How we created our wall of Billy's

I saw this post on a blog and could not get it out of my mind.  It had to be done in my house and the only room with a full wall that would work was our dining room.  As I told you before, we have never used our dining room as a dining room.  Never.  Wasted space!

Not for long!  Take a look at what Chad did to complete the project.

Chad started removing the baseboards and chair rail molding when I wasn't home.  I was so glad that he started, but had to remind him that you always take a before picture first!

Then the crown molding came down carefully so we could replace it on the front of the bookcases.

Next, we had Ella paint all of the bead board.  We didn't want the plain backing that came with the shelves.  We thought an entire wall of bead board would make a statement.  I luv me some bead board!

Oh, Dad and I helped Ella with the painting :)

Chad then assembled the bookcases.  We purchased a total of five bookcases (four standard, one skinnier).  We wanted the bookcases to reach the ceiling for a built in look.  To do so, we needed two sets of extensions per bookcase for a total of 10!  The skinny bookcase extensions seemed to be sold out every time we went.  Finally, on trip number three we found the last one!  Good thing IKEA is four minutes away.

As you can see, we left the box molding along the back wall.  We did so for two reasons:  1.  We could still push the bookcases flat to the wall.  We knew we were going to secure the bookcases directly to the wall anyway and 2.  If this built in needed to be removed, the molding will still be there. 

Chad then took this handy dandy machine and secured the bead board to the backs of the bookcases...

...like this.

And this.

Here are the bookcases with the bead board.

Chad and Dad then secured each bookcase to the wall using L-brackets.

Like so.

This helped ensure that each bookcase was level.  Then they secured each bookcase to one another with blocks of wood. 

Like this.

And this.

Chad then nailed the crown molding (that he carefully removed) back into place.

To hide the gaps between each bookcase we found primed trim at Lowes.

The trim was too thick so Chad cut it in half using Dad's shop smith.  Two pieces of trim became four - perfect! 

The trim was nailed to the front of each bookcase.

Now Chad had to add the doors we bought at IKEA.  Because we added the trim to the bookcases, Chad had to notch out a section for the doors to attach.  Made me a little nervous, but he told me this would work.

It worked and the doors were attached.

It became the perfect hiding spot for Caleb.



And the girls!

Because we did not use the backing that came with the shelves, there is a small gap between the shelf and the bead board.

Chad cut down smaller trim.

And added it along the bottom of each shelf.  Problem solved! 

There was also a small gap where the baseboard met the bottom shelf.

Chad cut dowel rods and nailed them in place.  Caulk was then added and once it was painted, you can't even tell.

He also added dowel rods to the top where the crown molding met the top of the bookcase.

The entire built in was caulked along all edges.  Chad then sanded the trim so a final coat (or three) of paint could be added.

Hand sanding took too long so he used his real sander and I followed along with the vacuum so dust wouldn't get everywhere.  It still did, but not as much.

I then painted the trim.

Look a picture - with me in it!

Chad then measured and added pulls (handles?) to the doors.

And viola - we are finished!

 What do you think?