DIY Alcove Shelving
Discussion
Right-ho, bathroom project is nearly done and next on the list is to finish of the living room and last on the list is some book/CD/DVD recessed shelving to right of the chimney.
Now I've never done something like this before but I feel like I could achieve a decent finish on them. I don't want any sort of framework, just the 'floating shelf' look built right into the alcove, DVD's at the bottom, maybe above some ground space, then CD's and books on top.
Now the way I figure, to put the shelves up I need to put batons for each shelf around the sides and back of the alcove and then the shelf on top of that. To finish off the 'floating' look a thin sheet on the bottom of the batons and along the front? Is that right?
I've seen proper floating shelves with the wall bracket but never in a size close to the alcove shape.
Thoughts of the great PH DIY collective?
Now I've never done something like this before but I feel like I could achieve a decent finish on them. I don't want any sort of framework, just the 'floating shelf' look built right into the alcove, DVD's at the bottom, maybe above some ground space, then CD's and books on top.
Now the way I figure, to put the shelves up I need to put batons for each shelf around the sides and back of the alcove and then the shelf on top of that. To finish off the 'floating' look a thin sheet on the bottom of the batons and along the front? Is that right?
I've seen proper floating shelves with the wall bracket but never in a size close to the alcove shape.
Thoughts of the great PH DIY collective?
MiniMan64 said:
Now the way I figure, to put the shelves up I need to put batons for each shelf around the sides and back of the alcove and then the shelf on top of that. To finish off the 'floating' look a thin sheet on the bottom of the batons and along the front? Is that right?
If I understand the brief you want a shelf that looks like a thick chunk of wood with no visible fixings.How about starting with a thick chunk of wood, cutting a groove into each end and then sliding it into place over side battens? Same idea as a draw, and only three bits of wood.
ETA in fact you could cut narrower gooves and just use two accurately placed nails per side. If you stop the grooves short of the front end, the fixing will be invisible.
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 22 February 18:18
Simpo Two said:
MiniMan64 said:
Now the way I figure, to put the shelves up I need to put batons for each shelf around the sides and back of the alcove and then the shelf on top of that. To finish off the 'floating' look a thin sheet on the bottom of the batons and along the front? Is that right?
If I understand the brief you want a shelf that looks like a thick chunk of wood with no visible fixings.Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 22 February 18:18
What I described above is one option, the others are the brackets I've been looking at on Ebay where you have a solid shelf and then the metal brackets slots perpendicular into drilled holes in the back of this.
MiniMan64 said:
the others are the brackets I've been looking at on Ebay where you have a solid shelf and then the metal brackets slots perpendicular into drilled holes in the back of this.
Also available at any DIY store, and a valid alternative as long as you get the two fixing posts perfectly aligned.I've done similar in the current and previous house. I avoided the shop bought hidden bracket method as it can only attach at the rear and doesn't seem strong enough for books.
I drill 35mm deep (depending on the thickness of your plaster - you want to be well into brick) 10mm dia holes into the walls on the rear and sides, typically two at the rear and one either side for a shallow book/dvd shelf. These have to be very acurate height wise! Then gripfill/hammer 50-60mm long 10mm dia aluminium pegs into the holes. I cut these down from aluminium bar stock and clean up the ends by mounting in a drill and spinning them against a file. You wont see them much so they don't need to be perfect
I then cut out an appropriately sized shelf in pine furniture board (22mm thick) and drop this on the pegs. Mark round the pegs with a pencil and rout grooves out to a depth of 10mm and 1/2" wide. You can adjust the depth of the cut to take into account slight errors in the height of the pegs (I mark these errors out when I first drop the shelf in place). Check that they sit level with no wobbles and finish the shelves to your preference and drop them in place. You can see the pegs on high selves, but they aren't obvious, you can paint them wall colour as we did to help disguise them.
I also included a couple of deep shelves to drop hifi components on and just used thicker board and added extra pegs on the sides as I extend it.
