can we talk bookshelf built-ins?

[pumpkin]

I'm not able to do it right now, but would like to be able to have a couple built-ins put in a couple of floor-to-ceiling nooks, maybe before the end of the year.

I'm not going to do them myself, but how do I go about finding someone to do this? Someone good, lol? I don't know anyone who has had anything like this done for years.
Also, if I eventually want to pull up the carpet and put in hardwood floors does it matter if I do that before or after?

Can you tell I really have no idea what I'm doing?

[Pibs]

We have faux built-ins. We were going to have real ones done with a window seat, but there was contractor drama and we ended up doing an Ikea hack with Hemnes furniture that we both like better than our original plan. I think we could have done it on our own, but didn't have the time or inclination to DIY. It's something a handyman could have tackled, which might be easier and less $$$ than finding a cabinetry person. I'd start by googling custom woodworking or cabinetry, maybe check your neighborhood's NextDoor page if they have one to see if anyone pops up on there. If you visit someone who has amazing bookshelves or kitchen cabinets ask them who did them.

Trying to figure out how to start a project is always the worst! Good luck!

[pumpkin]

I found some old picks from before I moved in. I essentially want to put them on either side of the fireplace.

ETA: and is essentially like cabinets/drawers on the bottom and shelves on top

[L]

A carpenter can do that. Just check his work/references. I’ve hired them a few times. I’d probably tell your carpenter about your plan for the floors so they can be accommodated. To find I’d just ask around, on Nextdoor or google & look at reviews.

[dr.girlfriend]

We had a cabinetmaker do ours...I think we just searched Angie's List. We had existing bookshelves and had someone build an entertainment center and bridge across the middle, as well as changing the trim and cabinet doors.  Here's the before and after.  I would guess they would cut out the carpet beforehand.

[aprilsails]

I would look for a carpenter in your area and see if they have pictures of similar built-ins they have done.

As far as the carpet goes, I would pull it up and then build on the subfloor and thenhave the trim continue across the front of the lower cabinets (in the toe kick space). That way you would only need to remove and replace the quarter round when the hardwood goes in, same as all the other trim in the room.

[sandandsea]

Jan 26, 2019 22:21:38 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

We had a cabinetmaker do ours..

That looks amazing! Great transformation.

[pumpkin]

Jan 27, 2019 11:31:43 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

Jan 26, 2019 22:21:38 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

We had a cabinetmaker do ours..

That looks amazing! Great transformation.

I agree! These look great and I'm jealous!

[dr.girlfriend]

Jan 27, 2019 11:31:43 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

Jan 26, 2019 22:21:38 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

We had a cabinetmaker do ours..

That looks amazing! Great transformation.

Thanks!  Changing the "gingerbread house" trim and replacing the doors made a huge difference, as did painting all the paneling white in the whole room.  That room went from our least favorite to our most favorite.

[namasteak]

We did a really cool DIY built in system at our old house. I will find pictures and link the tutorial tomorrow but basically we used kitchen cabinets for the lower and had a handyman do the shelves above. Super easy, looked good and we are told it was one of the selling points of the home. Total cost was under $2k

[candreco]

dr.girlfriend, I sent that pic of your built-ins to my dad when he was building ours to show him what I wanted, I love how they turned out. Maybe someday I'll get around to painting the baseboard trim on them and post my own after pic

pumpkin, any carpenter should be able to do that, and yes, you'd want to remove the carpet in those spots. Think about whether you want fixed or adjustable shelves, if you want them to look thicker from the front, painted or stained wood, etc.

[namasteak]

Pictures from the listing

This is the blog we got the tutorial from (she has the instructions in several posts) www.thriftydecorchick.com/2016/06/how-to-create-custom-built-ins-with.html?m=1

[pumpkin]

Jan 28, 2019 16:33:39 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Pictures from the listing

This is the blog we got the tutorial from (she has the instructions in several posts) www.thriftydecorchick.com/2016/06/how-to-create-custom-built-ins-with.html?m=1

This looks amazing!! Thank you!

[namasteak]

Jan 28, 2019 17:00:35 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Jan 28, 2019 16:33:39 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Pictures from the listing

This is the blog we got the tutorial from (she has the instructions in several posts) www.thriftydecorchick.com/2016/06/how-to-create-custom-built-ins-with.html?m=1

This looks amazing!! Thank you!

Thanks!

I want to say each cabinet was $75 so that’s $300, plus the rest of the wood, paint and labor (because DH & I are not handy). Writing it out, I think we were closer to $1000 but I’m not positive.