From basic bookshelves to built - in beauty

You donc have со be an experc woodworker со make greac - looking builc - in bookcases. Jusc scare wich bookcases from che score, add some crim, and cie ic all cogecher wich che cips shown here!
Theres something special about what built - in bookcases do to a room. Making the cases part of the wall lends a sense of style that the average bookcase just doesnt have.
However, "built - in bookcase" usually means "custom bookcase." Unless you have a decades worth of D1Y experience, a custom bookcase is not a project to be taken lightly.
An Easier Built - in. This led us to an interesting question: Is it possible to turn stand - alone bookcases into a great - looking built - in? As you can see, the answer is a resounding "yes."
Built - ins for Everybody. This built - in looks every bit as good as one that a carpenter would charge thousands for, yet the total cost was around $400. And if you can assemble a department store bookcase and cut a few trim boards to size, it can be yours this weekend. Read on to see how its done.
Basic built - ins at a glance
The heart of this project is three "Besta" bookcases from Ikea, though any store - bought bookcases could fill the bill. To add depth and drama to the look, we used a wider, deeper case in the center flanked by narrower, shallower cases on the sides.
Bring in Bases. Bases, which are really just rectangles made from 1x4s boards, glue, and screws, serve two purposes here.
First, they elevate the cases to allow base molding to be added to them for a finished look. Second, they allow you to level and "plumb" the project easily, so that the bookcases will sit straight and even.
Wrap with Molding. At the home center, we found a simple base molding that "wraps" elegantly around.the bottom of the bookcases. Fitting the molding
to the corners of the cases was easy with just a few cuts on a miter saw. We have some tips to guide you through the process on page 23.
Top with Trim. To create the crown at the top of the cases, the top trim is actually built up from two separate pieces. Its relatively easy to cut and install the pieces using a miter saw, nails, and construction adhesive.

Start by building the cases & bases

Create the cases
The bases may be the first part of this bookcase project to get installed, but before chat, you need to know precisely what size to make them. And that means youll want to assemble the bookcases first This part is easy - just follow the instructions thai came with your bookcases.

Build the bases
Find the straightest, flattest 1x4s you can, and then cut the boards to size no make up your base. As you can see, youll need nine boards in all to create the irregularly shaped base. After you make the cues, the base can be assembled easily using glue and screws.

Install on the wall
Determine exactly where on the wall youd like your bookcases to be, and remove the baseboard in that area. Then position the base, make sure ics level, and secure it to the wall by driving screws through the back and into the wall studs behind it.

Odd the cases and trim
With the base in place, its now just a simple matter of installing the bookcases. You can start by sliding the bookcases into place on top of the bases. Then youll want to secure them as shown in Fig. 1.
After that, adding base molding and top trim complete the built - in look of the project.

Install the bookcases
Pre - dnll pilot holes, and drive screws down through the boctoms of the bookcases into the bases below. Next, use shorter screws to connect the bookcases to each other. Finally, drive screws through the backs of the cases and into the wall studs behind them. You can always fill any screw holes with putty and touch them up with paint later on.

Bring on the base molding
Next up is the base molding, which is best installed with a hammer and nails. Of course, youll have to cut a miter on each corner of the molding where it meets a mating piece, but that process is simple with a micer saw. We show you a few tips and tricks for cutting miters in the Sidebar at right.

Top it with trim
The two - part top that youll be adding to the project extends above the bookcases, so its a good idea со add some blocks со che cop of the cases со support these pieces. The blocks can be cut со size from scrap 1x2s and stuck to the top of che bookcases wich construction adhesive.
Now install the top trim pieces with the same technique you used for the base molding. The only difference here is that the top is made up of two parts. Youll want to install all of the wider trim pieces first. Then go back and add che smaller cop cap pieces.
Even though all che base and top pieces come pre - painced, youll probably want со use some putcy and caulk to fill che nail holes and any gaps around the micers or molding. Once that dries, give it one more coat of white paint to match the bookcases.
Making Tighter Miters
A power miter saw is really the best tool to use for cutting chese base molding and cop crim pieces to fit around che bookcases. And even if youre new со the tool, you can get great - Fit ting micers in no cime by following just a few simple steps.
One Piece at a Time. The crick to making these pieces fit well is to "cut as you go." Thac means you just add one piece at a time, carefully measuring, cutting, and installing each one before moving on to the next one.
Sneak Up on It. As you can see in the Photo, near right, this involves moving each molding piece into place and marking where it hits che corner with a pencil. Then set the piece on the miter saw, rotate the saw to 45 degrees, and make the cut by "sneaking up" on the pencil line. Check the fir., and trim off a little more if needed.
Once the molding piece fits just right, you can attach it and move on to the next one. Thacs all there is to it!