Works well - no photos though, sorry!
That said if you want a thick shelf look, your way sounds far easier!
I drill 35mm deep (depending on the thickness of your plaster - you want to be well into brick) 10mm dia holes into the walls on the rear and sides, typically two at the rear and one either side for a shallow book/dvd shelf. These have to be very acurate height wise! Then gripfill/hammer 50-60mm long 10mm dia aluminium pegs into the holes. I cut these down from aluminium bar stock and clean up the ends by mounting in a drill and spinning them against a file. You wont see them much so they don't need to be perfect
I then cut out an appropriately sized shelf in pine furniture board (22mm thick) and drop this on the pegs. Mark round the pegs with a pencil and rout grooves out to a depth of 10mm and 1/2" wide. You can adjust the depth of the cut to take into account slight errors in the height of the pegs (I mark these errors out when I first drop the shelf in place). Check that they sit level with no wobbles and finish the shelves to your preference and drop them in place. You can see the pegs on high selves, but they aren't obvious, you can paint them wall colour as we did to help disguise them.
I also included a couple of deep shelves to drop hifi components on and just used thicker board and added extra pegs on the sides as I extend it.
Works well - no photos though, sorry!
That said if you want a thick shelf look, your way sounds far easier!
Interesting, I think I might stick with the framework solution but I'm certainly going to look at the wall mounted bracket options.
Next step is to decide what shelves go where, been measuring it up and planning tonight, is there a general convention on what looks best as it were? What we're planning is DVD's (two shelves) on the bottom (because apparently they are "not nice to look at") then three shelves of CD's and space for small CD/I Phone player in the middle and books and pictures and what not at the top.
Next step is to decide what shelves go where, been measuring it up and planning tonight, is there a general convention on what looks best as it were? What we're planning is DVD's (two shelves) on the bottom (because apparently they are "not nice to look at") then three shelves of CD's and space for small CD/I Phone player in the middle and books and pictures and what not at the top.
MiniMan64 said:
Next step is to decide what shelves go where, been measuring it up and planning tonight, is there a general convention on what looks best as it were? What we're planning is DVD's (two shelves) on the bottom (because apparently they are "not nice to look at") then three shelves of CD's and space for small CD/I Phone player in the middle and books and pictures and what not at the top.
The usual convention (at least for books) is to have the deepest shelves at the bottom and reduce as you go up. That way you get the visual weight at the base.quote=herbialfa]I used mega thick MDF and drilled some holes into the side then placed steel rods in them. Then drilled the appropriate holes into the walls stuck some no more nails in. Job done!
Just get some of the illusion shelves in Ikea. They are very cheap (like £8-15 depending on length) and nicely put together with one piece bracket so you can't cock up the alignment.
B&Q are the same but dearer, though they do slightly different sizes. Avoid Argos ones - they are two separate brackets you have to get into the shelf holes with very little tolerance.
In the alcove in my lounge I put two staggered shelves up about 3/4 the width of the gap. One tight to the side wall and one tight to the chimney. Looks well if I do say so myself.
B&Q are the same but dearer, though they do slightly different sizes. Avoid Argos ones - they are two separate brackets you have to get into the shelf holes with very little tolerance.
In the alcove in my lounge I put two staggered shelves up about 3/4 the width of the gap. One tight to the side wall and one tight to the chimney. Looks well if I do say so myself.
Simpo Two said:
MiniMan64 said:
Next step is to decide what shelves go where, been measuring it up and planning tonight, is there a general convention on what looks best as it were? What we're planning is DVD's (two shelves) on the bottom (because apparently they are "not nice to look at") then three shelves of CD's and space for small CD/I Phone player in the middle and books and pictures and what not at the top.
The usual convention (at least for books) is to have the deepest shelves at the bottom and reduce as you go up. That way you get the visual weight at the bottom.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff