DIY Bookcases for Bedroom - Final Reveal

This is the third and final part of a series for building Bookcases in my bedroom.  For the first part click HERE.

At the end of the second post, this is how the bookcases looked.

The electric fireplace (affiliate link) had arrived and it was hung onto two 2x4's in the middle of the two bookcases.  It was time to make it look pretty.

I wanted to enclose the fireplace, so out of MDF a front face was cut, the inside of the cut-out was the perfect fit for the fireplace but the idea didn't work!  It was so tight fitting that it was impossible to hang the fireplace.  I wanted to be able to take the fireplace off the wall at any given moment, like if the lights for the flames burn out and I have to change them. This style didn't allow for that.  It was more like a permanent solution that I didn't want.

One extra problem I encountered was the flat trim I had previously attached at the front sides of the bookcases. Whatever I was trying to fit in between both bookcases didn't get in.  I took it off, it was a pain on the neck to get rid of it.  The glue had hardened pretty well, every time I managed to pray away an extra piece I promise myself to never put trim on the outside, before building the inside.  I think I learned that lesson. :/

Since the first plan for a "flat-front enclosed fireplace" didn't work, my next move was to build a small cubbie below the fireplace and a simple mantel above it.

This is how the cubbie was done:

This is the mantel.

On top of the mantel a chunky shelf was drilled in place.

The back was painted chalkboard black.  I also painted a 1/4" plywood to fit inside the cubbie.  If I change my mind I can take it off and is white again.

Finally, 1/2" MDF was cut in 3" stripes to give the overmantel a nice design and to cover the gaps on the sides and the electrical hole at the top (that top part was screwed in place to have easy access later on).
All the small moldings were the final touch.

Then I was in a paint marathon! I used Kilz 2 Latex to prime the whole unit.  Behr Swiss Coffee - Semi-gloss finish was used as the top coat.

And they were DONE!

Some accessories.

Remember the post about wood cuttings?  They were coming here.

This is how it evolved.

Until now.

This is the bookcases coastal look during Summer.

The windows got all trimmed out too, you can read all about it on my first contributor post at Pretty Handy Girl.