Wall to Wall Built-In Storage

This was a bitter sweet project for us because it replaced our very first diy project; remember this very well built book shelf ? We have a lot more books and nick-knacks than the book shelf could hold. I also wanted something more fancy that we could serve as a decorative backdrop to the room. Because we spend so much time in this room, we felt the need to incorporate a lounge and guest room option into the project.

Before picture of game room

This project took a full day. We started at 8 AM with a run to the hardware store and finished a little after 5 PM (we did take a break for lunch). Our wonderful friends who own a local design and construction company helped us out a lot with this project.

List of supplies used:

• 11 - 3/4 x 11-1/4 x 8 White Melamine Square Edge Shelving (6)
• 14ft -  1.25” wide window and door casings
• 3/8" Poplar Buttons
• 1 - Antique White Paintable Latex Window and Door Caulk
• 2 - Valspar Base A Interior Satin Paint Sample
• 1-1/2-in x 18-Gauge Brad Nails
• ½ pint Spackling
• Putty knife
• Touch up paint roller kit

Here are pictures of the built in process

Cleaned out entire room

Melamine shelving and casings 

Shelves being assembled

Close-up of assembly

Measure twice, cut once 

Added support bar to screw into wall

1 side completed

Poplar buttons painted and used to cover screw holes

We attached the units to the studs using the bars at the top and finished up with some caulk. The casings were attached to the fronts using a finish nailer and the holes were filled before painting.

The same thing was done again for the other side of the room. Both sides are identical and the space in the middle is enough to fit a standard day bed with about 4 inches on both sides.

We added two shelves across the middle and used the 2 vertical pieces of wood to add some support to the shelves. 

We picked out most of the decorative pieces from what we had acquired over the years and purchased a few items. One fun thing we decided to do was to both have 1 shelf that we decorated completely to fit our styles.

Guess who "owns" which shelf

 The awkward space left by the support bars actually came in handy. We got to hang "Family" rules and and a crown which means something special to us. Some people who know us may guess :)

Top 2 rows

 We made the artwork using upholstery fabric and come colored cardboard and a garage sale gold frame.

Gold & Black Cardboard

Sewing supplies came in handy 

A colorful display

Panoramic View

My Introduction to the wonderful world of DIY

I recently got addicted to blogging!! Now by “blogging” I don't mean me blogging, I mean reading other people's blogs. On one of the many blogs I “stalk” I came upon a beautiful bookcase that was remodeled from an old grocery store bookcase and I thought to myself “I can totally do this”. I was finally able to convince my fiancee (let's call him CB on this blog) that we needed to do this to our old bookshelf. We got some tools from Lowes and got to work. It took about 2 days to transform the old bookshelf to a stunning Custom made shelf.
Here is a list of supplies we used

• Palm sander with 120 grit paper
• Red paint & primer in one
• 1-inch nails
• Hammer
• Old Grocery store bookcase
• Foam rollers
• 1-inch foam brush
• 5/8" x 2-1/4" x 8' stain grade pine crown moulding
• Wood glue
• Craft wrapping paper
• Mitter box and saw

Below are pictures of the transformation of our old bookshelf to beautiful red bookcase

Before picture of the Bookshelf

Shelf deconstructed and sanded off (tired CB on the side)

Trimmed crown moulding

Assembling in progress

Crown Moulding in place

Close-Up view of crown moulding

Side view of crown moulding

CB checking out the paint

Painting in progress

Looking good

Painting is done, time to dry

Craft paper background

Red Bookshelf getting set up

All Set!!!

Yes we are SOONERS and my Doggie baby made his blog debut.