I think you are a very 'handy woman'. A very good job. I take it this isn't your first project you've done over the years.

Shirley

I *loved* designing it! That was the best part. I measured the wall (back side of the chimney) and I spent about a year thinking about how I wanted it to look.

The wall is 9'7" tall and the chimney is 7-feet wide, so I wanted something to utilize all the space. The upper shelves are 2-feet wide, because I loathe sagging shelves (and have heavy books). The bottom most shelves are 12-1/2" deep, and 14" tall - for my big tall architecture books.

I've done a lot of home improvement projects through the years, so this bookcase was a natural progression.

And honestly - it was the MOST fun I've had in a long, long time. I LOVED the process of playing with power tools, and measuring the wood, and then putting it all together.

:)

And I did it while the hubby was out of town, so nobody would think that *HE* did it!

I am so impressed!! It's two feet taller than my ceilings!! Does anything anchor the top so it can't fall over?

It's really beautiful, Rosemary. You did a fabulous job.

PS: Is that an old edition of Atlas Shrugged? I sold a signed limited edition on eBay a few years ago for a tidy sum. :-)

Good job, looks very nice.

Mad skills, woman!

Blessings!
Haley :)

Fantastic!

Very nice....

I like to do things like that.

Years ago when the husband of a friend of mine was out of town. I cut a hole in her living room wall and put in a door. the other side of the door was her garage. We insulated the walls and put up paneling. Put carpet on the floor. Built a step down from the living room. When we finished she had a craft room.

I have no idea why I had the courage to try something like that on someone elses home... Never again...I can tell you that..lol

patti

WOW!! That is impressive! It really is beautiful I love your design~~~WOW~~~again!! I could not even design that~~~shoot I can not even carry that much wood:( I am also not allowed to play with sharp objects~~ask the ER LOL!

That is fantastic!!! I want one.

very nice! i used to love projects like that...dh wasn't interested so had to do it myself! it looks wonderful.

Oh, you've done it now! I didn't know the lumber yard sold BIG pieces of wood with pre drilled holes. Now that I have this info, I will be brainstorming for some shelves myself. I know there are pre designed arrangements but to make my own size, oooo, I see another project on the horizon! I say on the horizon because dh can only handle so many irons in the fire. One of the bathrooms is totally torn out, don't want to overburden dh's helpfulness. lol ( I see shelves in the summer tho!)

You did a super job Rosemary. What a good feeling to be organized. :)

What a wonderful job you have done Rosemary - I think it looks fantastic. You must be so pleased with the job you have done. And clever too - I wouldn't know where to start!!!! I have a few jobs here you could do for me if you are ever down this way - lol!!!!!

The lumberyard does NOT sell big pieces of wood with pre-drilled holes. :) I did that myself. The trick is, put a piece of pegboard over the TWO shelves that you're using as vertical risers (the tall sides of the bookshelf) and then drill your holes using the pegboard as a guide. I put a small piece of masking tape around the drill bit, so I wouldn't drill the holes too deep.

Worked like a charm, and easy as pie.

As to the question of the thing being anchored, there are four mega-size anchors drilled into the brick, and an L-bracket connects the bookcase to those anchors. That wood will rip asunder before those anchors will let loose. They're tight.

Thanks for the compliments. It was fun. I loved the process of building it.

Rose

Nice job!

that's smart using peg board! Makes it look nice and straight. I like your wood plain or painted. Very solid looking. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

WOW! That is awesome - are you for hire?!!! I love it when women step up and do 'their own thing' - CONGRATULATIONS!

nice work and so glad to hear you anchored it well, that is something so many people do not do when they put up shelving units and bookcases and it can be a tragedy in the making.

My husband does a lot of woodwork and we both watch tons of shows on it and read books, We both really enjoy building our own, it gives such pride. You should be very proud of yours it is very very nice.

I meant to add if you enjoy doing this work you really should invest in a Kreg pocket joint tool, it is the ultimate method of attachment and is hidden, no more nail or screws showing no more split wood. Awesome tool. you can find them at Lowes and HOme depot. Look on youtube for Kreg videos. there are various kits with different prices

Kreg Jig� Master System

Fabulous! You must have such a terrific sense of accomplishment. Where were your books before, stashed here and there like mine? It looks just wonderful. Thanks for sharing; we are all so impressed.

I am very impressed, it looks wonderful.

WOW!!! Very impressive. You are amazing.

It looks terrific!!! And I agree with Ravencajun on the Kregg pocket screw system.

Wow you did a great job.

WOW! That is an awesome book shelf. It also looks gorgoues in front of the brick wall.
You did a great job and must feel very pleased with the accomplishment.

Thank you for sharing -- especially the progression.

It is a lovely piece of work.

A caution: A case that tall and narrow is unstable. It should be secured to the wall to prevent it from tipping over.

Fantastic work

It's beautiful, Rosemary!

I have to agree with jemdandy, I would want that structure secured to the wall without question. That thing could come toppling down when somebody goes to reach for a book or something.,.Very dangerous IMO.

