DIY built ins

Hello there! I�ve been meaning to do this post for about three months! I meant to do it back in January but things got in the way -- like stairs and family rooms and decrapifying and all that good stuff!
Because I�m working on the big boy room right now, I thought I would share more detail into how my Dad and I made the built ins in this room back when I was pregnant. (Sniff.) I figured a video would work best, so bear with me as I choke on my shake at the beginning and say �Um.� a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fupNYZcsAjQ

I took some pictures before I finished the wallpaper and molding on the side of the built ins to show you the rough edges I talked about:

I saw the paintable basket weave wallpaper at Lowe�s last week and picked it up, touched it, put it back, touched it again, picked it up, rubbed it against my cheek, touched it again. I ended up putting it back, not knowing what I would use it for. But I couldn�t get it out of my head, and then I knew I had to use it the Bub�s room. It�s totally classic, which is how his room is turning out!
I�ve worked with wallpaper once before and it continues to surprise me how easy it is to use. I mean, I haven�t wallpapered a room, or even really a wall yet, so I�m probably not a good one to ask. :) But I think it�s easy.
The directions on this stuff said to prime the surface first � I don�t know what the heck they mean by that, so I skipped it. (Oops!) Then you just soak the paper in water briefly (ten seconds � I did it in the tub.) I went ahead and folded it back on itself for a few minutes after I took it out of the water, but the directions didn�t say to do that. I figured I could add a step since I decided to skip one. ;)
Then you just put it on the surface -- it will be really wet! You will need a rag nearby to catch the water and the little bit of paste that smooshes out. There will be air bubbles throughout, and you need to keep moving them out:

I used my hand and then remembered I had this flat squeegee thing that worked great.
This is not a project you want to walk away from � you need to check on it as it dries to make sure no more bubbles pop up. After the first few minutes and a couple wipe downs with a rag, it should be close to dry to the touch:

If you looked close in the video, you can see a hint of what I�ve done to the window. It�s not done yet, but I knew I needed contrast against the window after I got the wallpaper up, so I painted it out in the dark blue I used in the room, then trimmed it out with white molding:

Swoon.
As I mentioned before, I made two panels to hide the imperfections in the built ins:

I adore it!!
I started working on the shelves just a bit, but they will get a big redo as well:

As much as I love the apple green with the blue, it�s not staying. :) I know! I know! I considered leaving it on the backs of the built ins, but it�s just going to be too much with the other colors I�m using. Now I�m trying to decide what color to paint the backs:

And if I should put the wallpaper on the insets in the doors and if so, paint them?

Right now, I�m leaning towards blue on both spots, but we�ll see! (I should probably mention the other colors going in the room are red and just a touch of yellow with lots of white molding.) I don�t want to much blue, but I�ll wait till I get the area under the chair rail redone before I worry about this part. :)
For now, I lurve:

I need to figure out where else I can use that wallpaper!
To see how I created art with paintable wallpaper, check out this post!
**I'm adding this to Traci's "Best of March" party!