Last week, we shared our first Design Coaching clients’ kitchen reveal (if you missed it, you can catch up here). Homeowners, Chrissy and Peter, expertly DIY’d a brand new kitchen using IKEA cabinets as their jumping-off point. It was an incredible transformation, and if you saw the reveal photos, I’m sure you also caught a glimpse of the brand new built-in bookcase to the right of their kitchen. Well, we felt this bookcase warranted a dedicated post, and Chrissy and Pete were kind enough to break down some of the mechanics for us. The addition of this wood feature wall made SUCH a difference to the space. I mean, just look at this before and after…

Before, their kitchen and dining areas were drab to say the least. The window sat off-center, and the difference between ceiling heights felt harsh. By swapping and centering the window, then adding a built-in surround, they not only maximized their storage but created a stunning focal point. One that served the overall design in a number of ways. Connecting it to the kitchen cabinets created a great visual stopping point for the tiled wall. And because the bookcase extends past the kitchen’s dropped ceiling, it makes the height difference between the two now feel intentional. Each space somehow feels bigger because of this, but by also bringing in the same wood tone to small elements of the kitchen design, the two areas feel thoughtful and connected.

The bookcase in all its glory! We pulled the dining set out to really give it a moment. It turned out so good, and seeing it in person, Em, Marlee, and I were all wildly impressed that this was something they (yet again) tackled themselves. But just how did they do it?

You guys really seemed to like the interview style from last time, so I pestered Pete and Chrissy once more with questions about this build, and they graciously came through with answers – despite all having the flu! Rockstars, these two. So keep reading for a half-reveal, half-behind-the-scenes process post to see just how they accomplished this, should you feel like giving DIY a try yourself 🙂

What was your jumping-off point with this project?
Chrissy drew what she wanted with measurements, including bookcase depth, and we went from there! Because she wanted cabinet doors on the bottom, we figured out a way to “hack it,” so to speak. Since I’ve never built cabinet boxes before, I felt like that was the better move. We had fun together hunting around Portland for the right wood and stain we wanted. From there, I went to work, cutting, assembling, etc.

One of our favorite elements was seeing how much deeper the window sits from the shelves. Can you give us a peek “behind the curtain”? Pun intended. How did you figure that out?
Chrissy only wanted the bookcase shelves to be 11″ deep, and I knew I wanted the bookcase to be incredibly sturdy, so I built a 2 x 6 vertical framework attached to the actual wall, behind each side of the bookcases and lower cabinets. By default, the window would be 6-7 inches deeper, and we liked that, drawing the eye in and out of the window. It also frames out a beautiful tree we have outside, so bonus all around. 

Did you follow any plans?
There were no real plans – I just kind of cocktail napkin-ed it – and drew up a plan that was even across the wall. We had to choose cabinets that fit within the space, so we went with 2 single cabinets on either end, with 3 double in the middle…

Any troubleshooting here?
Cool thing – we had to re-route our floor vent into the wood trim at the bottom – luckily, Amazon has unstained oak vent covers, which I stained and mounted into the oak trim.

The individual base cabinets originally came from Lowe’s, and you may have clocked how different they look between process photos and finished product – and not just from staining! This type of unfinished, stock cabinet base can feel like a dime a dozen, with interior hinges making it so the doors rest shut on the frame’s base. But Peter was able to make the doors sit flush with their surround, really giving the bookcase an elevated, custom feel.

How the “hack” did you get the cabinets to look this good?!
Essentially, I cut all the cabinet doors down (all four sides of the door) and then found a particular hinge (shout out to Portland’s Woodcrafters) that would allow an overlay to become an inlay door. You can buy stock oak cabinets like these from Lowe’s or Home Depot, and you have to get a table saw to cut them down to be inlay cabinets. Took a few hinges to figure out the right mechanics, but finally got it right! 

Here you can see how the doors sit flush with the rest of the build. Such a great detail! Taking a peek inside the cabinets, you might also be able to see the doors’ factory hinge cut-outs, with new hinges installed between them. By purchasing these specialized hinges, trimming down the doors, and using a hinge jig to get everything just right, Pete was able to make the transformation from overlay to inset, keeping costs down but looking luxe.

