New bookcases! (pics)

hoosiergirl

12 years ago

I'm so happy with how they turned out! Here is the before pic:

And these are the after shots:

I'm sure I will be doing a lot of tweaking, but it's already so much better (to me, anyway)!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (38)

CaroleOH
12 years ago
Wow, those are perfect for that space. It really makes a difference, to me anyways, in making the room feel finished and custom.
InteriorStylist
12 years ago
EXCELLENT JOB!!!

~Jeana
Related Discussions
Help me arrange the bookcases in my 'new' library!
Q
Comments (12)
You donÂt think the first arrangement looks like a cave? I would hang the picture on the wall, not lean it, but it looks rather cramped. I have a pair of tall thin buffet lamps I was planning to use with the picture, except that the shades would hide part of it, making it look even more cramped. If I kept it in the middle, I thought of pulling that case out more from the rest to set it off, maybe 4-5 inches. What do you think about this idea: I have a piece of 1 Â¼ thick granite, left over from my kitchen, I could put on top: almost same width but 18 Â½ inches deep (except IÂm not sure about the color, which is rusty red and black). The cases themselves are only 11 Â½ deep. That would mean the granite would project out from the front 2 inches, and the back of the bookcase about 5 inches. Make it look like a sideboard? But that makes the short case definitely the focal point in the room: IÂm unsure about that. Otherwise, in the other layouts, there really is no focal point. I imagine the eye will wander over the row of cases and then zero in on one of the art objects. The downside of #1 is that the corner canÂt be used now for a floor lamp. I can take the tall skinny case shown at right angles in the corner and put it by the door in place of the short case. But unless itÂs a skinny lamp it wonÂt fit in the corner. The uplight floor lamp I was planning to put there, because it throws a lot of light upward, has a 20" wide shade. The last arrangement before I posted here was #3. I find I am already dumping things on the short bookcase next to the door! But itÂs the only place to put my notes and tools right now. If I took back the short one to do #1, I could get another short but narrow one (15") for that spot, so I could still put a lamp on it. I know it will all look different once I have the books, art objects, and pottery on them, but I donÂt want to set them all up then decide to move the cases around again! There is no ceiling light, and there is only one window. Daylight is enough if you want to sit RIGHT next to the window, but I doubt I will ever sit there and read in the daytime. I am dependent on having good lamps in the room. I hate to clutter it up, though, I looked at Ikea (where I bought the bookcases) for bookcase lights, but they were all halogen, which is too hot; and too modern in style. I put a floor lamp in the corner for picture 3, and it cast a lot of light (could not use that shot with it on because it washed out the exposure). I wish I were not being so indecisive about this.
...See More
Before & After Pics Built in bookcases from stained to painted -
Q
Comments (36)
msrose the product i used on the fireplace is called DAP All-Purpose Stucco Patch. It's in a red, black and white container. My husband had it in the garage from our old house which was stucco on the outside. It is in a 32oz container. I have no idea if it comes in larger sizes. It's very thick. I actually rubbed it on with my hands and wiped it off. Very messy technique. I wouldn't recommend it. But, I didn't want it really thick. Wanted some of the brick to show. The other reason I did it by hand was because of the grout lines. I felt like i had to rub it in there really good. There is probably an easier way but as thick as that stuff was, I don't know. I just did it on a whim. I am no professional (LOL) for sure (Im in the IT business, definitely not a decorator). I then painted over it with really watered down flat paint to tint it off white. Hope this helps. Sorry I don't know any more about it. Some of the pros on here may be able to add some suggestions to this. I am so glad i did it! I have gotten a lot of compliments on it in person. Here are some additional pictures below. The floor brick you can see in the 2nd one is what it looked like before I put the stucco on it.
...See More
Bookcase Update - before/after pics
Q
Comments (9)
I do love these little projects. Thanks for the nice comments. Here are a few pics to show the way we did it. The board I used a "display board" from the local office supply ($8.50) but the only difference is that it had a white side (not needed). I could have easily done it with a large cardboard box piece. My only regret is my DH insisted on cutting the board with my quilting rotary cutter! We cut out the piece of fabric a few inches larger and used packing tape on the back. I needed the extra hands for pulling fabric and taping, especially the corners. No glue anywhere so I can change fabric when I want a new look. The final piece was put in and is held in place by the books. Oh, and I purchased a new blade and marked the old one for him.
...See More
Questions before having bookcases built...pics
Q
Comments (16)
I would go same distance on either side of doors (but adjust for outlets since it looks like you have tape going right over one, so equidistant from the edge of outlets may be better - no one will notice an inch difference from doors, but will notice an inch from one outlet and right against the cover of the other). As far as going to the ceiling, if you plan on these being "traditional" looking with base and crown molding, then yes, go to ceiling, have carpenter case out your door openings and trim windows too. But how would that look with the rest of your house? If you want to keep the house "modern" looking and don't have any trim except baseboard, then I would go with bookcases that don't have a lot of trim, either no trim at all if you end short of the ceiling, or very thin trim, flat or quarter round, where the cases meet the walls and ceilings. Ditto other posts about electrical (think of where you want TV and have drawers under for DVDs, have support for TV unless it's lightweight flat panel, and plan for depth required for TV. Some shallow drawers for DVDs/CDs, deep drawers for board games (if you don't want them to show), and shelves with bins/baskets for small toys would work best. I can't wait to see end result! I want to do the same thing on either side of my bay window, am thinking of shelves/window seat/storage under windows since when they put up sheetrock the corners got built out, my baseboard doesn't fit tight (and they cut 1 piece of baseboard too short anyway). Only thing is, we've already bought a loveseat that's there in the summer (will move in front of slider during winter, put tree in bay). Don't want to hijack the thread, but would like advice - try to fix walls and buy new baseboard, leave bay open, or do built-ins under the window and buy new baseboard to go in front of them (make sure front is flat even though walls are slightly bowed)?
...See More
nicole__
12 years ago
They're beautiful!!!! What a nice addition!
livvyandbella
12 years ago
It turned out wonderful! I love it!!
gsciencechick
12 years ago
Gorgeous!! Details, please!
caminnc
12 years ago
Love it, isn't it nice to have extra shelf space? Goud job darling!
User
12 years ago
Beautiful. I love you house !! We did the same thing in our last house. We loved it and it was a great selling point when we put the house on the market. Job well done !! c
schoolhouse_gw
12 years ago
It's looks great. At first I thought the mirror looked out of place there, but it actually seems to fit there quite nicely. Are you going to keep it hung in that spot?
jan_in_wisconsin
12 years ago
Oh . . . how great it must be to have all that space for your books and magazines! Beautiful!
yayagal
12 years ago
And you should be thrilled, you've made yourself a wonderful nest, soo cozy and inviting. Love the way you loaded the bookcases.
Valerie Noronha
12 years ago
I love it! What a beauthiful nook you've created with the reading corner and desk/chair for your laptop. I can see you spending a lot of time there. Well done!
dedtired
12 years ago
At first I thought it was an entirely different room. I love them. I am soooo jealous.
kristinekr
12 years ago
They look great! And you have done a great job in organizing them--nice mix of books, frames, and "knick knacks".
blfenton
12 years ago
I love the way you took that little bit of space and made it into a library alcove. Computer for my GW friends - check, comfortable chair with side table for coffee and a good read - check. Many people would have just left the space but you made amazing use of it and it looks great and like it belongs. I'll stop gushing now but I'm jealous because I don;t think I can do that in my house.
leahcate
12 years ago
Beautiful! For me a home has no warmth without books. Your new shelves look so nice!
Oakley
12 years ago
I love them! And I know just how much fun you're having decorating the shelves. When we added on a couple of years ago I designed all on my own, a small room (open) off the LR with a window in it, and custom shelving on each side. We call it the Book Nook. It's white like your's and all trimmed out in cute woodwork.

