How To Update Old Built-ins

Congenital with a Purpose

A place for everything, and everything in its place. That's the idea, anyhow. Of grade, reality often falls brusk of the organizational ideal. That's the dazzler of built-ins: Accept some otherwise underused space and install a purpose-congenital piece of furniture to make storage and organizing easy and efficient. Here's a look at the amazing multifariousness of congenital-ins that This Old House readers sent in this year.

An Impressive Built-in Bookshelf: Before

Who: Frank W.

Where: Laytonsville, Md

I designed and congenital this wall chiffonier for my function to house all of my part files, reckoner printers, and scanners. It will likewise house a wall-mounted TV with hidden cables. The forest is African mahogany that I stained and finished myself.

An Impressive Built-in Bookshelf: After

Who: Frank West.

Where: Laytonsville, Md

The almost difficult part of the remodel was creating the overall cabinet design, equally well every bit making all of the solid mahogany moldings.

Who did the work: I did all the work myself.

Price: $1,000 to $five,000

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A Wall of Bookshelves: Before

Who: Tere T.

Where: La Mesa, CA

We fabricated bookcases, prepped the wall, installed and shimmed the cases, painted, added brick on the wall and installed a faux ceiling beam.

A Wall of Bookshelves: After

Who: Tere T.

Where: La Mesa, CA

We named the library "Jim'due south library," after my late begetter-in-law, who loved home projects, woodworking, and books!

Who did the work: We did all the piece of work ourselves.

Cost: $one,000-$five,000

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From "Lava Pit" to Office Fabled: Before

Who: Jenni D.

Where: Kansas City, MO

I used to refer to my office every bit the lava pit, thanks to the lovely orangish shag carpet, which was the starting time affair to get. After vehement the carpet up, I refinished the hardwood floors underneath. Rather than tearing down the wallpaper, I simply filled the seams with drywall mud and painted over everything. The focal bespeak of the room is the custom-built window seat and bookcases that I made from scratch, all by myself. The window-seat lid lifts up for storage, and air circulation isn't a problem since I included radiator screens at the bottom. I added crown molding to the room and replaced the light fixture too as built the custom sideboard and shelves.

From "Lava Pit" to Office Fabulous: After

Who: Jenni D.

Where: Kansas City, MO

It'southward such a luxury to have room for everything (and with space to spare even!) I love how the congenital-ins give the room such an elevated, custom feeling.

Who did the work: I did all the piece of work myself.

Cost: $500-$1,000

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A Laundry Room Surprise: Earlier

Who: Charlie Chiliad.

Where: Houston, TX

Information technology was simply a drab laundry room.

A Laundry Room Surprise: After

Who: Charlie G.

Where: Houston, TX

My wife absolutely loves it!

Who did the work: I did all the piece of work myself.

Price: $100-$500

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An Elegant Window Seat with Storage: Before

Who: Jeff E.

Where: Marion, IL

This space needed some assistance.

An Elegant Window Seat with Storage: After

Who: Jeff Due east.

Where: Marion, IL

I sewed the defunction out of two shower curtains, and I saved a huge amount of money by having a local upholstery business sew my window-seat cushion cover out of a painter's drop cloth.

Who did the piece of work: We did all the work ourselves.

Toll: $100-$500

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Whole-Room Remodel With Built-ins: Before

Who: Terry M.

Where: Quincy, IL

Gutted the wall with a built-in entertainment heart on it, which had been congenital in an alcove where a fireplace would have been.

Whole-Room Remodel With Built-ins: After

Who: Terry M.

Where: Quincy, IL

I helped with tiling the hearth, and I did all the painting and decorating.

Who did the work: I did some of the piece of work only a contractor did most of it.

Cost: $1,000-$5,000

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Hallway Storage Solution: Before

Who: Mary P.

Where: Montgomery, AL

Rug and linoleum were removed and replaced with tile.

Hallway Storage Solution: After

Who: Mary P.

Where: Montgomery, AL

I honey all the storage infinite that nosotros have now, with the coat closets, overhead storage bins for hats, gloves, and scarves, and all storage nether the new window seat.

Who did the piece of work: We did all the work ourselves.

Cost: $500-$1,000

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Pergola and Plants: Earlier

Who: Karon O.

Where: Chicago, IL

I'd have to say that coming up with an thought that would requite us shade in the summer and light in the wintertime was the hardest part.

