Wille’s room is coming together nicely.
As you can see this is where the armchair from our former living room ended up. Wille loves having it in there for reading and studying. He did need storage though. There are built in closets in his room but he also needed something for his books.
This nook is prefect for a built in book shelf so that’s what I gave him. Oh, if you can’t remember what his room looked like before you can see it here and underway here.
The supports are strips of wood screwed into the wall. The shelves themselves are store bought melamine shelves which I cut to size.
I left gaps to one side for cables and cut notches in the shelves accordingly and there’s an electrical outlet under the bottom shelf. Remember, the sugar cube Empire State Building on the top shelf lights up.
I then painted the supports so they would blend into the wall and I used the same emulsion paint that I used for the walls.
And that’s the finished result. I have a small issue with the bottom shelf bowing slightly because of the weight of those big books but the camera is making it look much worse than it actually is. I’ll probably add a support “beam” to the front of the shelf to rectify that.
One happy seventeen year old. Check!
Snyggt!
Posted by: Monnah | May 30, 2011 at 08:00 AM
Things are obviously coming together and it looks like you are starting to settle in nicely. Will be much better when everything is done though ;-)
Looking froward to seeing the rest!
Posted by: Robyn | May 30, 2011 at 08:00 AM
I am literally saying, "yippee!" way over here in Oklahoma, I have been anticipating for weeks the slow unveiling of your lovely new home and your ingenious solutions. It is going to be so much fun to watch. These shelves are awesome! I especially love your attention to detail (leaving cut-outs for the cords) and sharing the whole process with us.
Posted by: Lisa Johnson | May 30, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Great! I love the idea of cut otus for cable.
Posted by: jja | May 30, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Looks great - I like built in things! :-)
Posted by: tinajo | May 30, 2011 at 08:54 AM
We have simply used thicker wood planks for bookshelves (ours are 2,5 cm thick) and they haven't bowed even though they are 1 m wide and stacked with heavy books end to end. Hope it helps
Posted by: mribaro | May 30, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Lucky, stylish boy!
Posted by: Hxx | May 30, 2011 at 09:17 AM
I considered that but couldn't find the material quickly enough. That's what happens when you do't think thins through properly. But I did think that 18 mm would be strong enough...
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 09:24 AM
Hi Benita
You talk about a beam in your article about your sagging shelf. Did you think of putting sort of a pillar around the centre of the shelf to support it?
Otherwise for this sagging shelf there are different elegant solutions but one that will look nice and tidy is to fix a little "beam", lengthwise, to the underside of the shelf. Difficult to describe so look here : http://woodgears.ca/shelves/sag.html
As the article says, it's best to glue it rather than fix it with screws, unfortunately the laminate you used won't take glue. Don't nail that beam, but screw it from the top. If you would want to glue it to make it permamnent and solid, best would be to groove a shallow groove on the underside (so as to be ablet to glue to the particleboard and not the laminate) and insert your beam there. You'd need a router for that.
Increasing the thickness of the material (shelf) doesn't always help. With time it will most often sag a bit under the load.
Good luck!
Posted by: Jose | May 30, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Thank you for that! It's exactly what I had in mind but wasn't sure how to best do it.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Snyggt och "enkelt". Klokt att komma ihåg att fixa kabelgenomföring.
Kan du inte helt enkelt sätta en konsol på mitten av den nedersta hylla - det lär ju inte synas.
Posted by: Ett stenkast från Fyndet | May 30, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Hi! I must admit that you have performed wonders in such a short time. Everything goes on like a dream! Wille´s room looks fine too. I am only wondering.. Wille is soon an adult, and don´t the young ones want to leave home and start a life of their own as soon as possible?
You have done already so much for him! Should this not be the time to place Your needs first? Please consider resting too. After all, there is no hurry, or is there? xoxo,m
Posted by: metscan | May 30, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Jag har funderat på det men förkastat idén eftersom jag då måste såga i bakregeln men det är ju egentligen lätt gjort så jag ska kika efter en konsoli rätt mått på lunchen. Kanske den enklaste lösningen! Tack!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Nice result, I love it! =) Good job!
http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bloobreyplace.blogspot.com | May 30, 2011 at 10:49 AM
I love kitting out his room and make it a place where he can spend time studying comfortably and bringing home friends. He still has two years of junior college and will stay with me during that time. After that he wants to travel a bit and then go to the university in Stockholm so he'll be around for a while longer which I'm happy about.
I do take time for my own needs too, don't worry, I'll be in this house for years so there's plenty of time to do things for myself.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Hi Benita,
I am so impressed by what you achieved in this short amount of time. ...and all of this working full time at the same time, right?
Each morning I can't wait to check out the latest developments chez Larssons. ;-)
I am totally addicted.
Best wishes from hot and sunny Berlin
Imke
Posted by: Imke | May 30, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Yes, I do work full time. This weekend will be a five-day one due to a public holiday on Thursday though so I can't wait!!!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
That's such a handsome room!
Posted by: Katie | May 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Well, everything is becoming so handsome and inspiring....
Best of luck for your new life!
Posted by: Sandra | May 30, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Hi Benita, the house is looking so fabulous, congratulations!
Love the kitchen by the way.
Have you considered putting a bracket in the middle of the shelf?
That would mean you though that you would have to saw the back supporting wood to make room for it, but I think it might work really well.
Good luck with the rest of the house.
Posted by: Kris | May 30, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Nice!