Now if I just had the gift to "decorate" it, because we have so many books and even more bookshelves in the back of the house!

We did a His and Her's though, my books are all on one side while DH's are on another. It makes picking out a book really easy.

I also love the dark woodwork in your room. Love the white and dark wood mixed.
cliff_and_joann
12 years ago
They look wonderful. A dramatic improvement.
You must be so delighted, enjoy.
Joann
leafy02
12 years ago
Love them! They look like terrific, and what fun to have empty shelf space to play around with.
User
12 years ago
Very nice. Lookin' good. Oh yeah, I like!
User
12 years ago
Lovely!
User
12 years ago
It looks WONDERFUL!!! What a great use of space! I literally said,"OOOoooooo!" out loud when I saw the after! :) I'm now sitting here wondering where I can do something similar, lol.
biochem101
12 years ago
Hoosiergirl! My favorite house. :)
Haven't seen anything from you in a bit.
The new bookcases look great and combined with the desk are a clever use of the space.

Hope this doesn't annoy you...but grabbing the opportunity to mention I've been saving a photo of your master BR as an inspiration for ages (w/o knowing whose it was). Finally getting to work on ours this Fall (hopefully be done in October). It won't be exactly like yours, but we have tall similar dark furniture and yours looked so perfect with a light spread, tan carpet and darker bolder wall color, you made me realize that was the direction to take.

When I finally figured out whose BR it was, looked at some other rooms you'd posted and found we also have the same hood in somewhat similar kitchens! (Sounds like I'm stalking you.) But when you find someone doing the things you're trying to achieve and getting it just right...well, I find myself thinking "What would Hoosiergirl do?"

:)

Fortunately, we're not next door neighbors.

Have a nice day!
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much for all of the nice comments! Every single one of them was very nice to hear, especially after all the time and fretting about how the bookcases would turn out, etc.!

Gsciencechick, I don't know what kind of details you're looking for, but we had a local cabinetmaker build them for us. We sent them a crude drawing of what we were thinking and they sent us a CAD drawing and pricing. We went back and forth until we agreed on the design and this is the end result. I had originally wanted the bookcases to be 5' high so that I would have the top to decorate for holidays, etc., but my husband really liked them taller and the price difference wasn't that much, so we decided to go all the way up. They're maple and have one stationary shelf toward the bottom and the rest are adjustable (but I'm *never* moving them again, LOL!) He also built our mudroom cabinet and laundry cabinets at the same time, but the bookcases are my favorite and it made the most difference (but it is really nice to finally have laundry cabinets -- we've been here 4-1/2 years without!)

Thank you, Trailrunner! I love your house, too!

Schoolhouse, yes that is the mirror's home. We thought about designing the bookcases around a rectangular area where the mirror would hang, but I didn't like being "married to" the mirror in that spot. It is an antique that my husband liked when we were antiquing one day, and I snuck back and bought it for him as a surprise for Christmas that year, so it's kind of special for us.

Blfenton, thank you so much! I wasn't sure that it would feel like it belonged, although I really hoped so, so your comment was VERY nice to hear! (And I'm sure you have features in your home that I would be jealous of, too!)

Oakley, His and Hers bookshelves is a great idea! I very generally have the books arranged by subject which I really like. I didn't intend to do that, but it just somehow evolved that way, and I'm really glad!

Shee, you always make me smile :) Your home has come SO far! You must love it (if you ever take time to just sit and enjoy it!)

Thank you ALL again!!
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Biochem, WOW! I don't know what to say! Well THANK YOU for starters! What a nice thing to say: "But when you find someone doing the things you're trying to achieve and getting it just right...well, I find myself thinking 'What would Hoosiergirl do?' " You really just made my day, and I feel so humbled because so many posters here have so much more talent than I do. I am just taking it all in -- but I'm glad that it's paying off!

I'd love to see your home if you have the inclination to share pics -- it sounds like we have very similar taste and it would be fun to compare! I hope your MBR turns out wonderfully! I'm glad I could help (which just floors me, that I'm actually helping someone else)!

(I've been spending a lot of time outdoors over the summer so haven't been here as much...)

Thanks so much, again!
teacats
12 years ago
Really gorgeous! -- Just perfect design and the shelves look amazing with all of your books and accessories! :)

Very well done indeed! :)
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you, Teacats!
User
12 years ago
Thanks. :) I'm pretty embarrassed of those first photos...

Did you get a new couch? Did I miss that?
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Don't be embarrassed, Shee! I think it's great that you've come so far!!

We had our sofas reupholstered. I did post a thread about it probably about a year ago -- I was (and still am!) so pleased with how they turned out! He did a great job.

Here's a before & after for you:

Before:

After:

Still to do is the breakfast nook that is such a mess! I had thought about a built-in there too, but I'm leaning toward a large hutch. I really can't decide what I want, so it's still a mess!
User
12 years ago
Really beautiful. Looks like it's always been there, which is IMO the best compliment. I think you added a lot of value to your house by doing that. Great job!
User
12 years ago
Well, I thought it was perfect before, but the addition of the new bookcases just sends it over the top into fabulous. I absolutely love your space! It looks so warm and welcoming. Definitely like a place you really come home to.
User
12 years ago
I totally agree with ALL the praise- it absolutely adds soooo much and absolutely looks like it was always there (or should have been).
Perfection.
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much, Jill, AuntJen & Sheila! I do love coming home!!
rmkitchen
12 years ago
It was a pretty, elegant space before but after ... WOW! I know how exciting it is to also have all those shelves. Congratulations!
User
12 years ago
Oh, I remember seeing it now! The angle threw me off! It looks good! Thanks for posting the pics.
dakota01
12 years ago
They look GREAT!

Where is your tv?
andee_gw
12 years ago
Could you tell us the wall paint color? Such a beautiful room.
ttodd
12 years ago
How wonderful! You must be estatic!
hoosiergirl
Original Author
12 years ago
You're welcome, Shee!

Thank you, Rmkitchen, Jeannie, Andee and Ttodd! Andee, the paint color is Porter Paints' Prairie Sumac. Jeannie, here is a pic of the TV. The bookcases are along the wall to the right (across the room from the windows). I wish I had a wide angle lens so I could get the whole room!

New bookcases! (pics)

Comments (38)

Related Discussions

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

hoosiergirlOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hoosiergirl
Original Author

hoosiergirl
Original Author

hoosiergirl
Original Author

hoosiergirl
Original Author

hoosiergirl
Original Author

hoosiergirl
Original Author