 | I promised myself this year that I would not only get a lot more DIY projects done, but I would also document them and blog about them for inspiration. I did (sort of) document the making of my new floor-to-ceiling bookcase (if a few hasty photos count), but I'm only just now getting around to sharing. Because, I'm busy trying DIY projects! Or at least researching which ones I want to do and trying to convince my husband they are all a good idea and need to be done today. (It's a full-time job.) |
For a few years now I've been buying the cheap bookcases at Walmart and filling them up. I can't complain because they have lasted forever, even with a lot of abuse. BUT...I hate how deep the shelves are.
So, because I like all of my books standing at attention near the edge of the shelf, I decided to finally get around to making a bookcase with some custom shelves. Not only do my books look great, it's the first thing people see when they walk in the door. Much cooler than a television, in my opinion.
So here it is, our super simple, no frills bookcase.
So, because I like all of my books standing at attention near the edge of the shelf, I decided to finally get around to making a bookcase with some custom shelves. Not only do my books look great, it's the first thing people see when they walk in the door. Much cooler than a television, in my opinion.
So here it is, our super simple, no frills bookcase.
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This is what the wall looked before. That is the opening to the hallway.
Keep in mind this house is a perpetual work-in-progress fixer-upper. We are planning to upgrade one of these days, but until then we keep trying to make it livable and nice looking on a strict budget. So that is my very ugly kitchen peeking around the corner. (It's on the list for this year!)
Anyhow, we had four bookcases lined up down the hallway. Another just around the corner at the end of the kitchen cabinet, and a few scattered in other rooms. This project was an attempt at eliminating at least a couple short bookshelves!
Keep in mind this house is a perpetual work-in-progress fixer-upper. We are planning to upgrade one of these days, but until then we keep trying to make it livable and nice looking on a strict budget. So that is my very ugly kitchen peeking around the corner. (It's on the list for this year!)
Anyhow, we had four bookcases lined up down the hallway. Another just around the corner at the end of the kitchen cabinet, and a few scattered in other rooms. This project was an attempt at eliminating at least a couple short bookshelves!
The whole project took only about two hours to make. But my husband hates doing anything involving home improvement so it took a lot of sweet talking to get this project going. Here are the boards he grudgingly went to get.
Aren't they lovely though? And the house smelled so good with that new lumber inside!
Total time: about 48 hours. Lol.
Aren't they lovely though? And the house smelled so good with that new lumber inside!
Total time: about 48 hours. Lol.
Sadly, this is the only in-progress photo I got. Mostly because I had to help hold stuff.
That incredibly yellow dining booth is the only thing that will fit in the "eating spot" we have at the end of the kitchen. (No dining room!) I think with a little bit of sweet, sweet talking (and maybe some homemade biscuits) I can get a custom table built this year.
The booth was great when we were a family of three, but with five of us it is really crowded!
It works great for makeshift sawhorses though!
Basically, the whole process here was simple. We made a box the height and width and depth I wanted. Then cut the shelves, tapped them into place and screwed them in from the ends. I didn't bother with a back since it would be filled with books, not decor items.
That incredibly yellow dining booth is the only thing that will fit in the "eating spot" we have at the end of the kitchen. (No dining room!) I think with a little bit of sweet, sweet talking (and maybe some homemade biscuits) I can get a custom table built this year.
The booth was great when we were a family of three, but with five of us it is really crowded!
It works great for makeshift sawhorses though!
Basically, the whole process here was simple. We made a box the height and width and depth I wanted. Then cut the shelves, tapped them into place and screwed them in from the ends. I didn't bother with a back since it would be filled with books, not decor items.
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Our ceilings are only seven feet tall. This is great for our heating and cooling costs. Not so great when our tall friends come to visit (we've had more than one person get whacked in the head by our ceiling fans!).
It also made it a bit hard to set the bookcase upright. When we build the next one, we will build it in place. Lesson learned!
You can see that halfway up we added a board to the back of the bookcase to act as an anchor. This was to keep the kids from pulling it over. It has hidden L-brackets at the top too for extra back-up.
The brace means that shelf is a tad more shallow, but it's the perfect shelf for my narrower trade-paperbacks.
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And here is what the floor looked like once I realized I couldn't fit ALL my favorite books on this shelf. I had to do some picking and choosing.
Also lots of rearranging.
I still have five more bookcases scattered around, but this is a good start.
Also lots of rearranging.
I still have five more bookcases scattered around, but this is a good start.
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Done for now. Still have to stain it and get some trim at the top and bottom.
It is quite possibly one of my favorite additions to the house. I love being able to run my fingers across the spines when I walk down the hall.
Its also a pop of color that draws the eye away from the flaws that old houses have. Not bad at all.
And if you are curious, the shelves are 8 inches deep, which allows means the books can't get pushed way back into any deep shadows.
(My kids like to poke them back as far as they will go though, because they know it drives me bonkers to see them out of line!)
I can't speak for my husband, but I enjoyed the project and am looking forward to making some more new stuff now that it is getting warmer!
I might even invest in a set of sawhorses to give more poor table a break!
Whats on your DIY to-do list this spring and summer?
It is quite possibly one of my favorite additions to the house. I love being able to run my fingers across the spines when I walk down the hall.
Its also a pop of color that draws the eye away from the flaws that old houses have. Not bad at all.
And if you are curious, the shelves are 8 inches deep, which allows means the books can't get pushed way back into any deep shadows.
(My kids like to poke them back as far as they will go though, because they know it drives me bonkers to see them out of line!)
I can't speak for my husband, but I enjoyed the project and am looking forward to making some more new stuff now that it is getting warmer!
I might even invest in a set of sawhorses to give more poor table a break!
Whats on your DIY to-do list this spring and summer?
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