Built-in Bookcases; Living Room Update 5
Sorry about missing the living room post last week. I am getting the hang of this two child thing… sorta, tired yes, but at least for the next week or two I have an infant that sleeps all day so it isn’t too much harder. YET…, thank heaven for easing into the transition.
Anyway, so I left you hanging a bit about my sudden design change and request for some built-in bookcase,s in our living room. I told you how the space is a walk through to get to the kitchen and because of this traffic pattern, it naturally separates the room into two areas. Which means, we had to figure out a way to fix this a bit.
I should explain, this space is not our “family” room. Yes, we have a box of toys and plenty of board books to read, but this space is not our room to really entertain or hang out, that space is upstairs. We don’t actually have a T.V. in this room at all either (although I am considering a small portable version for desperate moments)… we don’t watch T.V. on a regular basis, I just don’t have time (exception to rule: Biggest Loser, but sometimes we catch up on this one online too!). If I need a distraction (think making dinner) for the little meisje, I bring in the portable player so that I can get things done while Etta stays busy dancing to the Barbie movies… This means that we are setting the room up for conversation, not around a TV screen.
On with the plans then, we have two awkward corners in our living room, as shown below with the large arrows, the long lines are the basic traffic patterns for the space.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Now we needed to add some crown molding. We painted it all with several cots BEFORE cutting and nailing. I also painted the edges of the ceiling where the crown would be installed. Then we had very little touch up painting to do and no hard edges to paint… This is good advice (even if I do say so myself), we have done it in every house we’ve owned, it saves a lot of sore muscles and kinked necks I promise!
You can see the ceiling color ends in the middle of the room. (this is the same color we used in our Asheville house ceilings and I LOVE it I will have to find the name….sorry)
Partially done moldings… there is a whole ‘nother layer of moldings we added below these to make the crown appear larger like we did in our first house 9 years ago. But it is almost 11:00 an I NEED to sleep.
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
>This is an amazing transformation to watch! Each step looks great and then you add something else that helps to finish it more like that crown molding. I love the full length bookshelves. It seems to help keep the feel of the room together with the other full length shelves and the crown molding crossing it all.
>Love the built-ins. I think the full ceiling height was a good choice.
>Love, love, love it!! The built-ins are great and I really like the full length one. I've really enjoyed watching this transformation. It looks like a completely different house! The moldings are phenomenal!
>I love how it's all coming together. I would have also chosen the full height bookcase built-in for the corner against the kitchen, storage space is always a plus!
>They look great!
>Love the built-ins! All the molding details look wonderful. I vote yes on the window seat. I see that as being such a cozy place to read. Plus you can store the unsightly toys in the bench portion of the window seat. I've loved reading along with this whole series. Thanks for sharing.
>LOVE.IT.ALL!! I am transfixed watching this transformation.
>I LOVE your molding and trim project. Very upscale and a huge improvement in my opinion. I have been bookmarking your posts as I intend to copy you all over my house 🙂 Thanks for sharing this wonderful project!
>Gorgeous! You make a great team! 🙂
>totally amazing! absolutely amazing!
>all would look lovely.. but do love the full length for practical purpose. 🙂
>These look great! And you totally give me hope that I can build my own, too. It's not as bad as I thought!
>I think the built ins are looking FABULOUS! The whole room looks custom and AWESOME! I can't wait to see the finished room!
>I love it!!! I love the choice of going with the tall shelves! And the crown molding ties it all together! Beautiful!
Jennifer B.
>It looks great. I love watching you arrange your furniture to get it to the right spot–the bookshelves are perfect.
>Wow it looks awesome! I wish I was handy with wood like you guys are. Great job!
>OMG I'm dying. This is fabulous! I want that in my house! I'm wanting to build columns in my house and have been studying your posts to figure out how to do it here. Yours are amazing. Hey, I know! Y'all should come to Austin and your DH and my DH can build the columns while we play!
>Looks fantastic!!! Love that you chose the floor to ceiling bookcase! Can you come over to my house and do built ins for me? haha.
>I am so in love with all these built-ins and moldings and everything! It looks so good! I just recently priced out some built-in bookshelves on one wall (very basic I thought) and received quotes of over $6000!!! You are so lucky to have those skills and talents. And to be married to them as well;). Hope things are going well with your sweet little girls.
>Yayyyy! I'm so glad I discovered your blog. You have a new follower.
I LOVE built-ins, I LOVE your drawings and how they ultimately turned out and I am so very impressed. Great job! Can't wait to see the shelves styled with books and assorted home decor.