Built-in Bookcase and Room Divider

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Rip & Renew : Episode HRIPR-205 -- More Projects »
PHOTO

Open shelving seperates the living room from the dining room.
A shelf divider seperates two rooms but still keeps them open and airy.

Materials:

protective eyewear
circular saw
nail gun
pencil
measuring tape
level
carpenter’s square
drill
3/4-inch birch plywood
8-foot dowel rods
carpenter’s glue
nails
paint
baseboard molding
crown molding

PHOTO

Figure A - Determine the spacing for the dowels prior to drilling the holes.
Steps:

1. Measure the space to determine the size of the bookcase.
2. The bookcase is built in three sections -- two columns and one headpiece.
3. Sideboards and shelves are built first. Since the design of the bookcase is to create a transparent flow, there will be no backboard. Instead, dowel rods will be inserted through the shelves so you will be able to see through the bookcase.
4. Put on protective eyewear.
5. Before assembling the shelves, mark two-inch intervals from side to side where the holes will be drilled in order for the dowel rods to be parallel to the sideboards of the bookcase.
6. For the top and bottom pieces, drill halfway through each piece to create resting spots for the dowel rods (figure A).

PHOTO

Figure B - Dowel rods run through the inner shelves.
7. Stack the shelves so you can drill the holes at once and ensure that the dowel rods will line up.
8. Lay the column on its side to assemble it.
9. Using carpenter’s glue and a nail gun, begin assembly of the column by attaching the top piece.
10. Attach the first shelf to the sideboard using carpenter’s glue and a nail gun.
11. Insert the dowel rods into the pre-drilled holes. Slide the next shelf through the dowel rods until it is in place. Attach the shelf to the sideboard (figure B).
12. Continue for subsequent shelves.
PHOTO

Figure C - Install the two side columns then the header.
13. For the bottom piece, fix the dowel rods in place and attach with carpenter’s glue and a nail gun.
14. When all the shelves are in place, fasten the other sideboard.
15. Repeat steps 5-14 for the second column and headpiece.
16. Attach the columns to opposite walls using a drill, level and screws.
17. Slide the horizontal headpiece and attach to the two columns using screws (figure C).
18. Trim with baseboard and crown molding to complete the project.
Also in this Episode
Rip & Renew : Episode HRIPR-205
•Diamond-Shaped Ceiling Art
•Built-in Bookcase and Room Divider