Last week, we shared our first design coaching clients’ kitchen reveal (if you missed it, you can see it here). Homeowners, Chrissy and Peter, expertly created a brand new kitchen using Ikea cabinets as their starting point. It was an incredible transformation, and if you saw the reveal photos, I’m sure you also caught a glimpse of the brand new built-in bookcases on the right side of their kitchen. Well, we felt this bookcase needed a dedicated post, and Chrissy and Pete were kind enough to break down some of the mechanics for us. The addition of this wooden feature wall made such a difference to the space. I mean, just look at this before and after…
Previously, their kitchens and dining areas were dull to say the least. The window was off center, and the difference in ceiling heights felt drastic. By swapping out and centering the windows, then adding a built-in surround, they not only maximized their storage but created a stunning focal point. One that served the overall design in many ways. Connecting it to the kitchen cabinets created a great visual stopping point for the tiled wall. And because the bookcase extends beyond the kitchen’s dropped ceiling, the height difference between the two now feels intentional. This makes each space feel larger in some way, but by bringing the same wood tone into smaller elements of the kitchen design, both areas feel discreet and connected.
The bookcase in all its glory! We actually took out the dining set to give it a moment. It turned out great, and seeing it in person, Em, Marlee, and I were all extremely impressed that this was something they (once again) tackled themselves. But how did they do it?
You guys really liked the interview style from last time, so I pestered Pete and Chrissy once again with questions about this production, and they graciously came up with answers – despite having the flu! Rockstars, these two. So keep reading the half-revealing, half-behind-the-scenes process post and see how they accomplished it, should you feel like trying the DIY yourself 🙂
What were you jumping about? Tell us about this project?
Chrissy drew out what she wanted, along with measurements, including the depth of the bookcase, and we went from there! Because she wanted cabinet doors on the bottom, we figured out a way to “hack” it, so to speak. Since I’ve never made cabinet boxes before, I figured this was the better move. We had fun together looking around Portland for the perfect wood and stain that we wanted. From there, I got into cutting, assembling, etc.
One of our favorite elements was to see how deep the window sits above the shelves. Can you give us a “behind the scenes” glimpse? pun intended. How did you figure it out?
Chrissy only wanted the bookcase shelves to be 11″ deep, and I knew I wanted the bookcase to be incredibly strong, so I built a 2 x 6 vertical frame attached to the actual wall, behind each side of the bookcase and lower shelves. By default, the window will be 6-7 inches deep, and we liked it, drawing the eye in and out of the window. It also outlines a beautiful tree we have outside, so bonus all around.
Did you follow a plan?
There was no real plan – I just kind of cocktail napkin-ed it – and made a plan that was even across the wall. We had to choose cabinets that fit within the space, so we chose 2 single cabinets at either end and 3 double cabinets in the middle…
Any troubleshooting here?
Good thing – we had to re-install our floor vent into the wood trim below – luckily, Amazon Unstained Oak Vent CoverWhich I painted and installed oak trim.
Individual base cabinets originally came from lowe’sAnd you might have noticed how different they look between the process photos and the finished product – and not just from Getting obscured! This type of unfinished, stock cabinet base can feel like a dime a dozen, with interior hinges that make it so the doors stay closed at the base of the frame. But Peter was able to stack the doors vertically on all four of them, which really gave the bookcase an elevated, custom feel.
How did you “hack” the cabinets to look so good?!
Essentially, I cut out all the cabinet doors (all around the door) and then found a special hinge (shoutout). Woodcrafters of Portland) which will allow an overlay to become an inlay door. You can buy stock oak cabinets like these from Lowe’s or Home Depot, and you’ll need to get a table saw to cut them to make inlay cabinets. Took a few tries to figure out the right mechanics, but it finally got it right!
