Page 14 - Real Estate Now May-June 2022

4 DIY Built-ins You Can Do This Weekend

Joy Knowles courtesy REALTOR.ca
uilt-ins are showstoppers in any room. Whether used to surround a fireplace, turn a window into a cozy reading
nook, add extra storage to an otherwise underused wall, or create the home library of your dreams, built-ins
Bbring the grandeur.

But that grandeur can come with a grand price if you order custom built-ins. Luckily, they’re not the only option.
DIY built-ins don’t have to be expensive, require a full renovation, or take longer than a weekend to complete. Paint,
moulding and prefabricated bookcases, wardrobes, and cabinetry are all you’ll need to create the classy, custom
looking built-ins of your dreams.
The secret to DIY built-ins is paint and trim. To make your project look like custom work, paint the built-ins to match
your room colour and use trim to finish the edges.

Dramatize your fireplace

Fireplaces are often the focal points of the room they’re in, but if you’re wondering how to make the most of the
empty space on either side, built-ins are a great answer. If you don’t have a fireplace, but really want one, or want to
remodel your current fireplace before building the DIY built-ins, you can create your own using some of these hacks.

To add depth in the room, and more curiosity for the eye, bring out the built-ins so they recess the fireplace. If that’s
not your style, you can measure the depth of the mantel and find bookcases to match, so the whole feature is flush.
Keep in mind anything that’s done around your fireplace should be done so with extreme care. Always be sure you’re
aligned with any fire or building codes, and be aware of any electrical systems within the wall before you start drilling.
Bookcase built-ins are excellent if you want to display books and other decorative items but doing half cabinetry with
short bookcases stacked on top allows you always-useful closed storage space.

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