Good on you for keeping it and making it your own. It look so much better!
Mary
Monday 30th of July 2018
I think everything we have in our home has to reflect us, am I right?
Katerina
Monday 30th of July 2018
What a great informative post with a DIY and bonus family bonding! It turned out really beautiful.
Cindy
Monday 30th of July 2018
I absolutely love the way this turned out! Hugs and blessings, Cindy