I'm still working on my daughter's bedroom, this time on the bookcase.
Long time ago I commissioned my brother-in-law, Stanley, to built this shelf (picture below) with lots of storage compartments to create a build-in desk area for my daughter.
It's been a really good piece, but I wanted to give the piece a more stylish look with crown molding, by now you must know how crazy I am about moldings ;)
Here is the side view of the plain top:
Adding the crown molding is very simple. You find some wood blocks (I used some from my scrap pile), place them on top of the bookcase, they can be installed all around the top, but I only installed them at the corners, middle and ends.
They have to be flush to the edges of the bookcase. Nail them in place.
Time to add the crown.
First, cut the crown molding for the front of the bookcase.
Remember that the top length of the bookcase front will be the short point for doing the mitered cuts.
Nail that molding to the wood blocks previously installed.
For the sides pieces, the molding is going to have one end that is mitered and the other with a straight cut that goes to the wall. For help on how to cut crown molding corners click HERE.
Glue was applied to the mitered corners, and then the side pieces were also nailed to the wood blocks on the side, and on the corner to keep both pieces together.
After caulking and painting it, you'll have a better-looking bookcase. --->
For the sides pieces, the molding is going to have one end that is mitered and the other with a straight cut that goes to the wall. For help on how to cut crown molding corners click HERE.
Glue was applied to the mitered corners, and then the side pieces were also nailed to the wood blocks on the side, and on the corner to keep both pieces together.
After caulking and painting it, you'll have a better-looking bookcase. --->
For more DIY Home decor check these out:
Christina, you are reading my mind these days. I just said to my husband that I want to put molding on my bookshelves to give them a built in look. THanks for the how to.
ReplyDeleteI shall name you the "Crown moulding Queen"!! Nicely done. Looks great
ReplyDeleteI recently had a "good" carpenter to my house to restyle my bookcases which were build forty years ago when we moved into our home. The center section was my husband's gun cabinet. The carpenter assured me that he could convert that space for our TV and get it up off the floor. We love it! He did that job the very same way that you describe and I now have a six inch moulding that updates the cabinet. Fresh paint finished the job. You must be a master carpenter too!
ReplyDeleteVery clever upgrade -- well done!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this tutorial. just what I needed.
ReplyDeleteI love this and the fact that you showed exactly how to do it! Thank you. They will look great!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I sooo need to do this..it really adds so much!! All I need is one of those nifty nailguns!! =) Deanna
ReplyDeleteSuperb! Generally I never read whole articles but the way you wrote this information is simply amazing and this kept my interest in reading and I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteExcellent tutorial! The crown adds so much character to a plain shelf. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteDeborah
That's beautiful, Christina, and I love your very clear tutorial. Pinning this!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great tip! It's amazing what a difference a little molding can make!
ReplyDeleteI did this to plain shelves in my living room and it made such a difference. Sort of like the icing on a cake! Pinning this to my How To board.
ReplyDeleteI love crown moldings and it's a terrific tip to sweet Christina! I love how they finish off any plain shelf and turnes into an elegant one. Big hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
What a great idea!!!
ReplyDeletelooks great dear! love it!
ReplyDeleteThis looks awesome! Gives it a more expensive look. Please share at the pin inspiration party http://www.addhousewife.com/2012/10/pin-inspiration-10-11.html
ReplyDeleteSuch a huge difference the moulding makes. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great tutorial!! I've wanted to know how to do this for a while! I would like to invite you to share this at my party, Twirl & Take a Bow at www.houseontheway.com.
ReplyDeleteLeslie
What a big difference that made in the bookcase! Thanks for the great tutorial....which I had to pin for a future reference. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
It turned out fantastic, Cristina! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, moulding brilliance! Once again, I've pinned ...
ReplyDelete:)
Linda
Christina, the molding looks fabulous! You always do such a great job! Thank you for visiting my blog today and also for leaving me a comment. Your comments show up as no-reply on my emails, so I can't email you back to thank you. I just wanted to stop by and tell you I always appreciate your comments. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDeleteI have a weekend link party on my blog if you'd care to join:
http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/10/weekend-warmth-5.html
What a wonderful finishing touch for a very polished look!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea and love the pictures for the tutorial! I'm wanting to add crown moulding to our kitchen cabinets so this will definitely be helpful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for an awesome how-to! Looks beautiful, and seems to be simple. I love it!!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Wonderful tutorial and I love the outcome. Crown moulding adds so much.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit Cristina and for leaving your sweet comment.
ReplyDeletegreat tute and your moulding looks amazing. very well done!
rita
I was thinking to do the same thing! Thanks for sharing... Now I don't need to figure out how to do it! You have a new follower. www.fabtwigs.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial Cristina! Your daughter's book case looks lovely with the added molding. Such a simple fix, but what a difference it makes. By the way, do you mind sharing what type of nail gun you use? I'm looking into getting one for myself. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
We added crown molding to the top of our kitchen cabinets. This post was very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteHi The Yarbrough's! I'm so glad this post was of help. And thank you so much for taking the time to write to me. It's comments like this that make feel I'm not wasting my time. :)
Deletedo you know how that lip sticks out of your bookshelf, and you added the molding to the top of it, flush to the edges of it? Could I skip adding the wood blocks you added and just glue/nail the crown molding to the front edge of that lip?
ReplyDeleteHi Camila, I think it can be done, but IMHO it might look weird, the crown sticking out of the flat sides of the bookcase, not a good transition.
Delete