Ikea Hack Library Built-in

Jack’s library wall is done! This Ikea hack built-in bookshelf was such a fun project to tackle. This build was partially created from Ikea Billy bookcases. The top section of cubbies that spans the entire wall is custom built from scratch, and the shelves below that are the Billy bookcases. Everything was custom trimmed out and secured to the wall to be fully built-in and permanent!

This wall was originally space that was really unusable. You could put a dresser or bookshelves in the wider section of wall, but it’s also behind the swing of the door, so no seating or bed could be against that wall. I had an Ikea Kallax shelf there for a few years, holding Jack’s books, games, and toys, but as he’s started reading more and getting more into board games, I quickly ran out of space on that shelf. Transforming the wall into a floor-to-ceiling bookcase felt like the perfect way to add so much storage and functionality to this room.

Project Cost Breakdown

Plywood for top shelves: $119.50

Ikea Billy Bookcases (3x 16in wide and 1x 32in): $236.00

White Paint + Paint Brush: $64.98

Primer, Wood Filler, Caulk: $103.87

Trim (various sizes): $180.53

Coral Curtains (used an old existing Ikea curtain rod): $40.26

Project total: $745.14

This total doesn’t include the tools used to complete this project, which I already had. It also doesn’t include fasteners like screws or brad nails, which I also already had on hand. The tools I used to complete this project were:

Circular Saw
Drill + Impact Driver
Table Saw
Pocket Hole Jig
Brad Nailer
Corner Clamps

For this project, I decided to use Ikea Billy bookcases for the bottom section of shelves, then custom build the top section that spans the entire wall, going over the closet doorway.

I began by building the Ikea Billy bookcases. I needed to install all the shelves so I could fill all the bracket holes on the insides with wood filler. This really makes them feel seamless and built-in without all the little holes. Once the wood filler was dry I could take these outside and sand them to smooth out the wood filler and scuff up the laminate finish to prep for primer. I sanded with 220 using my sheet sander, then pulled them into the garage to spray with primer.

Using my Graco X7 paint sprayer I sprayed Zinsser B-I-N primer, which is a shellac based primer that sticks super well to finishes like the laminate Ikea furniture finish. Make sure to wear a respirator mask when spraying it, this stuff is pretty nasty but it works great. I put two coats of primer on.

To install the Ikea bookcases, I needed to measure where my studs were and then I added 1/2in scraps of plywood to the wall where the studs were because the way the back of these bookshelves is constructed leaves about a 1/2in gap between the back panel and the wall, which you can see in the video below

I screwed through the back of the bookshelves, the plywood scrap and into the studs to secure these to the wall, then I got to work building the top section of the library from scratch.

I built this section in two pieces, one piece that spanned over the closet doorway and sat atop the two 16” billy bookcases that flank that doorway, and then a second one that sat atop the 32” bookcase and the 16” bookcase in the corner of the room. I used cabinet grade plywood to build these, which was about $55/sheet at Home Depot, and then used hardboard for the back wall.

I mapped out the measurements for all the side panels and inside vertical separators and input those into cutlistoptimizer.com to get an efficient plan for how to utilize my plywood to avoid waste, this was super helpful when it came time to cut every piece.

To assemble these upper boxes, I used my Kreg pocket hole jig and drilled two pocket holes on the top and bottom of the vertical sides of the box, and then used corner clamps to hold everything together nice and square while I screwed the sides on to the bottom of the box. Then I flipped it over to attach the top, again using pocket screws.

To cut the hardboard for the back, I just laid the boxes on the hardboard, traced around their perimeter, and then cut out those rectangles. Those got nailed on to the back of the boxes, then we pulled the boxes inside to temporarily install them on the top of the billy bookcases so I could mark where all the vertical dividers would go in those boxes. I wanted all the dividers to match up perfectly with the sides of the Ikea shelves so things looked seamless from bottom to top.

With those measurements taken, I then brought those boxes back down to the ground and installed the verticals using wood glue and brad nails. The final thing the custom boxes needed was a couple coats of primer, so they went back out to the garage for spraying.

Finally they could be installed permanently, again— screwing them to the studs (these didn’t need that extra plywood because they didn’t have a gap between the back panel and the wall).

Now I’m able to start installing trim and this is where things get really fun because it starts to feel really built in and finished. I had a couple wider vertical sections, and then a wider crown piece and a 2in horizontal that spanned the full wall, but for the most part the fronts of the bookshelf all got 1.5in wide trim: verticals as well as the horizontal shelf fronts. I used by brad nailer to install all of these, making sure to nail in at opposing diagonals for added security.

All the nail holes got filled with wood filler, and all the seams and joints got caulk, then it was time for paint!

I used Behr’s Scuff Defense paint in Satin finish with the color Bit of Sugar, which is a really nice bright white. Two coats later and I was done! I chose to brush and roll the paint on, rather than have to mask off the whole room and drag my big ol paint sprayer into the house. It took a little longer, but I’m happy with how smooth the finish ended up.

