A Cure for Sagginess

Welcome to the 274th Metamorphosis Monday!

How was your weekend? Hope it was grand! I spent much of my weekend pouring through One Man’s Folly, a book I had pre-ordered and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. I rarely pre-order a book but this one sounded like it was going to be amazing from the articles I had read online. Oh, my gosh…is it ever! Such a wonderful book! I have so enjoyed every moment reading and drooling over the photos within.

Here’s an interesting little tidbit in the book that cracked me up: I read in One Man’s Folly that Furlow Gatewood (love that southern name) an antique expert and friend of Bunny Williams, as well as an associate to her husband, years ago sold Bunny an antique bed for her master bedroom. Later she ended up trading the bed back to him.

Out of curiosity, I headed to my office and pulled Bunny’s book, An Affair With a House off the shelf. I looked for the bed and sure enough, there it was on page 65, the exact same bed you’ll find in One Man’s Folly on page 130. And you know what? It looks great in both houses!

Okay, time for me to quit gushing about this book and share what I’ve been up to this weekend, a wee “Before and After” that turned out to be quite the challenge.

In the hutch out on the porch, I store two sets of dishware that are often used when dining on the porch.

Beach Hutch

 

You may remember a few weeks ago I posted about bringing home some wood that included a half sheet of plywood for an upcoming project. That project turned out to be the Pottery Barn Inspired Cubby Organizer shown below. (You’ll find the tutorial for building this cubby organizer here: Build a Cubby Organizer, Pottery Barn Knock-off)

Cubby Organizer Knock-off, Pottery Barn Inspired

 

I noticed after I cut the back for the organizer, I had plenty of plywood left over for another little project that’s been needing done for ages. This!

China Storage on the Porch

 

The lower shelf inside the porch hutch had begun sagging a year or two ago under the weight of the dishes stored inside. I don’t know how well you can see it in the photo but basically that whole shelf leans drastically to the center. You can see how that back platter is leaning down toward the center and the dishes on top of it are sliding that way, too. It’s kind of hard to store dishes on a shelf that wants to funnel them all to the center like a giant sucking drain.

China Cabinet on the Porch

 

 

So I unloaded all the dishes from the lower shelf of the hutch and placed them on the porch table.

Dishes for the Porch_wm

 

The hutch is where I store Metlox Poppytrail, Sculptured Daisy and Tabletops Unlimited, Ma Maison dishware, along with two styles of glassware often used on the porch. I didn’t have to unload the glassware or the Ma Maison bowls since they were on the top shelf inside the hutch.

Dishes Stored in Porch Hutch_wm

 

At first I had plans to remove the sagging shelf but after prying up the front part, I realized that sections of the shelf went pretty far up under the center support in front. It looked like it would be just about impossible to get it out. So, I decided to just make a template of the existing shelf and install the new one on top of it.

Making a template for a new shelf_wm

 

The corners were really tricky to trace since they had so many different angles.

corner of template_wm

 

After the template was created and cut out, I traced it onto my left over plywood.  (The template went all the way to the end of the plywood board–the tape in the center is where I had to tape together two pieces of paper to make it long enough for the template.)

Drawing Template for Hutch Shelf_wm

 

Using my jigsaw, I began cutting out all the little angles of the shelf.

Jigsaw Shelf for Porch Hutch_wm

 

This is how the back corners needed to be cut based on my template. See that extra little “wing” on the far left? It, and the one on the other end, proved to be a big headache! More on that in a sec.

Template for Hutch Shelf_wm

 

After cutting it all out, it was obvious it wasn’t going to fit. Waaaaa! I had thought I could catty-corner it in and tilt it down, but nope…not happening.

Creating a Shelf for a Hutch_wm

 

The problem was those little “wings” (see arrow) sticking off either end of the shelf. They were hitting the supports for the upper shelf that were nailed to the inside of the hutch, allowing for zero wiggle room.

Making a New Shelf for Hutch

 

As you can see in this earlier photo, the original shelf didn’t go all the way out to the outer edge like I had designed my shelf. (see arrow below) I guess they had the same issue I did and cut the shelf shorter so it would fit pass the side pieces that support the top shelf.

China-Cabinet-on-the-Porch

 

There was just no way to get the bottom shelf in and slide it into place with it being that long.

Creating a Shelf for a Hutch_wm

 

So, I took the shelf back down to the basement and reluctantly cut the little wings off on either end. When it still wouldn’t quite fit, I discovered there was a nail in the way. Strange place for a nail!

Nail

 

Using some super strong wire cutters, I cut the nail out.

Nail Removed

 

But the shelf still wouldn’t quite fit.  ~~~Sigh~~~

New shelf for porch hutch_wm

 

It took several trips back down to the basement but I finally sanded off enough of the part that fits around the center support to make the shelf fit.

New Shelf for Porch Hutch

 

I had a small amount of green paint left over from where I painted the hutch six years ago. Though super thick, it was still good.

Green Paint for Porch Hutch_wm

 

I added a little water to it and it was fine for painting the shelf.

Painting Hutch_wm

 

Using my brad nailer, I nailed the original shelf back down from where I had initially pried it up when I thought I’d be removing it. Unfortunately, I took the picture below before I did that so that’s why there are little gaps showing.

I placed the new shelf on top of the old shelf. I don’t think I’ll nail the new shelf down because it’s a snug fit already and nailing it down really wouldn’t serve any purpose. I’m happy to report, the new shelf feels really good and sturdy, so much stronger than the old shelf underneath.

Though mostly dry, I couldn’t put the dishes back today because the paint still felt slightly tacky. I’ll give it a few days to get good and dry before I load it back up. It feels good to have that finally done!

Cutting a New Shelf for Porch Hutch_wm

 

So, that’s what I was working on this weekend when I could tear myself away from my new book. 🙂

Did you tackle any repairs or fixes this weekend?  Looking forward to all the Before and Afters linked for this Met Monday!

One on sidebar

If you are participating in Metamorphosis Monday, you will need to link up the “permalink” to your MM post and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top of your blog, into the “url” box for InLinkz.

In order to link up, you’ll need to include a link in your MM post back to the party so the other participants will have an opportunity to receive visits from your wonderful blog readers.

Please observe these few rules:

Only link up Before and After posts that are home, gardening, crafting, painting, sewing, cooking, DIY related.

Do not link up if you’re doing so to promote a website or product.

Do not link up a post that was just linked last week since a lot of readers will have already seen that post.



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Comments

  1. It looks so professional Susan and you’re so tidy & handy! I think I would have just cut a rectangular piece without the notches or the paint and called it a day 🙂

  2. I always admire the clever people that tackle DIY projects, with a contractor for a husband, I’ve become the director rather than the doer. I can’t wait to check out the new book – sounds fab!

    • Valerie, you lucky bird! I have to call and call to find someone and half the time, they never show up. That’s what it’s like in Atlanta. 🙁 Fortunately, I could handle this one. Thanks!

  3. Great job, Susan, even though it was undoubtedly frustrating! I broached the subject of altering my great room closet into a dish pantry to Mr. P., and he switched gears on me and suggested I look for a new china cabinet for the DR – that works! This week I’m sharing some of my latest picks, but no new/old china cabinet – yet! Have a great week, thanks for hosting ANd the new book tip.
    Rita C at Panoply

  4. Great fix for that shelf. With the plywood you shouldn’t have that sagging problem again. Thanks for hosting.

    Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com

  5. I like to read on the porch in the summer … I may have to grab a copy of that book! Thanks for hosting, Susan. You always have the prettiest dishes!

  6. Susan, you are my hero~dayum girl, you rock! I wish I had the skills you do! My mother was a whirling dervish, often rearranging the furniture and ‘fixing’ stuff up. I believe I’ve mentioned before we always approached the house carefully ’cause we never knew if the furniture would be in the same place or whether we’d trip over something or knock our knees into a piece that wasn’t there when we left for school~ha! It was the family joke, don’t stand still too long or Mom will either paint over you, move you somewhere else, or sew a slipcover & put on you! Unfortunately, she didn’t have any woodworking skills other than nailing something or painting it. Myself, I get frustrated easily and any precision-requiring measuring, sawing, etc is a lost cause. : ( However, if patching, sanding, painting, or wallpapering is what you need, I’m your girl! I can sew, but not slipcover worthy. I’m more of a straight-line or ruffle gathering kinda gal. My Mom had a houseful of kids and not much money but she did a fine job of making a house a home and was a huge Southern Living magazine fan. She even had one of her recipes featured one time. I still have a copy of it. Now where did I put it….

    • LOL Thanks! You’re Mom sounds so cool! I love that you never knew what you’d find when you came home from school…too funny! That’s awesome about her recipe appearing in Southern Living…quite the honor!

  7. P.S. What color green is that paint? That is the most gorgeous shade of green I’ve ever seen. I’m very picky about green.. not liking something too yellowish, too dark, too light, too lime-y, see picky, right? ; )

    • Thanks, Denise! It’s funny you mention that because I repainted the hutch 3 times to finally get the color I wanted. The first two shades of green I chose were not right and I finally took a napkin to the paint store and had them match to it. 🙂 You can see the “Before and “After” hutch transformation and see the formula for that color green in this ancient post: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/painting-furniture-a-china-hutch-transformation/
      I was just looking at the label on the can and when I had that mixed up, I hadn’t started blogging yet…didn’t start until August of that year. I’m so glad I thought to take a few pics of the hutch before/during painting. Wish I had taken a few more but had no idea I’d one day have a blog. 🙂

      • Good thing you took some before-n-after pics..it was fate, I tell ya! Thanks for the info, I copied that and saved it to my ideas file for when I can get around to Home Depot and see if they can fairly duplicate it. Oh, by the way, I have that exact same metal dragonfly! I use it as a paperweight on my computer desk. Love it.

  8. Wow, sorry the shelf gave you such pains but I am glad you persevered! It looks wonderful and I STILL love those dishes!

  9. Susan, you just amaze me with your wood working skills! I am afraid to even pick up a power drill, much less a saw! You are Ms Handy Dandy, I am so in awe of your never ending talents! Thanks for always making your tutorials so thorough, if I ever get the nerve to “build” something, I know where to find instructions! Thanks for my favorite weekly party!

  10. Susan, I think we all have a little sagging…shelves. Good solution and work with the power tools. I’m still not confident enough to use them. Cheers! Rita

    • They are a little intimidating. I have a favorite woodworking blogger I watch on You Tube a few times a week and he gave the best advice in one of his videos…one I just watched recently. He said before you start using a power tool, like a saw or something that could be a little dangerous, he said to envision where you are going to place your hands before ever starting.
      I’ve been trying to do that, just to make sure I don’t foolishly place them where I shouldn’t. Would not be much fun to try to write a blog post without all my fingers…ya know!

  11. Thanks for hosting, Susan! Wow! I’m impressed with your carpentry skills! Great job fixing the shelf. Have a wonderful week.
    Blessings,
    Niic

  12. Thanks for hosting another fun party!

  13. Great job, Susan! I cannot believe you were able to get that bottom shelf into place without disturbing the shelf above. I would surely have broken something! Thanks so much for hosting the party!

  14. Thanks so much for hosting!

  15. I agree with Mary! But then again I would have had Joe doing it and he is a pefectionist like you when it comes to stuff like this:) You sure did a great job!! Thanks so much for hosting, Susan! SO glad to be paertying again:)

  16. You’re getting good at this carpentry stuff! I bet you let off a curse or two when the wood didn’t fit! Looks like it will hold up much better now. I finally got outside and did a little yard work and dug out some pottery. The snow is finally gone and it actually looks like spring outside!

