Family Room Built-Ins - Reveal
I would like to show you how these turned out. We're so very pleased. Thanks to all for your insight, advice and support. I do love this forum!
History - Family room before:
Two springs ago, we bumped up the ceiling (full attic upstairs) from 8' to 9' and put in a large picture window.
The room was much bigger, but now felt narrow and tall:
Then, I picked out the Tech Lighting track lighting, which was quite the project for DH to install, which added a new, rather modern, dimension. (These dreadful sofas are in another middle room, oh how I hate them).
I eventually picked out new sofas:
...and a rug (photoshopped version here I believe, but fairly close to real life):
With the modern lighting, and a room which now looked narrow (it's not really, 12.5 feet wide), I decided to put in bookshelves flanking the sofa (to make the room look wider; sleight of hand).
I built them in Sketchup and knowing how DH works, even sent him a How-To drawing :)
(Not final drawings)
{{gwi:2139805}}
(DH of course did not follow my plan that closely - but I did get the nailers right!)
With lots of back and forth between us, we finally got the dimensions correct and sent the specs off for the panels and boards (again, from Conestoga).
Then, lots of work putting these together and finishing them. Glass hardware from Emtek has been ordered but we must have a bad batch; handle after handle is splitting. These pictures are with 'ribbon' handles. The clunky floor lamp needs to be replaced.
Several of you suggested bottoms deeper than the bookshelves above. With the modern lighting, I felt that the lines needed to be as clean as possible.
You can hopefully imagine what it took to get the rails and stiles perfect.
The shelves use a sawtooth shelf system which I love (I know mtnrdredux will approve:). Still need to paint the shelves, which DH made (face attached to shelf with biscuits).
Close up of lower cabinets:
I appreciated the advice I received re narrower built-ins (these are 14" deep, books are pulled forward to the front of the shelves), but we will make use of the increased depth.
The above cabinet will be the electronics cabinet, with an intake fan and hot air travelling up the right hand side. I also need to order some sort of 'repeater' so that the remotes work with cabinet door closed, but that's another thread:)
Thanks for reading and again, thanks all for your help with getting us to this point! Best, oldbat2be
Comments (58)
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10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoRelated Discussions
Help with Family Room ideas with chair rail & built-in bookcase
Comments (43)Here's the sofa area with the picture lowered and area filled out. Showing the addition of a coffee table in two shapes. And also trying lighter mats on the pics to brighten things up. I love what you have going. It just needs to be completed and filled out some : ) The colors are just gorgeous and make for a wonderful and comforting setting to spend time. You might want to start another thread, as this one is bogged down with a lot of pics. Also, once the images become oversized and the text doesn't wrap anymore, a lot of people won't look anymore as it can't be read easily....See MoreVote: Painted or Stained Family Room Built-Ins?
Comments (10)Well, how about a third option? We have a similar situation, and ended up painting the built-ins the same color as the wall (but high gloss), since all white seemed like it would be too stark, and stained seemed like it might appear to be a dark hole, or too much contrast. The wall is a pale taupe-y white, I guess you'd call it. Kitchen seen from family room Not finished yet, but painted: you can see white trim and painted built-ins together here, as well as stained furniture. We did stain the main shelf, similarly to the floor. Here it is with fireplace finished...See MoreFamily room built-in cabinets
Comments (6)you're asking about paint color on bookcases but you show us a pic of a brick fireplace? but, to answer your question, if you want them white, then match them to your baseboards. give them a coat w/the untinted white you did your baseboards. if you think it's too white, then go back and have them tint the paint to something else. you have to do 2 coats anyway. (I assume you've already done a white primer? ) I assume the baseboards will be going around the cases? is there crown? I hate valspar paint for furniture (although I haven't used their new stuff). have you ever used General finishes Milk Paint? It's a satin finish and goes on beautifully. (make sure you prime first and give a light sanding when dry. wipe clean before painting) you could do the Linen or Millstone. Those would look great against your fireplace. this is what the Linen looks like on oak cabinets...See Morefamily room built-ins
Comments (7)Wish I had seen this before! My cabinets person did led strips along the sides and they are just too "in your face" even with a diffuser over them and dimmed down all the way. I will probably never used the lights :-(...See MoreRelated Professionals
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Ya'all are the best, I'm so glad you like how these turned out!
holly-kay - Thanks!! You're always the first out there with encouraging (or maybe enabling, just saying) words :)
motherof3sons - So nice to see your name pop up! Thank you, we're getting better through trial and error. Happy New Year my friend!