Here you can see how the doors sit together with the rest of the building. Such great detail! Looking inside the cabinets, you’ll also be able to see the factory hinge cut-outs of the doors, with new hinges installed between them. By purchasing these special hinges, shortening the doors, and using hinge jig To get everything right, Pete was able to make the transition from overlay to inset, keeping costs down luxury.
So how difficult was this build?
Due to the height of the built-ins, this was quite challenging for one person. I could have assembled them on my own, but when I built the shelf boxes on the ground, I had to get Chrissy’s help, and then lift them onto the shelves. They were quite heavy, and I had to climb a ladder to get them in place. also make sure Secure cabinets to wall studs. urgent!
Pete relied on several accessories to pull this build together, XL clamp And at a nice table were seen his two best friends. Some other great tools he recommends keeping on hand? A laser levelA pocket-hole jigAnd equal parts patience and perseverance.
How long did it take you to build this whole thing? Was it a team effort to make it to the finish line?
Total team effort. While I listened to it all night long, Chrissy watched the kids. It was a big undertaking, largely because, again, I don’t do it every day. Maybe 10 days, working 4-5 hours a night. But it cost a lot of money plywood and cut it into shelves with a table saw.
Speaking of wood, can you tell us more about it and what you used it for?
We bought all white oak – cabinets, plywood, wood boards, and then stained them dark for the effect we wanted to achieve; However, it might have been cheaper if we had used a different species of wood. But oak plywood wasn’t crazy in terms of cost.
What did you use to finish the edges and take it to the ceiling?
That’s a piece of milled oak. So don’t cut from the same oak plywood that we made the bases from. It’s a beautiful piece of wood, and Stain loved it.
Okay, let’s talk stains! What did you learn about this process? Any useful tools/tricks? Did you seal it with anything?
From Chrissy: No, one more coat is done! these stains Best of all, and it’s non-toxic. highly recommend! Pete was able to stain on site, which saved time in the process (as opposed to applying stain to a different location and bringing it in later after staining) because there were no nasty fumes. Actually, its smell was quite pleasant.
From peat: Stain can be extremely messy, and you have to learn how to work with it. Just a learning curve, but worth it. No sealant!
Well, the hard work paid off. The bookcase became such a beautiful focal point in the space, and the design integrated so seamlessly with their kitchen (another incredible Chrissy and Pete DIY that you can see here, all using Ikea cabinetry if you can believe it). Chrissy styled almost all the bookcases here, which included a beautiful collection of books, decor, and sweet family photos. She decorated the room with a beautiful new pendant, this fabulous table ArticleAnd a pair of chairs that are durable as well as affordable Anabei.
In the early stages of this renovation, we initially talked to Chrissy about it being more like a banquette than a bookcase. When the design took final form, they decided that a show-stopping built-in bookcase would be a better vibe, and we totally agree!
Why were you moved by built-in bench seating?
I know Chrissy loves parties, I do too. However, at the end of the day, we felt that a statement built-in bookcase would be best to address the varying funky ceiling heights and create a more seamless transition from one room to the next (kitchen to dining room to living room) without the clutter (as the banquette would have been).
Is there anything you would change or do differently? Oh! And what do you store here? Our readers want to know! 🙂
From peat: I’m very happy about it, so I have no regrets about this build! It was tough, but worth it in every way. It definitely changed this room radically.
From Chrissy: We just love how it turned out. We are stocking glassware, plates, placemats, etc., all the usual buffet/dining room supplies. 🙂
dining table | woven chairs | captain chairs | pendant light
So there you have it folks! Chrissy and Pete hit another DIY renovation out of the park. The gorgeous wooden bookcase blends beautifully with all the elements of the kitchen and really gives this room a point of view, not to mention extra storage. Thank you so much to C+P for putting their heart into this project and being kind enough to share it with all of us. We think it’s a bookcase build In fact Payment was made. What do you think?
*Designed and created by Chrissy Cambor and Pete Cambor, @camborhouse
** Styled by Chrissy Cambor and Emily Henderson
***By photo Keltin Green
