As custom woodworkers, Marvelous Woodworking has the opportunity to create unique projects for inspired homeowners. Making a space special involves hitting upon the perfect idea, then finding the right professional who can figure out how to make it work. In this home where we had previously made a custom fireplace mantel and matching cabinets, our clients again called on our expertise and knowledge of their style to build and install a floor-to-ceiling bookcase.

Our clients wanted to turn part of an expansive open dining room into a library. The room was in a quieter place in the house, perfect for unwinding in a chair with a good book. The challenge was to create large bookshelves that looked like they belonged in the home, matching the current architectural elements. Thinking through several different options, we landed upon a bookcase that would cover the entire wall side to side, top to bottom. Anything smaller just did not look right, and seemed to protrude awkwardly. A cabinet flush with its surroundings fit the style of the home, and worked best for that particular room. The clients had one specific request for the bookcases themselves—they needed a large-enough space to place a piece of artwork. Doug designed the middle cabinet with an extra-large space between shelves to accommodate it.

On the surface, the bookshelves look built into the wall, but it is an entirely separate cabinet that sits in front of the drywall. With a big project like this, we cannot simply build the whole unit inside the house or inside our workshop. Using his engineering expertise, Doug designed the bookcase in five individual pieces so that we could carry it easily into the house. After putting these pieces together inside the room, we covered the seams with long, fluted panels, which matched the door frames in the house. Crown molding and trim join the top, bottom, and sides of the cabinet to the surrounding wall and ceiling. The result is a beautiful, seamless library wall.

What was once an empty wall became a useful, quiet place to relax and read. If you are looking to bring something new to your space, be it organization, utility or beauty, Marvelous Woodworking would be glad to work with you. Contact us here or call (317) 679-5890.