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Nookies

OUR 2nd HOUSE

The number of random nooks in this house is unreal.  If you added them all up, we probably have enough square footage for a new bedroom…or enough space to build small beds in drawers and tuck in numerous Japanese friends.  Name that show 🙂

The living room ‘nooks’ are shmancy with arched tops and flanking french doors that lead into the ‘reading room’ aka ‘the room that reading doesn’t happen in’ aka ‘the room that makes me wonder who the heck has time to read?!?’.   My mom suggested filling them with large tall plants.  I reminded her that my black thumbs have trouble with any sized plants.

The previous owners had pictures hanging in there…I did some stalking and have seen only one photo of this house with the previous owners stuff in it.  It was just a sliver of this room.  They had very different taste than me and there was a statue.  A large one.  Cherubs were involved.  So during the christmas break, I put Jeremy to work on making me some shelves.  The first thing we did was decide to have three shelves in each nook and we measured the space.

We had some leftover plywood from Will’s toybox project that was just sitting in our basement so my darling boyfriend cut it to the right length and then measured it to make the braces that would hold the shelves up.

Using the table saw, he ripped each brace that would be attached directly to the wall.

One dozen braces.

I was absent at the time of the “first attachment” as I was nursing my little golden child.  Note to all fans of Will…we call Weston the golden child because he literally looked ‘golden’ as a newborn and has blonder hair and is the spitting image of Jer (who was called “the golden child” by his highschool friends)….it has nothing to do with loving him more.  I would call him ‘my little favorite child’ if that were the case…that title is still up for grabs 🙂

Anyhoo…Jer attached the first set of braces and they were too low for my liking…so we just eyeballed that first shelf and then used that measurement to determine the rest.

So we drew a line where we wanted the brace to be and then used a level to make sure it was balanced.

Jeremy had started the screws in the brace before holding it up because then he could use the drill easier and faster and make sure it stayed properly aligned.

Then he drilled directly through the braces into the studs.

We cut a big board to be our measuring stick between braces.  Once one brace was attached, Jer put the measuring board right on top of the brace and then sandwiched it with another brace.  It saved a lot of time in measuring.

And here it is all attached to the wall.  We needed to countersink the screws a little because we would be spackling right over the heads.

The shelves just sit on top.  One then two then three…

Now it was time to hide the braces.   We picked up some standard cheap trim at Lowes – I think we bought two 6 foot lengths…and that was our only purchase for this project.  High five up top.

Using the little finish nailer and the air compressor, we (term used loosely) attached the fronts of the trim to the shelf.

See how under the shelf the brace is being hidden by the front trim?  It is just cleaner looking and makes the shelf look chunkier…which unlike thighs is a good thing.

Now here she blows…a nook turned shelving area.

At this point, I could already tell that I was LOVING it.  I always hated those wide open nooks and now I love the fact that we have built ins.

Next up…filling in all the holes, sanding and painting.

Honestly this was one of those jobs that I am sad that we didn’t do sooner.  The shelving itself took one night…including the trip to the home improvement store to get the trim.  And I can’t wait to show you the end result…literally it looks like night and day difference.  like shiny and shabby difference.  like hairless and my legs difference.  like lima beans and a double helping of ice cream with almond slivers and whipped topping and chocolate syrup difference.  Who else is now craving something sweet?  Raise your hand.

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  3. That looks awesome! Can’t wait to see the finished product where the shelves aren’t white and contrasting with the creamy trim elsewhere. Looks great though!

  4. We have a totally weird nook in our basement that I have been meaning to do something with….These shelves are awesome inspiration.

  5. Those look great! I love the look of built ins and wish I had some. Great job making use of that space.

  7. LOVING! Are you going to install lighting for the lower shelves? Not that you have to, I’m just curious.

  11. Love it! Can’t wait to see the finished product. I’ll be eating my hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream while I wait. #sonotkidding

  12. Hee hee, Seinfeld!!! (Just had to answer. It’s the second Seinfeld-related blog reference I’ve read in one day, and my email address refers to dancing like Elaine…so, yeah, just had to. ;-)) LOVE the built-in look; can’t wait to see it all finished! I have an area that perplexes me, too, but it’s less nooky and more “tops of closed-off bookcases from 1920 with frickin’ electrical outlets” annoying. I’m afraid they’re hopeless. 😛

  14. Love ’em! I can’t wait to see the finished result! Have you thought about painting the backs an accent color like Sherry and Jon’s dining room shelving? Personally I think I’d match the back to the trim. Love this! So much better than chubby-angel-babies.

