Closet Island Progress + My Birthday Presents
Alright, y’all. I’ve had a couple of weeks of being sidetracked by other things, like my friend’s three-day visit week before last, and then my birthday this past weekend. And I didn’t get the birthday present I really wanted, which was to have my closet finished to the point of moving my clothes and other items into the room, because that would have required focus on my part, and that was completely absent. But I did get a little bit of work done, so let me show you the progress.
I’m literally just one step away from being able to paint my closet island. I just need to get the drawer fronts and cabinet doors made and installed, and then I can move on to priming and painting. That will be my focus today, but I did get a little bit of a head start yesterday.
First, you’ll remember that I told you about the struggle I had just getting the drawer boxes installed because…well…math is hard. 😀 Some of these drawers were installed, removed, and reinstalled three times. Others I had to do twice. I don’t think I got any of them in the right position on the first try. But here’s what this side of the island looked like once I finally got the drawer boxes installed.
And then here’s the other side, which will have drawers on the left and cabinet doors on the right.
Until yesterday, when I started actually working on the drawer fronts, I was still undecided on how I would make them. But I finally made my decision at the very last minute. I had planned on trimming out each drawer front and cabinet door separately, with trim going completely around each individual one. But at the last minute, I changed my mind. Instead, I decided to trim out each section as a whole unit. So I started by cutting 1/2-inch plywood for each drawer front…
And then I used 1/4-inch x 1.5-inch strips attached to each side of the drawer front…
After those were attached, each one looked like this…
And then for the bottom drawer for each section, I attached a strip along the bottom of the bottom drawer front. And in the same way, I attached a strip along the top of each top drawer front for each section. The drawers in the middle will only have trim on the sides, so that once they’re all on, each entire section will be trimmed out as one cohesive section.
I’ll use edge iron-on veneer edge banding on the edges of each drawer front and cabinet door so that the edges of the plywood and trim won’t show. I only got one done so far, so I have quite a bit more edge banding to attach, trim, and sand today.
And while I didn’t get any of the drawer fronts actually attached, here’s one of the bottom drawer fronts set in place.
The edge banding is the most time-consuming part of this process, but once I get all of these edge banded and attached to the drawer boxes, I’ll finally be ready to prime and paint!
But as I mentioned, this weekend was my birthday. I’m generally not a birthday present kind of person, but this year was different. Now that I’m about to have a big walk-in closet with lots of room, the only thing I wanted was a few new handbags. 😀 I bought myself two (yes, I bought myself birthday gifts, because why not?) And then Matt bought me two. Unfortunately, one of them didn’t get here in time, so I’ll show you that one separately.
My favorite brands of handbags are Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach, and a relatively recent discovery, Betsey Johnson. Three of the four are represented in my birthday gifts. Here they are…
Yes, the very same concept that I push all the time with making your house your own is the very same concept I use when it comes to how you express yourself in your wardrobe selections. And let me tell you, there are few things that make me smile more than unique, fun, colorful handbags (except maybe unique, fun, colorful shoes). I mean, if there’s one place where you should be able to express your personality, it’s your wardrobe!
I’ve wanted a handbag like this for a while now, so when this Betsey Johnson version went on sale, I snatched it up pretty quickly.
And then… I mean, come on. How in the world could I pass up this flowery, sparkly snail handbag? 🤣 Impossible. This one is also Betsey Johnson.
And then when Matt asked me what I wanted, I knew exactly. I’ve had my eye on this Kate Spade taxi handbag for months now. It was a no brainer for me.
But don’t worry. I did get one “normal” handbag. I also got this Coach handbag in these fun colors. This is the one that didn’t get here in time.
So my birthday this year was a handbag fest, and now I’m even more excited and anxious to get my closet to a point where I can bring in all of my clothes, handbags, and shoes, and get everything organized. Once I get that island to the painting stage (and know for sure that I’m through with all of the sanding stage), I can finally get all of the dust cleaned up and bring everything in.
ETA: This is where I’m headed in my 70s and 80s.😀 I love the attitudes of these women. I especially love that last woman. “If you can make people smile, that’s the most important.”
More About My Walk-In Closet/Laundry Room
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closet diy projects
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Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Happy Birthday!
I have an art supplies addiction!
All manner of paper, especially quality origami paper, brushes, supplies for wax seals, calligraphy, you name it!!
It’s whatever speaks to our soul and makes us happy!!
Love those handbags! That little key that hangs off the end of the house purse = adorable! Happy Birthday, Kristi. You deserve the best.
Happy Belated Birthday.
Love the bags especially the taxi.
You are almost finished!
I’m not a big handbag collector but that snail bag is just too kitschy to pass up. Unfortunately I’d have to pay as much for shipping as for the bag so that lets me out. Sigh.
Glad to hear you had fun on your birthday. That’s as it should be.
To be happy in life you surround yourself with people and things you love- you’re doing a great job! I hoard/aquire fun fabric (pretty And useful), because that makes me happy🙂
Betsey is my favorite! I’ve been collecting earrings, handbags and shoes from her collections for years! I love the gifts you chose and I too love fun, colorful clothes they make me happy!
Happy Birthday! I’ve admired Betsy Johnson since I was young (I’m 7!) and I love her free as a bird attitude. She’s inside me somewhere, but too shy to let her out! It’s the Capricorn in me, shy to a fault. Love your handbags! Not my thing, but I see the passion you have. I also like how you are trimming out the drawers but the edge banding sounds like a pain to do!
