| Blog series by lightweightladylefty | updated 10-31-2008 03:20 AM | 4 parts | 9590 reads | 16 comments total |
Part 1: Bookcase entry – Challenge04
I had already started working on the design for this bookcase when I became aware of this contest. Realizing that my built-in application (designed to conceal ductwork) was quite different from the needs of most people, I slightly redesigned the crown to make it a free-standing bookcase (although, for the sake of safety, I would still attach it to a wall if I were to place this one in my home). The close-up of the crown shows the area for built-in lighting which is simply a 36” fluore...
Part 2: Building the "crown"
This bookcase was designed to camouflage ductwork and to replace a portion of the book storage from a 10’ x 6’ shelving unit that we removed to remodel our dining room. The next three pictures show the ductwork and the steps from paneling to painted drywall. The horizontal ducts were covered in oak with rails and stiles cut to enclose lighting panels to match the kitchen woodwork and lighting (not shown, around the corner to the left). Next I began working on the crown to e...
Part 3: Building the lighting section
Building the lighting section was a little more challenging. I used a 2¼” stock crown molding to trim out the area where the fluorescent light would be. I needed a ledge on which the lighting panel could set, so I routed a narrow piece of oak using the rail bit and cut off the “lip” and glued it into a dado I cut into the back of the crown molding. I also cut a dado into the main carcass and inserted a “lip” into it as well. We want to be able to remove this bookcase without d...
Part 4: NEARLY COMPLETE
As it seems with every project, there are always set-backs. I was nearly finished except for the bottom doors when I ran out of stain. The paint store that custom-mixed the stain is 35 miles away so I decided to experiment with dye. Well, not on the bookcase, but on my hair. Do you like the results? When I finally got the stain and finished the doors, I had only three hinges for the bottom doors. The top doors were made with an additional ¼” added to make the doors 1” thick wh...