Can you believe this is the same room, just a few short years ago? (Okay maybe not short years. We did have a whole pandemic between 2018 and now— it’s actually felt like an eternity since we bought this house).

I’m super proud of how this room has transformed and TBH I think Jack’s room might be my favorite room in the entire house. It’s so bright and happy and fun. It feels really special.

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DIY Fireplace build with Ambe Fireplaces

Thank you to Ambe Fireplaces for sponsoring this project

When we first bought this house, it originally had a wood burning stove which was placed super awkwardly in the middle of what was at the time the dining room (we turned this area into the living room). It stuck pretty far into the room and took up quite a bit of square footage, so we ended up removing it and scheming a replacement that would fit the space better both in terms of size/placement, as well as design.

I came up with an idea to transform the whole wall with a modern concrete fireplace and built-in bookcase. After a few years of updating this house, it’s taken on an eclectic modern look so I knew this combination would not only fit the style of the house, but also add a ton of functionality.

I decided to recess the right side about 10 inches to create a raise hearth, as well as create space for a mantel so that the mantel wasn’t sticking out into the room, since the fireplace would be along the main traffic route through the house. It also made it so that if we (or a future owner) ever wants to put a TV above the mantel, it also won’t be sticking out into the room. This design feels like it takes a wall that was blank and unused and gives it so much storage and usability.

Ambe Fireplaces are electric which meant that we didn’t have to do any kind of messing around with the existing chimney, or putting in gas lines. There was already an existing outlet right where we wanted to place the unit, and since Ambe Fireplaces use a standard 120v outlet, we didn’t have to do any electrical to wire it up. They have a few different shapes and sizes, but I really loved the linear style and the 50in was the perfect size for our spot (though they also have a 72in version too!).

The directions were straightforward and included all the dimensions for framing out the hole for the unit, so I sketched up a framing plan and we got to it!

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We started by cutting out the flooring where the fireplace was going. since it’s a floating floor, we wanted to remove it so we could attach the framing directly to the subfloor. With the floor out, we framed up the wall for the fireplace. It’s just a decorative wall, so it doesn’t need to be a load bearing wall. We had to move the light switch for the room because otherwise it was going to be behind the area we framed it, and we added an outlet for a TV (which for the time being will be hidden behind the mantel).

Once the framing was done, we did a test fit to make sure the fireplace unit fit and everything was correct, then we drywalled the whole thing in. I covered the raised hearth with plywood instead of drywall so it’s more durable for folks to sit on there.

For the concrete finish, I used Henry Feather Finish and troweled it on. It took two coats and I sanded it down in between coats and at the end to make sure it was nice and smooth. Then the fireplace could go in for good!

The fireplace comes with a variety of different stones to put in to customize the look of the faux embers, as well as some faux logs. I loved the white stones, so I used those as well as the logs for a really cozy look. Once those are in, you can put the front glass on and it’s ready to install.

Before sliding it in, plug it in (the cord is long enough to make this easy), then slide the fireplace in, making sure each side goes in at the same time. Then you can attach the face frame, and you can turn it right on!

You can customize the color of the flames, as well as an uplight and downlight, which illuminate the rocks. I love a really authentic look so I picked the orange flames and red embers, but they’re super easy to change up with the remote.

The fireplace has a heater which blows warm air out the top of the front, so it does heat your space, but I love being able to have just the “fire” on throughout the day for the ambiance! You can adjust the temperature of the heater, and on super chilly days it was a great supplement to keep the living room warm.

The coziness of a fireplace is so much easier to add to a space than I had previously thought. You could even use an Ambe Fireplace to build a temporary fireplace that’s removable if you’re a renter! Since all you need to do is frame up a box for the unit to go in, and a standard 120v outlet, it can just sit against the wall, without having to permanently attach it to the home.

A fireplace can add so much coziness and be the perfect way to add a focal point to your space. If I had the square footage, I would 100% add another fireplace to my bedroom too!

Removable Wallpaper Fridge Makeover

Spring 2022 One Room Challenge | Week 3

If you guys know me, you know I can't leave a regular fridge alone. In my last three places I've re-covered my fridge with contact paper. Refrigerators can be ultra boring, and if you're renting, it's not like you can paint it or replace it, so you're stuck with it. Not so! Ladies and gentlemen, removable wallpaper is your fridge's best friend.

I've used chalkboard contact paper, woodgrain contact paper, and marble contact paper, as well as removable peel and stick wallpaper to cover fridges.

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What you'll need:

Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Scissors
X-acto knife (optional
Tape Measure

First thing you need to do is remove the fridge door handles, which is very easy.  There's usually just a screw on top the door and either on the bottom of the door, or on the bottom front of the door.  Unscrew both screws and the handle pops right off.  You can screw the handle back on after applying your contact paper, but I liked how clean it looked without the handle and it's perfectly easy to open without a handle. 

Applying the removavle wallpaper to the fridge is pretty straightforward.  I did two vertical pieces of wallpaper on the front , and then the sides also took two vertical pieces, again, one full width and then a smaller strip to complete the side.  