  17. Doreen Krajzel says

    Hi Susan;
    What a professional, perfect job on the hutch shelf!! Where did you learn to do that kind of work?
    It is perfect! Haven’t looked into the book yet, I’d like to get some yard work done first. Spring in Northern Ohio comes for a day or two, than leaves again. Have a great day! Love and Hugs, Doreen

    • I don’t know about perfect but should work well enough for my needs. 🙂 I’ve been watching a YouTube channel lately…Steve Ramsey and he is sooo inspiring. Of course, he has REAL tools like band saws and kreg jigs and such, but he inspires you try things…and he’s pretty funny. Very down to earth. I need to do a post and mention him because anyone interested in woodworking would love him. He’s growing like crazy…getting tremendous traffic and it’s well deserved. He works so hard to produce his You Tube videos.
      Our weather has been like that, too…crazy!

  18. Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home

    Thanks so much for hosting, Susan!
    Have a wonderful week,
    Suzanne

  19. Good for you for keeping at it. You are getting soooo good at this wood working. You are obviously a perfectionist, and t shows. Great job! The book sounds wonderful. I have so many books on my list to read this summer, I don’t think summer is going to be long enough. Thank you for the linkup. laurie

  20. Way to go, Susan — your perseverance paid off! I get so frustrated when something won’t fit like that; I’m glad you managed to make it fit. It looks great. I’ve always thought that was such a pretty hutch for your porch. 🙂

    Thank you for hosting Met Monday and have a great day!

    Denise

  21. Hi, Susan: you have certainly become handy with your jigsaw! I bet it feels wonderful to tackle projects that most people have to hire others to do, or just forego the whole thing. I wish I had your “sticktoitiveness” to learn new skills and use them so successfully. Bravo!!! Enjoy your week! Rosie
    P.S. My new granddaughter arrived Fri. at 11:47 a.m. She is truly a sweetpea. And her name is Gianna Rose (I cried when they said they had given her middle name as a tribute to me!) What a weekend!

    • I love that jigsaw, Rosie! I can see getting a lot of use out of it in the future.
      Awwww , Congrats! I bet she is precious and that’s lovely that they named her after you! Love that!

  22. Nice job on getting a new shelf in there. And I love your dishes. I am linking up for the first time – thanks for hosting!

  23. Great perseverance at getting the project done! Sounds like a typical DIY project where you have figure it out as you go…can be fun and totally frustrating! Thanks so much for hosting.
    KC

  24. That’s awesome that you were able to handle the shelf yourself. I love seeing all of your pretty dishes on display.

  25. Thanks for another great party! Life to the full! Melissa

  26. Susan…your woodworking skills just amaze me…love the PB inspired cubby and great job on replacing that bottom shelf…I also love seeing your beautifully decorated hutch for each season and occasion!! Thanks for hosting and Happy Monday!

  27. Susan ~ you are just amazing, girl! I admire your “go-gettem” attitude with these projects that you take on all by yourself! You are my DIY Idol! lol Great job once again!!!!!! 🙂

    xoxo laurie

  28. You are still my hero!!! I admire your lack of fear for attacking unusual problems and getting them done!!! And you stick to it until it works!!! I remember being so amazed at how you got the units to fit in the closet of your office room……..you’re a gal who refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer!!!

    I am working on a re-do of my spare room……shelf units will arrive today. I’m not handy with electric tools, but have great organizing skills!!! You can see the before on my blog, I’d join your party but still can’t figure out how to make a link!!! Poor computer skills also………

    • Ahhh, thanks! LOL I still can’t believe I got it in there. Everyone who comes to my house gets dragged upstairs to look at that closet! 🙂 The interesting thing will be when I move one day…have no idea how I’ll get it out of there. I hope the next owners want an Expedit in their closet. 🙂
      Cleo, try to link up again…see if it will work now.

  29. Not the saggyness cure I was looking for, Susan, but thanks anyway. 😉

  30. I really admire your tenacity. I would have given up in frustration. I love the green color of your china storage.

  31. Great tip! Can’t wait to order “One Man’s Folly”.

  32. Oh my Susan, you always do a perfect job…you are a perfectionist, I can see that! You’re also a go getter gal, wow!
    I just cleaned my side buffet and glass hutch after too much procrastinating, never mind if I had to do some kind of job, lol!
    Thank you for sharing and for the great party! Have a great week.
    FABBY

    • Fabby, I’m just stubborn! 😉 You have to psyche yourself up for those big cleaning jobs don’t you? I know I always have to but it feels so good when it’s done!

