Childproofing

[SilverSabre25]

I hate my house. And it a seemingly never-ending question to not hate my house, I need to make an ugly shelving unit go away. It's actually an old entertainment center.

I want to buy several of these:


and put them here, along the dumb black railing:


Take heart--there are no toys there any more. The whole railing is blocked off after I posted this picture 4 years ago and encountered horror from people here Blocked off with a hideous old entertainment center that has no risk of falling over, and a couple other things.

SO question. How do I secure tall shelves to that railing? Tall is going to be about 5 feet.

[SilverSabre25]

THE CARPET IS SO CLEAN IN THIS PICTURE!!!!

ahem.

[GKJNIGMN]

You could put hooks or brackets like the shape of the handles on the back (or any shape really ) and secure with some type of rope or cord. Another option, depending on how high this is from the level below it would be to secure it with the railing actually inside the bracket on the back -- If you can reach it from a ladder or something in the back to screw it in.

[SilverSabre25]

You could put hooks or brackets like the shape of the handles on the back (or any shape really ) and secure with some type of rope or cord. Another option, depending on how high this is from the level below it would be to secure it with the railing actually inside the bracket on the back -- If you can reach it from a ladder or something in the back to screw it in.

oohhh that's PERFECT. Thank you!!!!!

[SilverSabre25]

To be sure that solution is secure enough I'm going to probably attach them to the edges where it's wood and not the dopey cardboard back, or attach an extra piece of wood to the back of the shelf for the brackets to adhere to.

[Blackcat31]

To be sure that solution is secure enough I'm going to probably attach them to the edges where it's wood and not the dopey cardboard back, or attach an extra piece of wood to the back of the shelf for the brackets to adhere to.

That is what my DH said.... add boards horizontally across the back of the cabinets.

Secure the brackets to those boards in 3 places. Each end and in the middle.

He said do this to BOTH the top portion of the railing AND at the bottom. That should securely hold anything in place.


That area with the railing would be PERFECT to build a half wall there with built in cubbies/shelves if you ever have the opportunity to do some remodeling.

[SilverSabre25]

That is what my DH said.... add boards horizontally across the back of the cabinets.

Secure the brackets to those boards in 3 places. Each end and in the middle.

He said do this to BOTH the top portion of the railing AND at the bottom. That should securely hold anything in place.


That area with the railing would be PERFECT to build a half wall there with built in cubbies/shelves if you ever have the opportunity to do some remodeling.

OH, I want to so badly. But it's so far out of the budget right now....both financially and time-wise, heh. But it's definitely in my queue of things to do someday. We're stuck here for at least 7 years.

[SignMeUp]

You live in my bf's old house Seriously. The door, the rail. ::
I did this :confused: ::

[SilverSabre25]

btw BC, thank your DH for me I know he does woodworking so his input means a lot!

[SilverSabre25]

You live in my bf's old house Seriously. The door, the rail. ::
I did this :confused: ::

lmao. It's a dumb style :P I thought I would like the bi-level but I don't....but we're stuck!

[SignMeUp]

I think my dcks...

...would find the rail fascinating!

Toys through the rail, balancing while walking the rail::
Thank goodness for entertainment centers

[SilverSabre25]

...would find the rail fascinating!

Toys through the rail, balancing while walking the rail::
Thank goodness for entertainment centers

:: I had a group of very calm girls back then....boy do I miss those days! I had tons of clients back then though. Now? Not so much.

I'm a little teensy bit tempted to show you guys what I've been living with up there for the past few years. I think it's one part of why I can't get anyone anymore. It's just....not pretty....when you walk in. There's a "net" over the railing due to one kid with a small head finding an opening once (at the end that can't be blocked because of a built in gate) and the back of the ugly entertainment center and the back of the other shelves and it's just...bleh.

I will probably be painting the backs of the new shelves white to make it nicer to look at.

[SignMeUp]

I long for the days of a calm group. I do love my wild troop though. It will definitely be noticeable as they go to kindergarten, um, noise-level-wise.

I can imagine the net. I suppose it stays until you get the shelves. Hopefully your group will pick up then happyface

I think painting the back of the shelves will really help the look - anything to help it all blend in, kwim? Hodge-podge looks hodge-podgey Would you consider putting a real wood back (very thin plywood?) on the unit if it comes with that cardboard crap? (No offense, I just dislike the cheap-o cardboard backs.)

I have a set of open shelf units in my infant bedroom and hated that cardboard brown backing. I made a quilt front to cover it up so the babies have something pretty to see when they wake up. My unit doubles as a divider between cribs.

[Country Kids]

How about some of these along that-I think they would look better and be safer.




Ok, it wont let me post a picture but its the wooden cubbies that you put the fabric baskets into. I think it would look better along that, not be so tall and looming, be more on the kids height. I put some in my preschool room and it changed the look ssoo much. I use to have the tall cabinet and its was ok but once I put in the cubby shelf, I fell in love with it.

I have had them in my kids closets for years and loved the way they looked in there also.

[SilverSabre25]

I long for the days of a calm group. I do love my wild troop though. It will definitely be noticeable as they go to kindergarten, um, noise-level-wise.

I can imagine the net. I suppose it stays until you get the shelves. Hopefully your group will pick up then happyface

I think painting the back of the shelves will really help the look - anything to help it all blend in, kwim? Hodge-podge looks hodge-podgey Would you consider putting a real wood back (very thin plywood?) on the unit if it comes with that cardboard crap? (No offense, I just dislike the cheap-o cardboard backs.)

I have a set of open shelf units in my infant bedroom and hated that cardboard brown backing. I made a quilt front to cover it up so the babies have something pretty to see when they wake up. My unit doubles as a divider between cribs.

No offense taken! I have thought of that, even priced it for other shelves I have of similar quality and have been thinking I may go that route even for these.