When I walk into a house one of my favorite things to see are built-ins! Besides the fact that they look great and add charm to a home, they are super functional. Built-ins take advantage of otherwise useless nooks and crannies, save floor space, add storage, and eliminate the need for extra furniture! What's not to love?
Built-ins come in a shapes in sizes, from banquettes to hutches, and window seats to shelving — they're all great and we think more homes should have them! Here are some of our favorite examples of built-ins from past Apartment Therapy posts and house tours:
TOP ROW
1 The classic built-in hutch! Great for storing and displaying tablewares. Via Apartment Therapy.
2 This home has tons of swoon-worthy built-in wood details and shelving. Via Re-Nest.
3 An amazing circular window seat. Via Apartment Therapy.
4 A gorgeous built-in sofa. Via Knoll.
5 An otherwise useless nook is turned into built-in wine storage with a few shelves. Via Apartment Therapy.
BOTTOM ROW
6 A bench, dresser, and open shelving all built-in to a roof dormer. Via Apartment Therapy.
7 A bookshelf doubles as a guardrail for the adjacent stair, and looks lovely! Via Apartment Therapy.
8 Another classic — built-ins flanking a fireplace. Via Re-Nest.
9 This awesome stair includes built-in shoe storage in one of it's risers. It also doubles as a bench! Via Apartment Therapy.
10 These built-in bunk beds are cool enough to even make adults envious! Via Apartment Therapy.
(Images as linked above)
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Built-ins seem like a great thing -- if you've got them.
Any guides on how to add them after the place is already built?
I toured a typical railroad flat in San Francisco a few years ago that had the most inspired 'built-in'. Between the living room and original parlor, where the huge double sliding doors normally go, the owner had built a double sided cabinet. Facing the cabinet in either room presented a deep(ish) doored closet/storage space on your left, and a shallower bookcase on the right. It looked good, too!
The realtor said the original pocket doors were still there - safe in their pockets - and the owner planned on taking the cabinet with them.
For adjustable shelving, consider any inner, uninsulated wall.
Cut the space out. Line it with sheetrock or wood. Add trim.
Try shelves over a couch, bed, bureau or washing machine.
Consider any closet as a place for a built-in:
Change a coat closet to a china cupboard with glass doors.
Create a desk and upper book shelves.
Create an alcove for a bed or couch with a lower storage area.
All fabulous, but could you ever combine small spaces AND budget conscious solutions?