Pergola and Plants: After

Who: Karon O.

Where: Chicago, IL

I built up the benches so the neighbor kids and I could sit out there and talk. I designed a frame for the window that allowed me to add some brackets to tie in the await of the pergola. I love having flowers in the window box and I know the clematis I planted will wait and aroma cute as it grows upward and over the pergola, lending it a more welcoming feel.

Who did the work: I did some of the work but a contractor did most of information technology.

Toll: $i,000-$five,000

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Entertainment Center Transformation: Earlier

Who: Michelle P.

Where: Virginia Embankment, VA

We removed a recessed TV chiffonier and redid the blank wall.

Entertainment Center Transformation: After

Who: Michelle P.

Where: Virginia Beach, VA

This remodel has added a finished wait to our family room and provided u.s. with much needed storage.

Who did the piece of work: A contractor did most of the piece of work.

Price: $five,000-$ten,000

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Complete Fireplace Surround Remodel: Earlier

Who: Corey S.

Where: Gainesville, VA

The room before was drab.

Consummate Fireplace Surround Remodel: After

Who: Corey S.

Where: Gainesville, VA

We took off the manufacturing plant mantel and the granite on the floor and the fireplace surround. Rewired for the Television receiver to exist able to sit affluent on the wall above fireplace. Congenital out the wall up to the ceiling and added Hardie backer lath and mortar. Laid stones individually. Recycled a downed log from the woods and cut information technology and stained it for a new mantel. Cut supports and anchored them for the mantel to sit on. Laying slate tiles for the hearth expanse.

Who did the work: We did all the work ourselves.

Cost: $100-$500

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Rustic Room Congenital-in: Before

Who: Jon Southward.

Where: Fenton, IL

The room was in crude shape.

Rustic Room Built-in: Later on

Who: Jon S.

Where: Fenton, IL

Completely congenital the cabinet. Used beadboard on the back and added shelves and molding. Made the countertop out of oak barn flooring. Lower cabinet has deep shelves for added storage.

Who did the work: I did all the piece of work myself.

Cost: $100-$500

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A Staircase Transformed: Earlier

Who: Dana P.

Where: Galveston, TX

A scary former stair.

A Stairway Transformed: Subsequently

Who: Dana P.

Where: Galveston, TX

In order to brand apply of the 500 square anxiety of attic space, we had to design and build a new staircase. We wanted it to await as if it were original to the house. Get-go we lifted a massive axle eleven½ anxiety into identify in the living room ceiling to stabilize the second floor. So we set about scavenging for newel posts and railings. No one we have shown the house to tin can believe the staircase didn't come with the firm.

Who did the work: We did all the work ourselves.

Cost: $100-$500

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A Thousand Fireplace Replaces a Mural: Before

Who: Kirk B.

Where: Moyock, NC

Nosotros wanted a warm, inviting family area, and nosotros wanted the aquarium to be a presence.

A Thou Fireplace Replaces a Mural: Later on

Who: Kirk B.

Where: Moyock, NC

Nosotros built the consummate structure, including mantel, shelving, wainscoting, and fireplace surround. Nosotros sanded and painted the built-ins, installed the fireplace and electrical wiring for the fireplace, with a gas hookup by a professional.

Who did the work: We did all the work ourselves.

Cost: $500-$1,000

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Attic Makeover With Fabled Walk-in Cupboard: Before

Who: Katie H.

Where: Whitefish Bay, WI

We needed more space.

Attic Makeover With Fabulous Walk-in Closet: After

Who: Katie H.

Where: Whitefish Bay, WI

We gutted the attic quickly, added a window, installed electricity (lights, outlets), framed out knee joint-walls, installed build-in shelves, built drawers, installed drawers, added new sub-flooring, carpeted infinite, drywall and added laminate flooring.

Who did the work: We did the work ourselves.

Cost: $500-$1,000

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A Cute Bay-Window Built-In: Before

Who: Emily B.

Where: Fletcher, NC

We didn't like the room's design.

A Cute Bay-Window Born: After

Who: Emily B.

Where: Fletcher, NC

We remodeled this infinite as new homeowners and so that we could add together our own personalities to an old home. It'south our outset improvement and a great inspiration to the rest of the domicile!

Who did the work: We did the work ourselves.

Cost: $500-$1,000

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Kids' Basement Built-in Playhouse: Before

Who: Kevin D.

Where: Due north Potomac, Md

Nosotros wanted to build an indoor playhouse for the kids.

Kids' Basement Built-in Playhouse: Afterwards

Who: Kevin D.

Where: North Potomac, MD

We transformed the bare wall into a facade for a small cottage. The walls/roof are covered with cedar shingles. The windows were made with wood and acrylic, and the door is cutting from a patently slab. I cut the door to size and added a mail slot and the hardware, which consists of a working storm-door latch and mechanical crank doorbell. The grille in the door is a small piece of what was once i of my home'due south window grilles. How's that for repurposing? The interior work took the longest, with engineered-wood flooring, beadboard walls and ceiling, new kid-prophylactic electrical work; and there's a pocket-size bookshelf and cabinet built-in under the lower portion of the stairs. I added a transom barn window and then we tin can spy from within the laundry room.

Who did the work: I did all the work myself.

Price: $500-$ane,000

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Bedroom Becomes Office With Built-Ins: Before

Who: Lisa H.

Where: Walnut Grove, MN

Nosotros needed more space.

A Beautiful Bay-Window Built-In: After

Who: Emily B.

Where: Fletcher, NC

We didn't like the room's design.

Second Life For An Old Outbuilding: Before

Who: Kara P.

Where: Walnut Grove, MS

We had an old outbuilding with rotted siding. My husband and I came up with the idea of making information technology into a weekend cabin retreat.

Second Life For An One-time Outbuilding: After

Who: Kara P.

Where: Walnut Grove, MS

We built a sled out of railroad timbers and moved the outbuilding next to our shop. Nosotros tore it downward to the studs. We found a local family who sold us the cypress siding. Later on completing the interior and outside, nosotros moved information technology to a wooded location next to our pond. We then built the deck. My married man ran cablevision railing so we nevertheless could have a beautiful view. This is the all-time DIY project we ever completed! It is and then peaceful and relaxing.

Who did the piece of work: We did all the work ourselves.

Cost: $ane,000-$5,000

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Built-in Bungalow Bookcase: Earlier

Who: Angi B.

Where: Tampa, FL

We wanted a built-in bookcase that would friction match the character of my mom's 1926 bungalow.

Built-in Bungalow Bookcase: Later on

Who: Angi B.

Where: Tampa, FL

The hardest function of the project was designing a bookcase that would aesthetically fit the infinite and character of the home while maintaining the functional requirements, including the meridian, weight, and sheer quantity of books in her collection.

Who did the work: I did all the piece of work myself.

Toll: $100-$500

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Building a Closet Reading Nook: Before

Who: Hoover B.

Where: Andover, MN

I wanted to make a fun space for reading, and since I had a spare closet—information technology was the perfect space!

Building a Cupboard Reading Nook: Subsequently

Who: Hoover B.

Where: Andover, MN

I wanted to get in sturdy so it non only has lag bolts into the studs, simply besides support under the centre. It worked out great, equally I now have cubbies for baskets that hold extra books. The cushion was really hard for me, and involved a huge learning bend, as I had never worked with upholstery fabric before. The terminal production was worth all the work!

Who did the work: I did all the work myself.

Cost: $100-$500

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A "Den" Renovation: Before

Who: Steve M.

Where: Glen Ridge, NJ

I didn't like the room's design.

A "Den" Renovation: Afterwards

Who: Steve M.

Where: Glen Ridge, NJ

We took out the through-wall air conditioner (and installed central air). Nosotros removed old windows and installed new ones. Nosotros built bookcases and a box for fireplace, calculation an antique mantel we found in a local shop, and had granite hearth installed.

Who did the work: A contractor did most of the work.

Cost: $1,000-$5,000

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A Coffered Ceiling Renovation: Earlier

Who: Scott F.

Where: G Rapids, MI

We didn't like the room's design.

A Coffered Ceiling Renovation: Earlier

Who: Scott F.

Where: Grand Rapids, MI

We removed all the carpeting, paneling, and ceiling tiles. We refinished the flooring, rewired, added new stained wainscoting in the aforementioned place where the original trim had been. (The original trim had been removed, just at that place was a shadow on the plaster of where it once was.) Nosotros added a new stained-glass window where previous window was behind paneling and added new trim effectually the window. Nosotros removed pigment from the forest beams.

Who did the work: We did all the work ourselves.

Price: $i,000-$5,000

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Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/storage-organization/21017819/best-built-ins-before-and-afters-2013

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