Measure how much you need for each piece as you go, cut the piece and then pull a few inches of the backing off to start applying.  Make sure your measurements include enough to wrap around the edges of the doors.  Apply it to the front of the door, leaving the edges loose to wrap once you've got the front stuck on.  Pull the backing off and smooth the sticky side to the fridge in increments so you don't get air bubbles.  Once the front is stuck on, go around the edges and stick them down.  You'll need to cut a little slice out of the the corner so it lays flat.

Continue that process around the whole fridge till it's all covered!

 Now revel in the awesomeness of your swanky new fridge!  

DIY Easy click-connect laminate flooring install

Spring 2022 One Room Challenge | Week 2

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There are a lot of nailed-down details on this One Room Challenge remodel, but one thing that was up in the air when I started- the flooring. The original flooring was, well, it was okay. The kitchen/dining/entry area had vinyl plank and the living room was carpeted. It all looked very worn down, and there was a noticeable hump in the floor right as you entered the kitchen.

We needed to decide on the flooring situation ASAP because I didn’t want to paint the cabinets and get those finished nicely and THEN go in and do flooring demo and potentially bang up the new cabinet paint. Since this decision was being made last minute, we also needed flooring that was in stock and available in the quantity we needed to do the entire space— kitchen/dining and the entry/living room.

Well, my parents found some beautiful waterproof laminate flooring at Costco and bought out the whole store (and had to hit up another Costco to get the remaining boxes needed), and we quickly decided to tackle the floors first thing.

Demo was pretty easy, the old vinyl planks came out super easily, and the carpet did as well. Once the flooring was out we were able to figure out what what going on with the lump in the subfloors by the kitchen. The carpeted living room also needed a 1/4in underlayment plywood added to bring that area’s subfloor up to the same level as the floor that had the vinyl planks, which was much easier than fixing the hump.

We ended up pulling out the 1/4in underlayment on either side of the lump, which brought the peak of the hump down lower and we were able to fill in that area with self leveler so the new floors are nice and level with no awkward hump. We ended up needing a couple coats of the self leveler (we didn’t buy enough the first time), so that took a couple days of prep work, which we folded in with prepping the cabinets to prime and paint so there wasn’t any lost time on the cabinet painting front.

I’ve done floating click-connect laminate flooring before in our house, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. These kinds of floors are very DIYer friendly. It’s hard to mess up the install, and it’s super straightforward, these were no different. We ended up with Mohawk Waterproof Laminate floors in Millport Hickory. They have the foam under pad attached to the bottom of the plank so you don’t even need to install a pad before going in with the flooring install!

I picked up a laminate flooring install kit from Home Depot, which was exactly what we needed to do the install, and Ryobi had sent over their flooring saw, which came in clutch. I was on cutting duty outside and my brother and Dad were on install inside and we made pretty quick work of the floor!

One thing manufacturers recommend, and I’ll second, is to use planks from different boxes as you work, and to inspect the planks as you install because there are only so many plank designs and you don’t want to end up with identical planks super close to one another. The other thing you’ll want to make sure of is that the gap you leave around the edges of the room (there should be a slight gap to allow for expasion) isn’t too big so that your baseboard trim is able to cover that. We weren’t super careful in a couple spots and had to to some tweaking to make it work.

Ultimately, click-connect laminate flooring is a perfect DIY project. It’s straightforward, relatively easy, and there are so many options out there now for different looks, as well as water-resistant or waterproof planks as well!

Spring 2022 One Room Challenge | Week 1

I don’t know if anyone’s been around long enough to remember my last ORC attempt. I fizzled out on my Spring 2020 attempt and my bathroom is still half done, lol. This time— I’ve got a plan of attack and a “client” I can’t ditch out on halfway through. I’ll be making over my brother and sister-in-law’s kitchen/living room!

The main focus will. be the kitchen, but we’re replacing the old flooring throughout the kitchen/living/dining areas since those spaces are open-concept. The current space has carpet in the living quadrant of the space and old, dark, worn-down LVP flooring in the rest of the kitchen/dining. The carpet and LVP are going and we’ll be putting in a lighter wood laminate that will brighten and unite the space.

As you can see, the kitchen feels very dark due to the brown cabinets, and what you can’t see is that they are pretty poorly painted. I’m super excited to bring in a rich emerald green onto the cabinets and add some texture and elevate the space with gorgeous white zellige tile on the backsplash. Unsurprisingly I’m also going to be kicking that boob-light to the curb and replacing it with something pretty and refined, and the Ikea pendant over the dining table also isn’t going to be staying.

I like the open shelving to the left of the sink, but I want to replace it with some beautiful wood shelving and brass accents. The countertop is a well worn laminate so that’s going to be replaced with a solid surface quartz countertop. Another fun plan? We’ll be wallpapering the fridge! I had so much fun wallpapering the fridge in the kitchen I did for my BFF last spring, I knew it’d be a fun way to add a graphic element in this space.

We’re already knee-deep in demo and the it-gets-worse-before-it-gets-better phase! Can’t wait to flip this drab, dated kitchen in to an elevated organic-classic space over the next 8 weeks of One Room Challenge!