Ahhh, built-in cabinetry.
We all love it.
We all want it.
And ya know what?
I'm here to tell you- we can all build it too!
Case in point- the built-ins we made in our guest bathroom...
Neither Kevin, nor I, had never attempted to build built-ins before, but I knew we could do it if we put our thinking caps on tight enough and found a great inspiration photo to work from.
This was the photo we ended up using...
Seeing it was just the motivation we needed to get the party started, so we made a quick trip the home improvement store to get some wood and some trim, and we just sort of figured things out as we went. (Which meant lots more trips to the home improvement store!) It was a lot like putting together a big, three-dimensional, wooden puzzle for big kids, and not having all the pieces in front of you at one time.
Here's a couple of videos we shot while working on them...
(Don't worry, we finally figured out how to properly use a caulk gun!) :-)
Sure, they might be far from perfect, and we may have had to use about 17 tubes of caulk to conceal all of our imperfections, but the important thing is that we somehow managed to make them look alright, and that we built them without any professional woodworking training, or a set of instructions to follow.
It just took a little determination and a lot of elbow grease!
:-)
So if you're comfortable using a saw, and prepared to have to take things apart if they're not working (we did this a number of times), I'm tellin' ya- you can build yourself some built-ins too!
This week, my Ideabook over at Houzz is all about building built-ins. You'll see some spectacular photos of a variety of different built-ins, as well as tips on how to achieve the look in your home. So if you're up for customizing some bookcases or building a window seat this weekend, click on the badge below to be inspired!
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Check out my e-book "Creating an Inspired Home"!
We all love it.
We all want it.
And ya know what?
I'm here to tell you- we can all build it too!
Case in point- the built-ins we made in our guest bathroom...
Neither Kevin, nor I, had never attempted to build built-ins before, but I knew we could do it if we put our thinking caps on tight enough and found a great inspiration photo to work from.
This was the photo we ended up using...
Seeing it was just the motivation we needed to get the party started, so we made a quick trip the home improvement store to get some wood and some trim, and we just sort of figured things out as we went. (Which meant lots more trips to the home improvement store!) It was a lot like putting together a big, three-dimensional, wooden puzzle for big kids, and not having all the pieces in front of you at one time.
Here's a couple of videos we shot while working on them...
(Don't worry, we finally figured out how to properly use a caulk gun!) :-)
Sure, they might be far from perfect, and we may have had to use about 17 tubes of caulk to conceal all of our imperfections, but the important thing is that we somehow managed to make them look alright, and that we built them without any professional woodworking training, or a set of instructions to follow.
It just took a little determination and a lot of elbow grease!
:-)
So if you're comfortable using a saw, and prepared to have to take things apart if they're not working (we did this a number of times), I'm tellin' ya- you can build yourself some built-ins too!
This week, my Ideabook over at Houzz is all about building built-ins. You'll see some spectacular photos of a variety of different built-ins, as well as tips on how to achieve the look in your home. So if you're up for customizing some bookcases or building a window seat this weekend, click on the badge below to be inspired!
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Check out my e-book "Creating an Inspired Home"!
That bathroom looks fabulous. I love that y'all tackled the built-ins yourselves!!!
ReplyDeleteInspiring indeed, and so true..they really are just a bunch of boxes! Now off to check out your Houzz Ideabook..
ReplyDeleteoxox
Jennifer
Wow, what inspiration! You guys did a fantastic job of jumping in the deep end and hoping you'll be able to swim - which you did! Fantastic job, and I LOVE all the beautiful built-in photos, it makes me want to do something like that in one of our more boring bedrooms.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are too cute! Caulking is nasty buisness and if don't wear gloves or something (I use a rubber finger turned inside out from the office supply store) then you wind up rubbing off your fingerprints. OUCH!
ReplyDeleteOh, and try cutting the tube of caulk at an angle. You'll use less. ☺
ReplyDeleteI wish so bad that I had somewhere to put some "boxes". Love them!
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring, it gave me great ideas for my laundry room!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the video! You two are just as cute as can be and always bring a huge smile to my face and heart. Also, luv Kevin's music and hope things go well for him.
