First we had a flurry of activity around here to get the Living Room built-in finished before Christmas hit, and now I’m settled in by the computer with a flurry of snow accumulation happening outside, as I write up the reveal post for the Living Room built-in (we think about 6-7″ right now and it’s still falling). I’m breaking from my regular format and doing the reveal before all of my write ups on the process this time, for no other reason than I want to 🙂 My goal was to have everything done but the doors before we had Christmas at our house, and it ended up that the entire thing was done! Yay!
I’m not loving that painting on the mantel. My man and I dream of going to Europe and visiting all the cafes on all the little streets that we can, but until I’ve got a real painting someone painted on one of those little streets, this one is going. (Sorry, Honey)
I painted the back of the shelves the same color that the fireplace walls are painted (it’s hard to tell since the room gets so much natural light, but the fireplace wall is the darkest color on the color swatch I used, and the walls are the second lightest on the same swatch). My Man wasn’t sure he liked this idea when I presented it to him. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I think I’m going to paint the back of the shelves a darker color.
My Man: Hmmm, I don’t think I’m going to like that.
Me: Want me to show you some examples of it that I pinned on a board on Pinterest?
My Man: Are you going to paint it the darker color anyway?
Me: Yep.
My Man: I don’t want to see it then.
(He ended up really liking the darker color just like I knew he would)
The crown molding really took it from “looks okay” to “I love it!” for me. It was looking kind of contemporary without it–still better than what we had before, but I wasn’t over-the-moon excited about it. Once I got that on, it really polished the look, made it more traditional, and completed the built-in feel of the piece.
I used these same handles a few years ago on my Laundry Room Built In, but I used them on drawers. After being inspired by Thrifty Decor Chick’s new built-ins, I knew I had to use them how she did on her doors. She also styled her bookcases. Mine are not. Yet. I’m going to do a revamp in the dining room and things are going to get moved around, so I’m not spending time styling these now!
It isn’t perfect–I know I say that everytime, but it’s true!–but I’m really, really happy with how it turned out. I learned some new things along the way that I will pass on to you in the next few posts–like how to install crown molding, how to rabbet out the back so the cabinet back is recessed in and not visible from the sides, and how to cope base molding.
Now, I must remember to never start a big project like this on December 8 again. Unfortunately my memory is short and my to-do list is so very long!!
Living Room Built-Ins {post 1: The Befores}
Living Room Built-Ins {post 2: The Plans}
Living Room Built-Ins {post 3: The Reveal}
Living Room Built-Ins {post 4: Coping Base Moulding}
Living Room Built-Ins {post 5: How to Install Crown Moulding}
***As always, I only use PureBond plywood in my builds because the air quality in my home matters to me. I have used this plywood since the very beginning of my woodworking adventure and I love it. I am now being compensated by PureBond, but I can sleep at night recommending it to you because I was buying it myself long before the PureBond Pledge existed.
Built-Ins that meet in a corner
Dining Room/Home Office {Styled Bookshelves}
Dining Room/ Home Office {Make a pencil drawer}
Dining Room/ Home Office {How to Install Inset Door Hinges}
Dining Room/ Home Office {drawer fronts}
Dining Room/ Home Office {How to make a hanging file drawer with a Dremel}