Perhaps someone capable of building a bookcase would have an awareness of the inherent dangers of such a thing! ;)

As mentioned in a prior post, it is anchored at the top in such a way that barring several nuclear detonations at the nearby military bases, this bookcase is not going anywhere.

Photographic proof is herein provided. The brick (rear side of the chimney) was so tough - from being heated by the fires - that a masonry bit chucked into a high-speed drill would not THINK of penetrating it. I tried drilling into the mortar and found that the old lime mortar lacked sufficient substance to grip a tapcon screw or lead anchor.

I got my buddy Dave to bring his hammer drill, and sink several 4" lead anchors into the brick, using two 8-inch hardened L brackets (which were also secured to the bookshelf).

4" long lag bolts, fastened from the underside of the base cabinet and up into the 2-inch wide vertical risers, hold the bookcases securely on their base. The base is also anchored to the brick wall behind it.

As I said, this bookcase isn't going anywhere.

You doubters should have more faith that EVEN WOMEN really do know what they're doing! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: My bookcase - the rest of the story

What a great job! You have my admiration.

I am so impressed. I wish I had the skills! Gee-where were all those books before the bookshelves? What did your DH say when he came home?

Fabulous! I would be busting my buttons if I made something that nice. It's perfect and I'm proud of ya!

I just wish I had the confidence to try something like that.

"You doubters should have more faith that EVEN WOMEN really do know what they're doing! :)"

LOL -- and read the postings before they start talking.

It is beautiful Rosemary -- I would love it in my
office. You are talented. It looks like Hubby and
Toucan Sam approve, too. :)

Awesome!!

This is my dream project! My cookbooks are all over the place and some are currently in storage. You did a beautiful job.

But is it anchored? That could be dangerous. JUST KIDDING!! I never doubted you for one moment. I mean, seriously, only someone capable of mailing a puppy would not have thought to anchor that.

ok Paula, you made me laugh out loud again.

Impressive missy! You did good.

Awesome job Rosemary! Well designed and beautifully done. I too would recommend the pocket screw jig, if you're going to be doing more woodworking.

(Are you SURE you anchored it??) LOL

I, too, am amazed at the people who don't bother to read before replying!

I love, love, love books and I'm forever trying to cull my stock because I have so many but I love them all. When I was putting these books up on the new shelves, it was so nice to hold an old book in my hand and remember what nugget of wisdom and/or inspiration and/or insights I'd gleaned from its pages.

Finally, with this bookcase, I can really enjoy my books again. Prior to this, my books have been stacked on every horizontal surface in the house - even a few on the dining room table. This is in addition for three average-size (and not very attractive) bookcases.

Last month, I went hunting for a book and it took me four days to find it.

I *love* having all my favorite books lined up like little soldiers on this new bookcase on my sun-porch. I find it deliciously comforting to be able to look up from my soft red couch and see every book I own, categorized by subject matter.

As to my husband's comments - he was properly impressed. :) As he frequently tells me with a smile on his face: "I know how to behave."

Thanks for the many nice compliments. They warm my heart.

Rose

i'm impressed! you took a not so pretty brick facade and made it a jewel!

Making something, out of nothing at all. You sure are talented! Thanks for posting all the photos.

Wow, I'm so envious of your talents, as one who has none for building anything! That is a professional-looking bookcase; you did an absolutely beautiful job.

What a beautiful job you did. You have a great talent, I am a green jelly bean. ;~D

Wow! What a beautiful bookcase. Wish I had room for something like that. I read on your blog about the church you made. I hope you still have it. Both of my girls were on the Jim & Tammy show back in the early 70s (I think it was). I remember driving them all the way over to Portsmouth that Sat. :o) Jane

Wow you did a beautiful job..........

Beautiful. I'm very impressed.

Linda

That is a work of art. What an inspiration you are, I'm going to quit just thinking about building some storage units, I'm going to actually do it! Thanks so much for sharing your in-progress photos. You should be very proud.

Hey Williamsburg Jane, I don't know what became of that little wooden church I built for the school project, but as of three years ago, that "teacher" had risen up through the ranks quite well. Guess when you assume your students are liars you can advance quickly? ;)

Today, I went up into the attic and dug out some old books stuffed into boxes. It's so nice to have all my books out in the open!

Thanks again for the lovely compliments. I nearly chickened out on this project at countless intervals, because I thought, "I'll just let my husband finish this," and then I thought, "Nope. I want this to be my own work, even if it ends up looking like something Homer Simpson built."

I really do think most women are far more capable than they give themselves credit for.

Great job! It looks wonderful!
I have a few projects I'd like to make,
sure wish I had a table saw.

That's a lovely bookcase.

I do have a question though. Do most women automatically pass on doing some things because of their gender? Maybe it's my generation but I've never once hesitated to consider whether a job was a man's job or not. I just do it. Changing the oil, painting, doing the dishes, taking out the garbage, shoveling the sidewalks, cooking, carrying heavy things, building and troubleshooting my computers...are those really divided?

It just baffles me why people give themselves extra praise because they accomplished things as a woman or a man. I mean, maybe if we're talking about childbirth or prostate exams, we can bring gender into it, lol. I think something like that is a huge accomplishment for either gender. :)