A closet I can feel good about.

On the final walk through the day before the closing, Donna (my realtor) and I were on our way out the door when I remembered to check the funny little closet in the hallway that divides the dining room from the stairwell to the second floor and the living room.
What to my wondering eyes did appears but shelves and shelves of china patterns. I already have numerous sets from my own family - I didn't need more. But for the sake of the closing, I agreed that it be included in the sale.
Upon moving in, I need that space to store my own things. I hauled all the china out and discovered that the closet is lined in textured pressed tin. Also, it was filthy. Decades of contact paper was coating the shelves, giving it a permanently tacky feeling.

One of many patterns, but this one came with decorative pleated edging!

Old shelves. 14" wide, 2 parts each - a narrow board nailed horizontally to the back of a wider board.
Contact pattern #2. (They've been relocated to the shed for stripping/reuse later.)

Closet pre-cleaning.

I decided it was going to be the first major overhaul. I vacuumed it thoroughly, scrubbed it with TSP substitute, primed it with Kilz, re-secured the shelf cleats, and painted the whole interior with semi-gloss "Lilac Muse". It's a slightly purple off-white. I then cut new boards for the shelves, and painted those as well.

Before Shelves - I went with a "no VOC" paint because of the tight space.

First course of shelf boards in!

I got the shelves in and painted, and I've stuffed stuff in it for now to get things out of the dining room, but I want to put under-shelf lighting in. Things go missing in the back. I'm still researching how exactly I want to pull that off. I have my ideal state, but then I have my affordable options.
Once the closet is finished with lighting I'll post a final picture.