Making the Bookshelves

Fall 2024 One Room Challenge, Week 6

It’s Week 6 of the Fall One Room Challenge and we are on the home stretch! This week it appears that our progress has slowed but we actually got a lot done. One little project was fixing a mistake at the bookcase bottom/counter on top of the lower drawers. When we cut those pieces, we were not taking into account that they needed to be a little wider than the top and the bottom to close in the gaps. We came up with a solution though. We had practiced using the router on a 2x4 so we sliced a few pieces to use as filler pieces and attached them to the top.

This proved to be a little tricky since there was nothing to hold them in place. We ended up using shims underneath them to allow the glue to dry. They are not perfect and I’ve had to use some wood filler to build up the cracks a little more but I think once they are painted, they will not be noticeable. The router also got away from Doug a little bit so there is some reshaping that has to be done with the wood filler. It needs a little more work, but it has to dry thoroughly between each coat so I’m still working on it.

Next we moved on to making the shelves. Once we got the first one measured and cut correctly, it was just a matter of cutting 5 more just like it. We then had to do my favorite thing which is attach edge banding. Then we sanded and primed those pieces to get ready for our final coat of paint. 

While I worked on painting, Doug started stripping the finish off the little side chair that we are going to use in this room. 

This chair was a rescue from a vintage shop and this is what it looked like in it’s original form.  And, here is how it looks now.  Still some work to do, but we are moving right along! 

Then our cabinet maker came in and installed the doors and drawers for us.  We had a little bit of an issue though. The doors and drawers didn’t line up. Yikes – I'm one of those people that that is ALL I’ll see if we don’t fix this. Fortunately, he is going to be able to make some adjustments and wrap that up soon. There is another small issue with some of the trim pieces but I think it’s all workable. Whew – it was a little stressful!!!! It made me wish that we would have just built these pieces ourselves. But, what’s done is done and we just have to move forward. Things are looking so good though! We are still waiting for some of the hardware to arrive but hopefully it will be here next week.  

We have a long punch list of items that still need to happen. Here’s our to do list: 

  • Put a final coat of paint on the bookcases 

  • Install the hardware (which is delayed) 

  • Paint all the trim in the room (baseboards, windows, doorframes and doors) 

  • Install baseboards and shoe molding 

  • Stain and apply polyurethane to the side chair 

  • Strip, sand, stain and poly the desk 

  • Hang curtains and art 

  • Hang television 

  • Style the room 

Previous One Room Challenge Weeks:

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Main Bathroom Renovation