  16. I am amazed at all that you have accomplished with two kiddos in house! The shelves look great, and I love the added trim. I might suggest adding a thin piece of MDF to the bottom of the top two shelves so that you don’t see the gap between the trim, brace, and the shelf. It would make the shelves look sturdier and I think they would look like the builder put them in himself!

  18. The shelves look soooo good!! I wish I had some nooks in my house to do something equally awesome!!! 🙂

  19. …Loving this!!! SOO much better!

    Your comment about black thumbs,,,,I’m gonna start using that now lol…..I can relate all too well. I can’t keep plants alive lol. 🙂

  20. Can I just say, I envy how handy your husband is! …And how gorgeous your house is…. And how beautiful your children are… Ok, I secretly want your life! haha 🙂 Anyway the shelves look great! High five for black thumbs!

  22. Looking forward to seeing the after photos! The new shelves look like a much better use of the space.

  23. Will is so cute on the couch just watching TV like it’s normal to have his Dad using power tools behind him. Great job on the shelves. I have some built ins that I’m now considering putting trim on thanks to you guys. I’m going to start using “trim” in all my descriptions. I always have to look up is it “moulding” or “molding”. Either way I’m just picturing food going bad in the fridge.

  24. The idea is brilliant and I look forward to seeing the progression of it.

    On another point, I love the “golden child” paragraph and shared it in its entirety with my hub who is a writer and has 7 siblings. He laughed profoundly, but (thankfully) didn’t wake up the sleeping girl very close by.

    Cheers!

  25. Come on! You couldn’t have titled this post, “I Did It All for the Nookie”? So wonderful that you have so many ‘extra’ little nooks and crannies in your house. I am sure these (and the others) will look wonderful!

  27. Katie, love your blog, as always :). And I LOVE seeing all the little things you are doing around the house. Did you consider using glass shelves since you have built-in lights in your nooks?? I guess I’ll have to wait for the before and after photos to really see what it looks like!! And I’m sure ditching that trim color and going white will look gorgeous too!! I also loooove built-ins!

  28. Katie,

    When are we going to get to read the rest of Weston’s Birth Story. I am dying of anticipation over here!!!!!!! By the way I love the little nooks now, they really look like they should have always been this way!

  30. I have thought about doing something in the back…not painting teal like John&Sher but something accenty 🙂
    xo – kb

  31. I love how it turned out! I am a big fan of shelves myself. Lol. I wouldn’t really know what to put in the nook myself, but I could definitely find things for shelves. HAHA!

  33. If you find out it looks weird having the light only on the top shelf, you could swap the wood for glass.

    I would not know what to put in those ‘art niches’, either. I have a houseful of ‘plant shelves’ (the big, high ledges) and there’s nothing on most of them, because I hate the dust collections.

  34. Shelves! Katie this is one of your best. They look insanely good!

    We are making progress on our first ever renos in our first house. I have been so inspired by you over the years of reading so wanted to say thank you! Come by if you get bored. (Perhaps while nursing the golden child!)

    Jenny
    http://Www.simcoestreet.blogspot.com

  36. Yeah Seinfeld! Katie, you make me laugh! My husband probably thinks I am a crazy person because of my cackles from reading your blog. I am totally craving something sweet, too! I don’t even have patience to bake my homemade cookies, so I am just eating the cookie dough… no big deal, right?

  37. Hi! Been reading and checking out your archives for a month or so, by way of YHL-if they love you, they must be on to something right, and of course, they are! So, howdy! Anyway, I think the shelving is a great idea and looks excellent, my only thought is that the shelves then block any light from that top light to reach down to the other shelves. Any though on going glass shelving so the light can come through, or working in some lighting on each level maybe? But your home and family are beautiful! Keep up the good work =)

  38. Love that! Your house has such character. I agree with the idea of something cute in the back. Wallpaper? Stencil? The Pinterest possibilities are endless!

