Blog | Marvelous Woodworking

14 Jun 2018

Marvelous Woodworking Mudrooms Permalink

Project Highlight: Custom Mudroom Cabinetry for A Busy Family

Marvelous Woodworking June 14, 2018

Mudrooms have become the center of family organization in many homes. That space where everyone first walks into from the garage becomes a catchall for backpacks, shoes, sports equipment, jackets, etc. Off-the-floor solutions to organizing these areas rarely fulfill all the needs of a homeowner, so we receive many calls to build custom mudroom cabinetry.

For the Carmel home pictured above, our client was looking to fill a blank wall in her back hallway to help organize her family. The space was right next to the laundry room on the way to the garage, and served as the “drop zone” for all their stuff when they arrived home. She wanted everyone to be able to hang their coats, as well as have a place to put their bags and shoes. Baskets for hidden storage were also important, and a bench to make taking shoes on and off easier. Another main goal was to keep items out of the pathway to and from the garage.

The final design was inspired by images our client had saved from design websites like Houzz.com. She was looking for a custom, built-in look that would match the rest of the architectural detailing throughout the rest of her home. We began with wainscoting to create the custom look, and then built the framework for the bench and the storage cubbies at the top. The cubbies were designed to fit the baskets she had purchased, which is much easier than finding pieces that fit the already built space! We added crown molding, corbels, and molding on the wall panels to bring the details our client was looking for. The cabinet-grade plywood and paint-grade poplar were then painted to match the trim molding in rest of the house.

The bench was secured to the wall on two sides and has a small under wall to support the outer portion. We went with this support design on purpose; a single leg would not have hidden the visual mess of shoes etc. The bench was crafted at standard seat height and depth for comfort and functionality.

The crown molding adds to the finished look of the piece but it has a functional purpose as well. We capped it rather than leaving a deep empty well, offering additional storage space up to the ceiling with enough room to store more baskets etc.

Forcing ready-built solutions into a space that you use every day can lead to even more frustration. Marvelous Woodworking can design and build a custom solution that perfectly suits your needs and style. Contact us about your custom woodworking project by sending an email or calling (317) 679-5890.

14 May 2018

Marvelous Woodworking Bookcases, Cabinetry, Fireplace Mantels Permalink

Custom Cabinetry: Adding Unique Details to Your Home

Marvelous Woodworking May 14, 2018

Many homes these days can come with a lot of blank walls and little in the way of custom details. While you end up with a spacious, well-built house, it can feel a little bland. Our client was looking to spruce up her living room by filling a blank wall with beautiful and functional storage. We ended up adding a built-in shelving and custom cabinetry design with a unique space for their television as well.

My client had pictures of designs that she liked which made the project easier to envision. We are happy to offer ideas, however, it is easier to start with a visual understanding of the style our client is looking for. From there we brainstormed ideas on how to achieve that look in her home and within her budget.

Her Carmel, IN home was decorated in a modern look fused with an old-world feel, and we wanted to create the new built-ins to look like they had been there from the start. To achieve this goal, I noted the trim, colors and door styles elsewhere in her house and included them in our final design. Wrapping the crown and base molding added a special detail that allowed the piece to blend right in.

Our client wanted open shelving on either side of the television and a chest underneath the center TV area to store pillows and blankets. We created the built-ins with poplar painted to match the woodwork throughout the rest of the home. Perhaps the best part of having custom cabinetry built is that you get to choose where your components will go and plan the wiring accordingly. As you can see in the picture, no wires are seen from the TV or the A/V equipment.

Barn wood is a popular home design material these days, and our client wanted to use it as shiplap on the wall behind her TV. Fortunately, you do not need access to an old barn to get this look; the product is easy to find at big box stores in a variety of colors. Our client liked the dark grey since it suited the rest of her home. Again, adding this custom element allowed us to plan for and hide the wiring for the TV since we were going to cover up any necessary holes.

