First problem: This console table in our living room was looking a little barren. Everything on the lower shelf had been emptied by Elise and she had been climbing into the table, yanking on the lamp wire. Not good.
Second problem: Nowhere to put a collection of books that were previously in our future playroom.
Solution: Make the console table function as a bookcase.
Before
The table was the first piece of furniture I bought on my own, but I have little attachment to it. After a cursory online search for a short squatty bookcase to replace it, I realized I wasn't willing to pay several hundred dollars for something decent.
I am happy to report the table has been made super heavy by the weight of the books and cannot be pushed around by a busy toddler. So far Elise has only bothered it a little, but I'm hopeful she can be trained to ignore it.
To those who may pose that some of these books are inaccessible, I will suggest that they would be even more inaccessible packed away in cardboard boxes. At least here they are in view in our living space and in an artful presentation.