Although built-in bookcases are cool, their price tag usually isn't. Have you ever thought about building your own? That's pretty costly and time consuming as well, but what if you half built your own and half bought your own? Well then check out this makeover and head to IKEA for the best of both worlds!
We stopped in over at Centsational Girl where Kate has been hard at work customizing these typical Billy bookcases. Instead of just resting them against the wall they received a plywood base, trim molding and a total built in look.
The price tag, including the 4 bookcases themselves (which are $69/each) was $365. The process involved reusing old trim and purchasing a bit of new, but I think most will agree that the look is well worth the price and the 7 hours of labor that it took to get things assembled and looking great. Check out all the details and the step by step process over at Centsational Girl.
Image: Centsational Girl
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Zowie!
Billy's rock!
That's great. I wanted to do something just like this. Thanks for posting.
I love her wall paint.
Sensational!
LOVE IT!
All I gotta say is WOW!
I love the Billys, fantastic job. But I NNEEEDD that window fabric. Been looking for a print like this for ages. Care to share the source, please?
Thanks Sarah, I appreciate the shout out! Now off to style them so they look fabulous!
xo
Kate
I really like how she did this. I did the same thing with three Billy bookcases. They come with a flimsy cardboard back so I bought 1/8" Luon plywood & painted them dark navy blue. The effect is sensational.
Looks great!
We have a wall of 7 Billy bookcases & this treatment could make them look amazing! Love you AT (tho my husband isn't terrifically happy w/y'all...)!
Even better if you add the height extensions, which take you right to the ceiling (with just enough room for a beefy crown molding) for an even more built-in look. I just did the same thing in my living room. :D
Hello Mrs. Mouse, great idea! From what I could find, the Billy extensions don't come in the 15" depth yet, but if/when they do, I'm already thinking that extra height will look great!
Re: princessavi
The window panels are from Pier1 Imports!
Heres a link: http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/HomeTextiles/tabid/980/CategoryId/146/ProductId/32681/ProductName/Paisley-Print-Gardenia-Window-Panel/Default.aspx
There are more details if you go to the original post :)
Nice job! Amazing transition! Such a difference with one piece. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, I'll get right on that.
Yeah, pretty much amazeballs.
I want to do the same thing with a short wall in our basement (for all of our book storage), but eh dimensions just aren't right. Two Billies is definitely not wide enough, two with one of the narrow ones is still not wide enough, but three is too much. No other cheap commercial bookcases have the right dimentions either. I'm leaning toward building my own down the line.
Great job!
Er, yes, the extensions DO come in 15" width, for I have one which I purchased earlier this year. I'm just mad my width (like the 24"+/-) was discontinued..... Pretty nice hack too.
Um, is the telly going back in there? Doesn't look like it will fit.
Lovely jobbie though! I'm a big fan of bespoke-on-a-budget.
PS Could you also post a shot of this when content is all back in? Cheers
We did this to the ugly dark brown billys that came with our house; added trim and painted them white...this was 9 years ago, before AT was around...hard to fathom a world before Apartment Therapy!
Excellent job! Great result!
It seems a bit overwhelming for the wall, but does look professionally done.
So much better. You could take them to the ceiling for an even more built-in look. Billy's rock! And, if you love a more contemporary vibe, check out some of the Besta options as well.
I did this very thing years ago in my last house. I added a light switch and rope lighting in the top behind the crown moulding which added a nice lighting effect. If I were to do it again, I'd likely make a shelf accross the top with recessed lighting pucks....
This turned out beautiful, would love to try this out when im no longer a renter. Incidentally, I am in love with your curtains! Where did you get them?
That is outstanding!
The BESTA series has different dimensions than the BILLY; if your space doesn't fit BILLY, it might fit BESTA. FYI, both are really easy to cut down if necessary.
BESTA, cut down to size to fit into an alcove in my house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeka/5776629875/
If you decide to cut them down though, cutting down laminate IKEA pieces actually takes more labor than using lumber and painting it, because you have to be a lot more careful and can't just hide errors with paint and caulk later, and you have to do it in a way that it will still fit together. I used the BESTA because I really wanted that modern/walnut look, not for any sort of time-saving reasons. It also ended up being more expensive than lumber.
This shelf, made from lumber and painted, took me about two hours to build:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeka/5567752257/
The BESTA cut-down took the better part of several days.
Wow! Great job.
WOW! I think I'm in love with Billy.