Installing Shelving around a Fireplace

This is one of those rewarding projects that brings a big return on a small investment.

Many new homes in Asheville are built with places for shelving, but since since the builders are trying to stay on budget, the shelves are left out and the homeowner has to install them later. This is especially common in pantries and closets... or in this case, in the niches around the fireplace in my customer's living room.

These little nooks were even more awkward than usual, because one nook was deeper and wider than the other, so the homeowner couldn't just pick out a matching pair of credenzas.

We worked together to come up with a plan to install semi-floating shelves on each side, and by making the shelves the same height and thickness, we were able to create a sense of visual unity. Here's our "proof of concept" sketch.

You may notice that there aren't any shelves on the lower right. The homeowner wanted a place to keep her daughter's large toys, and since she was considering selling the home in the future, she also wanted to leave a place for the next occupant to install a large TV.

Once we had the size and spacing of the shelving worked out, I went to work behind the scenes in my shop.

The new shelves were painted to match the trim around the existing fireplace, so they looked like a natural extension of what was already there.

Even without books and accessories, the niches around the fireplaces have a much more unified look.

If you've got an awkward empty space that is crying out for cabinets or shelves, give us a call. We'll put in the pieces that the builder left out.

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