Happy happy birthday!!! You are gonna rock making people smile when you are older, even more than you do now! What fun!!! <3 <3 <3
THIS!
You took the words right outta my fingers!
And happy, happy, happy birthday, Kristi!
XO
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! What fun gifts and they’re going to look gorgeous in your new closet! I really love the snail one (and it reminds me of your studio wallpaper). Did you notice the coordinating shoes? Always be your own unique self!
I did! I love them!
I am as excited about the handbags as I am about your closet. I love Kate Spade and Michael Kors and go straight to Betsy’s when I am off here. I love bags no one else has—belated Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday!
I love that snail bag, how unique! Each one will fit in perfectly in your closet.
Happy happy birthday to you! You are deserving of all the cute handbags out there. Thanks for your posts… I look forward to reading them whenever you send them.
Dear Kristi, Happy Birthday! I am glad that it was a good one. I am a handbag lover from waaaayyy back. I love the ones you got…too cool by far.
I also love the continuity of the drawer fronts, and you just helped me solve a problem I was having with our closet. Thank you. Enjoy being you, because no one else can be you.
Cheers to you and Matt! And again, Happy Birthday!
Happy belated Birthdays! I love all 4 of your birthday gift handbags,
Happy birthday Kristi!
The “flowery, sparkly snail handbag” is adorable! And… it has your colours!
Glad to hear you’re joking and enjoying your birthday, after the last post. Have a nice day!
Do you carry/use the fancier bags (like the taxi and snail)? Or are they more art pieces for you? I’m curious! Hope you had a fabulous birthday!
I actually use all of them! The snail is pretty new, so I’ve only used it once. I haven’t gotten to use my taxi purse yet because it just came on Saturday, but I definitely will be using it! Another favorite is my Kate Spade stop sign bag. I always get compliments on that one when I use it. 😀
That is so fun! I’m glad you enjoy them as functional pieces and as art pieces. It’s neat to see other glimpses of you on the blog. I never would have guessed you were a handbag and shoe enthusiast. I guess that didn’t go with “DIYer” in my head. But I’m glad to know you are and shift my mental perceptions!
Happy birthday Kristi! I check the time to know when you post. Those handbags are a hoot. So perfect for you!
My husband often says that he’s glad I’m not into shoes and purses, lol. The fact is, I really *could* be, I just hold back, rofl. Your new bags are *darling*; I’m sure you’re going to have a lot of fun using them. I do indulge myself a little: I have a small collection (about 10 pairs) of fun cowboy boots. I’m on the Miss Rodeo Arizona board, so I get lots of opportunities to wear them 🙂
Oooohhh – that’s a fun reason to have a cowboy boot collection (not that you actually need a reason)! I have 5 or 6 pairs, among which are shorties and a pair of Luchesse mules (no actual “boot” but they look like boots peeking out from under jeans).
Oh my gosh Kristi, you are an expensive blog to follow ! I saw that Coach bag and just had to have it, so it is now in the mail as an early (10 days early) birthday gift to me !!
Happy belated birthday to you Kristi !
Yay! Happy early birthday to you!
Well done! Happy happy birthday! Enjoy those stylin’ bags. I get the “sparkle” element to style. Since wrapping up B.C. treatment Scarves are my most recent “lift & light” accessory. So far my favorite prints are a Monet like bowl of irises, a giant flamingo square, and the canals of Venice. A handbag, a scarf…. can just bring some twinkle to even the most basic top or outfit. Great to step out in fun, put your best self forward.
Love, love, love the purses! I too am a Betsy Johnson fan (I had a pair of her amazing eyewear a few years back)….and Kate Spade, of course. Now you got me wanting to check out those bags!!
PS – Happy Birthday!!!
Your handbags are so cute. I never saw anything like that before. I make my own in my shop and I have a variety. One thing I could care less about is clothes, especially shoes and purses. I just hate to buy shoes. I have ordered a bunch, but they never fit. I hate to go shopping in stores, but if I want shoes that fit, then I don’t have any other choice. So I don’t go out! LOL I wear crocs all the time and sandals when I do have to go out. Happy Birthday, so glad it was a good one. I buy my own stuff too, my husband is disabled, in a wheelchair and he can’t go out unless I drive and he doesn’t know the first thing about computers. He has a hard enough time with his simple flip phone.
A Belated Happy Birthday! Wishing you all the smiles and good fortune that you give to others! Love your purses, they are you!
Colorful and fun, yet functional!
Happy Birthday! Love your presents!
Happy belated birthday!
I am laughing at the irony here because I have been following your blog for a few years now, and have often thought how refreshing it is to see a real person sharing about what they love in a world of paid influencers who will try to sell you just about anything, even when it’s clear they will probably never think about X, Y, or Z again after they’ve made their sponsored post. And then I impulsively go and buy a snail purse I just found out about today because it’s on sale and so cute and offbeat that how could I not! I have a feeling I’m not the only one!
So congratulations on being a better “influencer” without even trying than those legions of people who will sell anything they can slap an affiliate link on!
And thank you too for the regular reminder that there’ s nothing wrong with wanting bright colors and prints all over my house. (Realtor: Look, all the walls are neutral colors so you won’t have to repaint anything. Me: Yeah, painting the walls just shot to the top of my list….)