Posted by: Jennifer S. | May 30, 2011 at 12:54 PM
What a cosy reading nook. I'd love to curl up in that chair with a good book myself :-).
P.S. I posted about Polish mid-century chairs today, if you are interested.
Posted by: Zosia | May 30, 2011 at 01:04 PM
I did and someone else mentioned it too in Swedish further up. I bought two brackets (an extra one just in case) during my lunch hour today :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Such a nice room you are putting together for Willie! I love the "I <3 NY" t-shirt pillow you made. After I saw it on your blog, I bought some on my trip to NYC last year to make one for my son. Still on my to do list... :{
Posted by: Monica | May 30, 2011 at 01:35 PM
very nice room. the floor looks much lighter than the before pic....I am looking forward to get more idea from you.... Thanks Benita
Posted by: Sandra Yeong | May 30, 2011 at 01:57 PM
In Germany as well! Enjoy the break!
Posted by: Imke | May 30, 2011 at 03:19 PM
This looks very nice. I like how the sugar cube building fits just right. :)
Posted by: r8chel | May 30, 2011 at 03:43 PM
I measured :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 30, 2011 at 03:45 PM
what a great room. i can't recall any 17 year old boys in my acquaintance (long ago!) with rooms so great. i love building in custom shelving, based on what i have to store. i might have to look at that in our place when we get back after summer. that's the trouble with renting, you have to ask!! x
Posted by: elisa rathje | May 30, 2011 at 06:29 PM
this is so great!!!
your blog is so pretty and bright.
:)
Posted by: Meg Duerksen | May 30, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Love to see that NYC is a big part of the decor!
Posted by: homestilo | May 30, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Harry Potter in pride of place! Respect.
I love how the books (all of them, not just Harry Potter) lend colour to the room. You don't need any decorative colour in that nook; the life comes literally from the books.
Posted by: Fiona Potter | May 31, 2011 at 12:29 AM
How many hours do you put in after a full day at work? You are amazing in your ideas and execution. Good golly you have endless energy and can do spirit. Beautiful room.
Posted by: Robin | May 31, 2011 at 01:30 AM
I, too, look forward to checking in with you daily! Wille's "pad" is a thoughtful gift from his mother.
Just a small curiousity: being a sloppy and unwilling painter, I would have
painted the braces outside or in the basement. What makes you decide to
bring the paint can to that great new floor?
And, long live Harry Potter & NYC.
Posted by: walnut | May 31, 2011 at 02:48 AM
I am so enjoying seeing all your projects coming up. Yay!
Posted by: Catherine | May 31, 2011 at 05:31 AM
Very clever cut for the cabels! I will copy you, If you don't mind.. I've started learning a course of building basic wood items. What do you think about writing a post of your most usefull tools for working with wood?
This sofa looks so nice near the shelves! I love to watch your way of doing things, it is such a clever and beautiful way!
Posted by: Noga from Israel | May 31, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Men, det finns ju konsoler som är vinklade i bakkant - dvs ser man från sidan så går stödet mot hyllan horisontellt, sedan 45 grader nedåt, och sedan rakt ned. Beroende på storleken på en sådan konsol kanske vinkeln är "lång" nog för att du inte ska behöva såga i regeln?
Typ såhär http://www.bygghemma.se/inomhus/inredning/garderober-och-forvaring/konsol/konsol-lundbergs-sigvard-vit/p-123700
Posted by: Ett stenkast från Fyndet | May 31, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Usually a couple of hours + regular household chores such as doing the laundry, cooking etc + blogging. On weekends I used to put in about 4-6 hours a day but after the move it's probably more like 8. But I enjoy it and don't consider it work. To me its play :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 31, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I'm a very "clean" painter. I've painted so much in the past and rarely drip. When I do spill I have a moist rag and immediately wipe it up. When my paint projects are bigger I cover up surfaces though.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 31, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I wrote a post about it a long time ago. Will go search for it. Aha! Here it is: http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/2008/09/tools.html
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 31, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Fiffiga! Har dock redan köpt konsoler, så jag kapar ut en bit ur listen baktill.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 31, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Pretty tricky I should say and the final result is fantastic.
Posted by: rent holiday apartment london | May 31, 2011 at 01:15 PM
you could also reinforce the bottom shelf by adding an apron board to the front edge of the shelf. It will give the shelf added strength and slightly hide the cords and outlet below. I usually just use a 1"x2" board (not sure what the equivalent is in a metric option) but you could use a wider board too if you like the way it looks.
Posted by: Ryan | May 31, 2011 at 09:29 PM
Thanks, Ryan!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | June 01, 2011 at 05:33 PM
Besides being inspired by your energy and entertained by your comments, I LOVE seeing glimpses of your yard and neighborhood in photos that show the view out your windows (like the neighbor children's slide outside Willie's window). Livng in So. California, I have no idea what it looks like in your neck of the woods. Keep up the good work. And thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Jante | June 01, 2011 at 07:31 PM
What a cosy looking room. Love the shelves, so simple yet so effective.
That's one really lucky 17 year old.
Posted by: Sheesham | June 01, 2011 at 09:48 PM
Thank you! I didn't know you then... It looks like you have a nice verity of tools!! I have a few old tools. I have to buy clamps. I think I'll start making things and see what I'm missing.
Your post was very helpful.
Thank you very much!
Posted by: Noga from Israel | June 02, 2011 at 08:29 AM