So just how difficult was this build?
Due to the height of the built-ins, this was pretty challenging for one person. I could assemble them on my own, but I had to have Chrissy help me as I built the shelf boxes on the ground, and then had to lift them up onto the cabinets. They were pretty heavy, and I had to climb on a ladder to get them into place. Also, make sure to secure the cabinets to the studs in the wall. Very important! 

Pete relied on a bunch of helpful tools to pull this build together, XL clamps and a good table saw being two of his best friends. Some other great tools he recommends to have on hand? A laser level, a pocket-hole jig, and equal parts patience and perseverance.

How long did this whole build take you? Was it a team effort to get it across the finish line? 
Total team effort. Chrissy watched the kids while I cranked this out, night after night. It was a massive undertaking, largely again, because I do not do this every day. Probably 10 days, working 4-5 hours a night. But it took a considerable amount of plywood and cutting it down into shelves with a table saw. 

Speaking of wood, can you tell us more about what you used?
We bought all white oak — cabinets, plywood, wood boards, and then stained them darker for the effect we wanted to achieve; however, this could have been cheaper if we used a different species of wood. But the oak plywood was not insane in terms of cost.

What did you use to finish the edges and take it up to the ceiling?
That is one piece of milled oak. So not cut from the same oak plywood we made the bases from. It is a beautiful piece of wood, and the stain just loved it. 

Ok, let’s talk stain! What did you learn about this process? Any helpful tools/tricks? Did you seal with anything? 
From Chrissy: Nope, one coat and done! This stain is the best, and it’s non-toxic. Highly Recommend! Pete was able to stain in place, which saved time in the process (as opposed to staining in a different location and bringing it in after, stained) because there were zero yucky fumes. Actually, it smelled fairly pleasant.
From Pete: Stain can get super messy, and you need to learn how to work with it. Just a learning curve, but worth it. No sealant!

Well, the hard work paid off. The bookcase turned into such a beautiful focal point in the space, and the design integrates so seamlessly with their kitchen (another incredible Chrissy & Pete DIY you can catch up on here, using all IKEA cabinetry if you can believe it). Chrissy did virtually all the bookcase styling here, incorporating a beautiful collection of books, decor, and sweet family photos. She finished the room with a beautiful new pendant, this stunning table from Article, and a pair of chairs that are as durable as they are inexpensive, from Anabei.

In the early stages of this renovation, we had initially talked with Chrissy about this built-in being more of a banquet than a bookcase. When the design took final form, they decided a show-stopping built-in bookcase was a better vibe, and we totally agree!

What led you away from built-in bench seating?
I know Chrissy loves a banquet, I do too. However, at the end of the day, we felt a statement built-in bookcase would be best to address the separate funky ceiling heights and also create a more seamless transition from one room to the other (kitchen to dining room to living room) without being an obstacle (as the banquet would have been). 

Is there anything you’d change or do differently? Oh! And what do you store in here? Our readers want to know! 🙂
From Pete: I am pretty happy about it, so I live with no regrets about this build! It was hard, but totally worth it in every way. It fundamentally changed this room for sure. 
From Chrissy: We just love how it turned out. We are storing glassware, plates, placemats, etc, all typical buffet/dining room supplies. 🙂 

Dining Table | Woven Chairs | Captain Chairs | Pendant Light

So there you have it, folks! Chrissy and Pete knocked yet another DIY renovation out of the park. The grand wooden bookcase pairs so beautifully with all of the elements in the kitchen and really gives this room a point of view, not to mention plenty of extra storage. A huge thanks to C+P for pouring their hearts into this project and being kind enough to share it with all of us. We think this bookcase build really paid off. What do you think?

*Design and Build by Chrissy Cambor and Pete Cambor, @camborhouse
**Styled by Chrissy Cambor and Emily Henderson
***Photos by Kailtin Green