ReplyDeleteThe bathroom is wonderful! Isn't it fun to just go for it and have something turn out so great! Good job!
ReplyDeleteTake care-
Kristin
Okay, so, I think I could do this for my mom, but how do you get the vertical pieces attached to the wall before you add the horizontal shelving?
ReplyDeleteI want to build built in book cases and a window seat in my dining room..........of course it will have to be after my four thousand other projects I've already started! LOL Thanks for the pics for inspiration...or maybe not, now I want to start ANOTHER project! ;-) Hope you have a GRAND day!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteWe just attached a piece of 2x4 to the ceiling and to the floor then nailed the vertical piece of plywood to the pieces to keep it in place! Thanks for stopping by!
Kev
Thanks for the inspiration to tackle building some. Your bathroom looks so beautiful now.
ReplyDeleteMaddy could use some built in' love in her room asap~
ReplyDeleteHey that turned out pretty cool - now I am plotting and planning to see if I could get my House Guest (aka hubby) to do something similar in the space btwn the vanity and wall in our hall bathroom - might like that better then hanging a wall cabinet.
ReplyDeleteMy brother built me a gorgeous bookcase... not built-in but it looks built-in. Love it!
ReplyDeleteNecel from the Old House in Texas
They're BEAUTIFUL! And..wow...that purple.. um... wow... don't even know what to say but I think anything would have been an improvement over that!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have a bathroom that has SUCH wasted space and I'd LOVE SOMETHING to put SOMETHING on! But I don't see that happening in this house.
Those are really beautiful cabinets. What an improvement to the bathroom. I learned about your blog from "Flea Market Style" and had to check it out. Glad I did!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring "after"! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteLooks great!!!
ReplyDeleteYou two crack me up. Great built ins. It looks fab.
ReplyDeleteWhat a man! He caulks, saws, paints, and sings.
ReplyDeleteThe built-ins look very pro! Way to go. You're making the South a better place to be. Beautiful.
ya'll are truely the cutest couple ever!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteOH, good job on the "boxes"
xo
Jo
You're built-ins look great! I like the beadboard detail on the sides.
ReplyDeleteThanks for including my window bench in your slideshow and Houzz Ideabook. If you'd like to see how the room turned out, you can see it on my blog ramblingrenovators.blogspot.com
How much did it cost to do the bathroom built-ins? It looks great, and we'd love to do something similar with another area of our home...
ReplyDeleteThose built-ins look amazing! Kevin is so talented. You will love that in your bathroom. And I love the addition of the IKEA lights. That really brightens things up. Keep up the good work. Love & blessings from NC!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful transformation! I do have a question about the IKEA lights: Are they hardwired? If not, where are they plugged in? I didn't see a cord in any of the video.
ReplyDeleteyou guys rock!!!
ReplyDeleteLayla, I already left a comment, but I forgot to ask you to PLEASE come visit my blog today, I am SOOOOOOO excited about it! If you get a second go by and take a peeksy! I just love it! It's all my before and after pictures of my cozy cottage kitchen. :) (and the how to) Hee hee hee, can you tell I'm excited!
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the changes in your bathroom. The built-ins are charming!!
ReplyDeleteI love your bathroom makeover - the transformation is gorgeous, one of my favorites. The built in shelving is awesome. I'm taking your word for it! We are going to try something with our fireplace. Then I'm hoping there is no stopping me. :) Knowing that you went into it not being professional or extra-skilled builders gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a great weekend! (I'm catching up as you can tell.)
R
Those look awesome! I would love to do a window seat like that in my little girls room....my husband is pretty handy.....the list is getting long!!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog. I like your style and your do-it-yourselfness. Isn't it fun to "own" it, not just pay someone to do it? Or is that what we tell ourselves? : ) Anyhow, while working for Habitat for Humanity in my Americorps-days we had a little saying you might appreciate, "caulk and paint'll make it what it ain't." Gotta love the caulk and white paint. It is so forgiving : )
ReplyDelete