Everyone loves built-ins!   Our's are designed especially for the do-it-yourselfer.  This approach to built-ins has been developed over the years to give you the same high quality built-in shelves, cabinets, or bookcases at reduced cost and simplicity!

Our recommendations for built-ins are:

1. Use white for cabinets and shelves.  The color white never goes out of style and is easier to work with.  You can choose stained wood cabinetry following our instructions, however the cost is  higher as is the level of  woodworking skills required. 

2. Use a combination of manufactured materials such as standard kitchen cabinet bases. We also recommend the "foil" or "plastic" covered white pressed board shelving available at the home centers for our vertical and horizontal pieces. This white shelving comes plain or with holes drilled for adjustable shelving.  The choice is yours!

3. We recommend that you use a kitchen "Sink Front" whenever possible. The reasons: ~ Lower price ~ More flexibility -  A Sink Front allows you to alter the depth of your base cabinet without cutting a cabinet apart as you would with a Sink Base Cabinet.   

If the sides of you're built-ins will be fully exposed to the room, then you'll want a full sink base cabinet instead of just a sink front. 

Project 1

Our first project will be a simple bookcase built into the wall. All of our projects follow the above recommendations and will use plastic covered white shelving from the home centers as our construction materials. This set of bookshelves is in a basement home office.

 

Step 1 -  Determine material needs for what you want to build. This project will be built in a finished basement.  We purchased 12" deep shelving and had it ripped to 7". This was deep enough for books and protruded into the room 2" past the sheetrock wall.

 

Step 2 - We use white plastic coated hardboard (Masonite) for the back of all our units. This product can be found in the home centers.  It is used as a wall panel for bathrooms and shower applications. Cut the back panel to fit and glue to wall with construction adhesive.

 
Step 3 - Push back panel in place

Step 4 - Cut side - top - bottom pieces to fit. Install and fasten to framing with finish nails through sides. Countersink nail heads.
Step 5 - Measure for shelf locations
Step 6. Drill 1/4"  holes for shelf holding pins (purchased at home center with shelving)
Step 7 - Trim edge between drywall and side panels.  Many moldings will work for this such as window casing, base cap, door stop, shingle cap, etc.  Caulk and paint molding
Finished product will enhance your  home office with beauty and functionality. This project was in a basement home office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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