  33. That’s some stick-to-it-iveness! I stopped trying to explain to my husband why I get caught up in those details. They’re important, even if you rarely see them! Thanks for hosting the linky & for a great post.

  34. Thanks for hosting, Susan, and I loved your tutorial for the hutch! I’m having the same problem with one of the shelves in my hutch, but I never thought about fixing it this way. Thanks for the info! 🙂

  35. Wow Susan, looks like a lot of intricate cuts but the results look like the bottom support has always been there! I love your porch hutch. Thanks for hosting the party and have a great week.

  36. Susan, I thought when reading the title, you had found a way to fix our bodies, could certainly use some help in that area!! 🙂
    I am recalling a quote, made by the *Duchess* to Maria in the Sound of Music.“..My dear, is there anything you cannot do`!!
    This is you Susan, a master of many things…have skill saw….will create! What we would do without all your tips and hard work, I do not know.
    Thanks Susan, you always *make my day*!!

  37. What a great inspiration. Love when you are always on the go.

    I just got my cupboard fix and am still moving some of the kitchenwares I have. I will surely join you next MET, LoL*

    Job well done, Susan.

    GB,
    /CC

  38. I think I’m getting kind of saggy as well….. 🙁 Thanks so much for this fab party and have a terrific week….!! 🙂
    “hugs” Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

  39. Great fix! Dishes can be so heavy. I had some in my bench seats, they went right thru the bottom after a few years! Had to do something similar to them.
    *hugs*deb

  40. When I saw this title, I was sure we were going to be talking about bras or facelifts! But this is good, too…

    Thanks for continuing the link each week.

  41. Thanks for hosting, Susan! I’ve finally made it back to your party after a couple of weeks of being way too busy for my own good. Happy Week to You! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  42. Thanks for the party Susan! I am learning and so proud I got it uploaded! You are very talented!

  43. Gotta love a gal who is handy with the power tools! Crafty and capable…you are my idol! 😉

  44. Susan, you did an amazing job with that big fix. It will hold lots and lots of super heavy dishes now! Well done! I am SUPER EXCITED to be part of the linky party today! I did a project, and I am sharing! AMAZING! LOL!

    Thanks for hosting a wonderful gathering of truly inspiring posts each week. keeps me coming back again and again, don’t ya know it! Hugs ~Michele

  45. Wow! You are quite handy! I have a few sagging shelves for sure… Your china is beautiful! So organized!

  46. Susan,
    You continue to amaze me as you “fix it” with your power tools, dear friend!!!
    Me, I just have “Mr. Ed” read your blog!!! (wink! wink!)
    Thank you for hosting Metamorphosis Monday each week!
    Fondly,
    Pat

  47. Hi Susan! You totally amaze me! What a great job you did on your shelf. Just perfect! Hope you’re doing well.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  48. Tenacity rules!!! 🙂 franki

  49. Oh my goodness Susan you are so talented! My husband would flip if I tackled a project like this. He bought another nailer a couple of weeks ago and told me it would be just the right size for me to use. Ha!!!

  50. Seeing all your dishes in your hutch makes me feel better about myself; obviously you too have never seen a dish you didn’t like – dish lust, right?

  51. I was so admiring your lovely and cheerful daisy pattern dishes that I looked them up only to find out they most likely have lead in them. What a huge disappointment! Did you know?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metlox_Pottery

  52. Susan, is there nothing you can’t do! Amazing, I love it.

  53. Hi Susan, when I clicked on this older link, I had to laugh and hoped you had a cure for my sagginess. Good job. I love all of your tools and you seem to be able to use all of them. I think I would have been tempted to shim the middle to prevent the same problem from happening again-not that I would attempt that project at all.
    You continue to amaze us each week.

    • lol I wish had a cure for mine, too! 😉
      I sure hope it doesn’t happen again but the good thing is, the shelf isn’t nailed down, just resting atop the old shelf. I think if it ever needs repairing again, I may have to call in an expert. So far, it’s doing good! 🙂

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