From Raw Materials to Decor: Creating an Industrial Shelf with Concrete Blocks and Pine Boards

In our previous home, the quest for efficient space utilization led me to create a makeshift shelf in the coat closet as storage for pantry items and kitchen essentials. The challenges of the soaring wood prices amidst the pandemic steered me toward the IKEA HENJE storage system, where I opted for the slatted shelf pieces paird with concrete blocks instead of the full shelf unit due to space constraints. Little did I anticipate that this improvised shelf would evolve into the foundation of a favourite future project in our current home.

When we moved into our home, the shelf pieces found life as pallets for storage boxes, elevating them from the basement floor. However, the purpose of the concrete blocks remained uncertain until inspiration struck – a design reminiscent of @_annalouise._’s shelf (shown below). Eager to replicate this in our front living room, the envisioned space would curate our collection of gardening, nature, bird, and adventure books, along with plants and assorted decor and thrifted treasures. 

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A post shared by Anna Louise | Portland, Oregon (@_annalouise._)

A trip to Home Depot, initially intended for returning a problematic “smart” doorbell, expanded to include the purchase of a couple 6x8x1 pine boards. However, upon reaching home and starting my project, I discovered that the boards were not precisely 8” wide as labelled, and their slight warping raised concerns about the shelf’s stability. Undeterred, strategic adjustments were made by placing the bottom bricks forward by about an inch to enhance stability and redistribute weight towards the wall.

Assembling the shelves with the concrete blocks, my initial impression was less than favourable – a term I can only describe as “cheap” came to mind. It lacked the effortless and curated appearance that had captivated me in Anna’s creation. Doubt lingered as I stood before it, questioning the direction of my project. But as I began arranging books, incorporating plants, decor, baskets, mixed metals, and some of my vintage cameras, the shelf started to take shape. Despite the unexpected shift towards maximalism, my initial skepticism began to wane, and with some contemplation, I found myself genuinely pleased with the outcome. 

Future plans involve addressing the wall’s imperfections (I edited out a very bad patch job trying to cover 36 screw holes from the photo), contemplating art choices for the wall (initially I wanted to do a gallery wall, but that might be too much going on here), and considering staining or weathering the boards for a finishing touch.

Overall, I am genuinely delighted with the outcome and cannot wait to see it evolve over time. (I’ve already added plenty more books, and a new decor piece since taking the photo below).

Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Tracey

INFORMATION

The supplies that I used to make the shelf (and can be found at any hardware store, such as Home Depot) were:

• 8″ concrete blocks
• 6 foot x 8 inch x 1 inch pine boards

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