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I settled on a very simple yet effective method. I was just going to build a wooden duct into the foundation frame, and seal the inside edges with caulk to make it air-tight. Here is Eileen hard at work finishing off the project. The paint we used is linked above, but be sure to read our Update below on paint. Using Our New Floor-To-Ceiling Bookshelf With A Window Seat Initially, we were leaning towards a large L-shaped bookshelf in the office. Then Eileen had a great idea of placing the bookshelf against the window wall and incorporating a window seat. First, I cut all the wood to the required sizes and routed the dados using my jig. I also painted the individual pieces in the garage as well. With the crown molding and baseboard installed, it was time to attach the trim to cover the exposed edges of the plywood.
Next, I transported all the individual shelf pieces upstairs and started assembly with the help of some sawhorses. All that remained now was to fill all the countersunk holes with wood putty, patch and smooth any imperfections in the trim, caulk any small gaps (mostly with the crown molding and baseboard) and then apply paint where necessary. Painting The Built-In Bookshelves & Wall A bookcase or bookshelf is an essential piece of furniture in almost every home. If it's not for a home library, it can be a home for your children's toys. And if it's not toys, you can use it for important papers and folders in a home office. The options are endless. Above the window was just enough space for a single small shelf to store decorative items or horizontal books. This window shelf was really long though (the same length as the seat), so to prevent it from drooping in the middle, I added a divider in the center to hold up the bottom shelf to the firmer top shelf. Installing Crown Molding And Baseboard
Update: We actually did something pretty cool with the L-shaped space that we didn’t use for this built-in bookshelf project. We made a craft corner using pegboard, wall-mounted cubby shelves, and simple shelves. Here’s a picture of the shelf leaning, while we figured out just how to get it through the doorway. It was an extremely tight fit, but we made it. I used the same technique as the first bookshelf I built in our old home – dado grooves to support the shelves, cut with a standard plunge router. Aside from the 2×4, I used a countersinking drill bit to make the screw holes in the shelf. This made a clean hole for the screw to be countersunk without damaging the expensive birch plywood.
Both the left and right bookshelves were up at the point, and they were looking great. Making The Window Seat In addition, the middle 2 x 4 (that bridged the two bookshelves at the top) was going to help support the middle shelf that ran above the window. The vent opening on the floor just needed a small top and bottom piece of the baseboard to blend in.
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Although the birch was a little more expensive, I wasn’t comfortable embarking on a project this size using melamine – a material I have never really worked with before.
Some designs I saw online used a standard shelf depth (around 12”) with the seat extending out further. Depending on what you want to store, consider whether you need a bookcase with doors and drawers or open shelves. And, we still haven’t put up any doors! Eileen would love to add French doors this year to make it feel like a separate room. That’s definitely on the project list.
🍪 Privacy & Transparency
Besides, after the trim gets installed, I planned on patching up any flaws with wood putty. Then, once painted, the trim would look flawless. Also, the window seat would provide a little extra underneath cabinet storage, which is a pretty cool feature. I had installed crown molding in the kitchen of our previous home, so I was familiar with the procedure. Construction of the window bookshelf was pretty much complete at this point. I was really pleased with how it was turning out, and Eileen was absolutely thrilled.
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