Many people buy older homes for the character – moldings, windows, doorways and other architectural details that reflect the era they were built. However, adding updates to these lovely spaces can be a challenge. Store-bought options may offer the right functionality, but do not support the look of the home. Here is where custom woodworking can help, building custom built-in storage that provides exactly what is needed both in design and function.

My clients own a beautiful older home in the Meridian Kessler neighborhood of Indianapolis. It has a lot of unique features like crown molding, a coffered ceiling and cabinet details. They also have a conservatory at the front of their home with lots of glass doors and windows. They were in need of extra storage in a narrow space adjacent to the conservatory; the old shelves stuck up on the wall were no longer cutting it. The area is visible from the street at night, so they were looking to have a more elegant option that matched the rest of their home.

My focus was on creating the storage they needed while making the unit feel like it has always been there. The design called for a floor-to-ceiling installation, so it was important to ensure the new crown and base moldings matched the existing elements. I also brought details from other cabinetry in the home to the drawer and cabinet fronts, including moldings and hardware. Since there were doorways on both sides of the unit, I added trim moldings on the sides as well. The custom built-in storage was constructed from plywood which was then painted to match the existing moldings.

The design went beyond the look, however. The new unit was going to cover an existing cold air return, so I had to create a new path for the air. I left voids underneath the cabinetry to direct the airflow out vents I found that matched the rest of the home.

Paying attention to the details is what makes newly custom built-in storage look like it belongs in an old home. If you are looking to make updates to your home that offer both the functionality you need and the look you want to support, reach out to me. Send me an email or give me a call at (317) 679-5890.