This project was DIY (except for spec'ing out most of the wood) but to be clear, we definitely didn't do the room renovation ourselves (brief consultation with architect regarding bumping up the ceiling-'easy-peasy' - his favorite words!- quick new drawing, then builder and plasterers).
jlc712 - Glad you like the sawtooth shelves! mtnrdredux got me thinking in another thread, with some strong opinions about the million little holes. I have similar shelves in a Guy Chaddock bookshelf, which gave me the idea. Now, it's another thing about which DH and I smile.
outsideplaying - I always smile when I see your moniker, hope you are! The planning phase with me takes forever, but eventually, there's progress. This is why I think Europe can be so beautiful - if people live in a space long enough, they will come up with great ideas to improve it. (I'm incapable of figuring it all out at once). Thanks!
teacats, Errant, mamorella, nutsaboutplants, 1929Spanish, MarinaGal, jakabedy, joaniepoanie, melsouth, bethpen, nini804, cran, arlosmom, crazybusytoo - I so appreciate your kind words, thank you!
melle_sacto - the lights are from Tech Lighting. It's their kable-lite system, with K-Hello heads. Glad you like them.
Hydragea - have to ask, why is there no 'n' in your name? - the room is
marti8a - Use the sawtooth shelf system - adjusting shelves is a TREAT. We actually also closed off part of the room (walled it off) and created a linen closet to the left. Again, if you live in a space long enough, you come up with enhancements.
pipdog - exactly! Please do come visit with your next book, I will provide the tea and comforter to keep you warm:)
fourkids4us - the nice words for our old room make me happy. There are so many happy memories from that space.
clairebouyant - glad you like the cable lighting and the sawtooth shelving system. Lee Valley sells the latter, but I found pricing was better buying directly from the source. Please find link below.
springroz - Hopefully the one who uses the power tools is guided by she who must be obeyed? (Good luck!)
linelle - Crazy how quickly time goes by - it feels like years since I posted soliciting input for the new sofas. The one in the picture is 'mine' (and believe me, I use that word often). At night, often, the moonlight will stream in through the window, and I will sit, and smile, in the dark. Have to say, that sofa is incredibly comfortable.
kswl - Compliments from you, my dear, are high praise indeed! Big smile here. I'm just wishing I knew then what I know now, when I designed the kitchen.
gooster - Thank you!! It's so much fun to get it right.
The lighting... sometimes I feel like it's the elephant in the room. DH spent a weekend of his life (I was out of town) going up and down ladders (with his bad knees) installing it. So it's there and (most probably) going to stay. Still.... I feel that everything needs to fit in with it. AnnieDeighnaugh - you were a huge help and I spent a long time studying your built-ins. Glad you like the lighting.
Tibbrix - thank you!! Love that you love the lighting. Always enjoy your posts.
schoolhouse - maybe it's the transitional feel that you don't like, about the lighting? I do feel it works in real life. Come by and make your own judgment (welcome anytime!).
sixtyohno - Liked your description, thanks (Love your kitchen even more, but that's another topic!). I smiled at your use of useful... the most useful former feature (exercise bike) has definitely been banished from this room, and is now in the adjacent 'map' room with the dreadful sofa duo.
arcy - Thank you for asking. Moulding is still a question in my head. My goal was for simple lines. Do you think it would look better with the more formal crown? I would appreciate honest opinons. Regarding crown... our builder used the more formal crown in other parts of the house when we renovated and we continued it in this room. Sides are belly casing which I've decided, I rather dislike in this room. Easy solution for the vertical pieces, correct? Replace with flat board.
There was absolutely no dissension on a thread I posted about mixing molding in a house - everyone said, don't do it. However... I find that while I am pleased with the formal crown in the newer section of the house, as I tackle the bedroom areas, I am increasingly turning to a different, simpler, style of molding. So, I may change to the crown at the top of the built-ins - or just as easily, update the existing molding on the doorways in this room.
Here's a picture of the space to the left of the family room, which we walled off and to which we added a linen closet. The simpler trim just speaks to me while the family room (outer) doesn't. So, I may buck the wisdom of the forum and have two (very different) styles of trim.
almondstriations - regarding beadboard, one gets tired of repainting it and keeping it clean - much easier to paint a wall. I loved putting the beadboard up but was very pleased to take it down (and will never install again). Thank you for the nice words about the old family room; it was a happy place.
mtnrdredux - Thank you! I did like that room too (the before) but with a roof which sloped down the way it did (to maybe 6 feet?!) on both sides, it's really an improvement. Still, there was definitely a warmth which is not there (fully - books have helped) yet - DS is the first to remind me of this (and to say it was cozier before).
I'm throwing this out there - during renovation, open walls, I have to say I LOVED the wood feeling. (Maybe barrel ceiling at some point?)
Fireplace side of the room - doesn't this wood color emanate warmth and coziness?
Here is a link that might be useful: Sawtooth Shelf System
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just_terrilynn