  39. I did! The only problem I have with them is that they have a weight limit of the items of I can put on top…and the braces would show. I figured in the long run, I’d rather not stress about them coming crashing down on Will’s play area.
    xo – kb

  40. Probably not. We don’t use those lights most of the time. I honestly don’t even know which switch turns them on.
    xo – kb

  42. Howdy right back atcha! I thought of the glass…my mom pushed for it…but in the end, we didn’t want to have a weight limit or the potential that something could come crashing down on the boys near the play table. Maybe in the future I can switch them out though 🙂
    xo – kb

  44. Great idea Katie! I always feel like those nook areas tend to be space wasters/clutter collectors. Too often things like cherub statues fill the space, and no one wants that 😉 But converting them to built-ins!? So. Awesome! Great idea. Can’t wait to see them all styled up. Honestly a really cool transformation. Good work!

  45. LOVE…love love love. They look like they were meant to be there. And p.s I literally thought this was a post about nookies…even thru the first paragraph I was reading “nooks” as nookies…and totally confused 😉

    Cheers
    ~ Jillian

  48. What an improvement! Those gaping nooks will now be purposeful, functional, and filled with who-knows-what! All to the good! I like the idea of wallpaper too … something shiny? Have fun with all the what-not this will inspire!

  51. I have some of the nich’s or nookies in my house and I have never liked them. Shelve are a perfect solution. Not to talk the Mister into doing them. Love the way your turned out.

  52. Wow, what a great fix for these spaces! Way better! And can I second all those who’ve said they can’t wait to see them filled – more photos please!!

    Asten x

  53. I thought I liked nookies until I saw what you did with them — and now I know I love shelves!

  54. The shelves make so much more sense than the nooks. Why would a plant want to live in a dark nook? Is it an evil plant? Best to avoid these situations – and anything involving cherubs!

  56. I love the shelves! looks amazing and they’re practical, the best combination 🙂 will you paint the shelves cream, or are you painting the trim throughout the house white somewhere down the line?

  58. This is one of those ‘d’uh! why didn’t I think of that??’ moments. Seriously brilliant use of those nooks! Can’t wait to see how they look in the end.

  60. Katie Bower. Wanted to say kudos to you. I really expected that after you had the “golden child” 🙂 that you would slow down on the posts, but you’ve been cranking them out like a champ, and feeding my addiction. 🙂

  61. I just recently discovered your blog & had to comment to tell you how much I love it & your writing style! You crack me up with your commentary! Oh & btw…as a mom of 3 (ages 14, 13 & a 9-sometimes-going-on-30 year old!) the title of “my favorite child” will get passed around pretty much constantly! 😉

  63. Looks really pretty and like the others, can’t wait to see the completed project. I know you have along list and was just wondering, what is your expected time line for painting the walls? I have a long list and am not always so motivated. I would be horrible at this blog business for that reason. You do a great job!

  66. My brother and I are in our twenties and we still compete for favorite child. Openly I might add. My mom tries to avoid it by saying I’m her favorite daughter and my brother is her favorite son. But worry not, the title will be mine some day!! lol

  68. They look so great already, I can’t wait to see how they look once they’re painted and styled! However, because of this post I have had “I did it all for the nookie” stuck in my head for 2 days!!!

  69. Amazing already!! I wish I had some nookie….nookies, nookies, that’s what I meant!

  70. Shelves look great! I wish I had even some spaces like that in my house. Birth story part 3 any time soon? I’m kind of anxious to hear how it all went down.

  71. Oh I love this! Nooks like this always stump me glad you have us all an awesome way to get rid if them! Can’t wait to see it finished so I can pin it for my future home inspiration!

  75. No post today? 🙁 I was hoping we’d get to see the shelves completed. I’m sure they look great.

  77. Do i see a christmas tree at the back??? Hi- five… ive not got ’em down too! 🙂
    I do like the storage…the shelves provide!! x

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