DIY Expert & House One editor Jenn Largesse shows how to build custom shelving units around an existing fireplace mantel for a custom, built-in look.
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The fireplace wall in our new home is the main focal point of our open-living kitchen and family room, but because it’s sandwiched between the opening to the dining room and a wall of windows, it creates an awkward layout for the television and seating. To give it a purpose and de-emphasize the un-centered fireplace, I’m adding a full wall of built-ins that will house the television, hide cords, and create a beautiful focal point for the space.
And because we want the quality of the built-ins to match the integrity of our home, we’re teaming up with Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods [www.bairdbrothers.com/] to use the finest materials for the job. I’m lucky to have Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods here in my backyard in Ohio, but their family-owned facility offers shipment of fine hardwood products nationwide. For this project, I’m using a high-quality cabinet-grade birch plywood and hard maple boards.
In part one of this project, I removed and updated the mantle with new molding, demo’d the tile around the fireplace, and replaced it with new marble mosaic and subway tile. To view the videos showing those parts of the process, see below.
How to Prep a Fireplace for New Tile [ • How to Prep a Fireplac... ]
How to Tile a Fireplace [ • How to Tile a Fireplac... ]
Cost: $300 and up
Time: 8 days
Skill level: Moderate
Shopping:
(5) 3/4” x 4’ x 8’ sheets of plywood [thd.co/2LDkwrD]
(4) 1/4” x 4’ x 8’ sheets of plywood [thd.co/2LDkwrD]
(4) 1 x 2 x 9’ boards [thd.co/34jaC5d]
(8) 1 x 2 x 8’ boards [thd.co/34jCiH6]
(2) 8-foot lengths of baseboard [thd.co/3nqj6it]
(2) 8-foot lengths of crown molding [thd.co/3nrVzO5]
(5) Custom Shaker doors [thd.co/2LIVLdP]
(5) Door pulls [amzn.to/3p01fz7]
(10) European frameless inset hinges [amzn.to/3rejxia]
1 1/4” Pocket hole screws [amzn.to/3aeZVnX]
Pocket hole plugs [amzn.to/3p1IeMW]
Wood filler [amzn.to/3gSfhA9]
Wood glue [amzn.to/3p1IDyW]
Tools:
Circular saw [amzn.to/37puAwO]
Miter saw [amzn.to/2LAaYxA]
Drill/driver [amzn.to/3nqRjOX]
Pneumatic nail gun [amzn.to/2Kuqg6L]
Pocket hole jig [amzn.to/2LEXKjb]
Flush cut saw [amzn.to/3akgvmb]
Hammer [amzn.to/3r3Zqmz]
Phillips screwdriver [amzn.to/3oSy5BU]
Random orbital sander [amzn.to/2IU1yvU]
Square [amzn.to/388YjcB]
Steps for building custom built-in shelving units:
1. Size the parts
2. Mark the sides
3. Layout the pieces
4. Assemble the pieces
5. Add the dividers
6. Add the shelf supports
7. Size and install the back panels
8. Build the face frames
9. Finish the cabinets and prep for install
10. Install the cabinets
11. Add the face frames and molding
12. Install the central panel
13. Install the doors
14. Enjoy your new built-in!
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How to Build a Custom Built-in Shelving Unit | House One
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