Adding visual interest to your home should be an underlying goal of custom cabinetry. You are making the investment in something that suits your needs perfectly, why not put in just a little more effort to craft it in a style that is truly your own. For more information on this project or custom cabinetry, send us an email or give us a call at (317) 679-5890.

25 Apr 2018

Marvelous Woodworking Architectural Details, Bookcases, Cabinetry, Fireplace Mantels Permalink

Project Highlight: Balancing Different Custom Storage Needs in One Place

Marvelous Woodworking April 25, 2018

Unless you are building brand new, it is rare that a home will immediately suit your needs when you move into it. You figure out how you live in it, and then make changes once you have an understanding of what is not working. This situation is particularly true as your family grows. Our clients’ family room had a lovely fireplace and mantle, but instead of much-needed storage on either side, the walls were blank. We worked with them to build a design that would support the needs of their growing family while offering architectural interest that freshened the look of their home.

Our clients liked the existing fireplace, so we focused on the 5ft blank walls beside it. They wanted both open and closed shelving as well as seating for reading and relaxing. We began by lining the walls with white shiplap, a popular trend that brings depth and character to the vertical plane. The wood is placed horizontally on the wall with a little space between each. There are hundreds of variations of shiplap, from modern designs to old barn wood and can come with groove variations. Our client chose a clean look that complemented the rest of the design.

Even though we were placing different functional elements on either side of the fireplace area, both spaces had to make sense and appear balanced. To accomplish this goal, we created the same open shelving for the upper portion on each side, which gave the project a bit of symmetry. We also mirrored the different openings on both sides.

For the storage side of the fireplace, we installed cabinetry with niches to hold TV components, as well as open and closed shelving. Roll-away barn doors slide to allow access to those not-so-pretty things we all have while leaving space for easily accessible baskets.

The other side of the fireplace serves as a reading nook for the kids. The bench seat is made of the same finished stained wood that we placed on the cabinets with nothing underneath to continue an open feel of the space. We chose a wood and stain that matched other pieces of furniture in the house for a cohesive look.

By keeping the same cabinetry style and color, adding matching stained wood elements, and lining the walls with shiplap, we were able to create spaces that fulfilled different needs while looking like a single unit. We worked closely with our client to develop this project, looking at many different sources for inspiration to come up with the final design. We also brought together many trending interior design elements that gave their home a fresh feel without looking like a fad. For more information about this project, or how we can help you create a home that suits the needs of you and your family, give us a call at (317) 679-5890 or contact us here.

16 Mar 2018

Marvelous Woodworking Cabinetry Permalink

Cabinetry Design Trends 2018

Marvelous Woodworking March 16, 2018

Marvelous Woodworking builds many custom cabinets for a wide array of different situations and uses, tailored perfectly to our clients’ needs and tastes. In our projects, we have seen several cabinetry design trends that have been developing over the past few years.

Mixing Finishes

The point of mixing finishes is to break the monotony of a one-color piece. Having natural wood as an accent part of a cabinet creates a point of interest that draws the eye to it. The built-in cabinets above have a natural wood countertop. Countertops are less covered than shelves, so the beauty of the wood is easy to see and touch.

Built-in Cabinetry

Cabinetry that becomes part of the wall uses every inch of space for storage and display, making it a very desirable option for those with lots of books, trinkets, etc. or need an entertainment center. It also makes a plain wall an architectural focal point.

Multi-use Cabinetry

Cabinets that do more are in high demand. The media cabinet above not only hides cables, cords, and components; it also hides the T.V. when not in use.

The bookshelves above were specifically designed to fit the whole wall, and the shelves to highlight the painting.

Mudroom Cabinetry

Entryway storage is becoming popular. Having a place to drop everything goes a long way with home organization. Mudroom lockers are especially popular with those with kids, serve as a landing place for backpacks, shoes, coats and sports equipment.

Designing a custom cabinet involves many complicated components, but the work is worth it, as the end result is a cabinet that not only fits your needs perfectly but your home as well. If you are looking for the perfect piece of cabinetry, call us at (317) 679-5890 or contact us here.

The Marvelous Blog