Install recessed wall shelf

I inserted shims to get it level, then nailed through the shim and into the stud. Then I scored and snapped the shim flush with the wall. Luckily, all this mess will be covered up in the next step. Attach the shelves to the studs with brad nails. If you're making a bigger recessed shelf that will be holding a lot of weight, use screws instead. To cover up the cut drywall and plywood edges, you'll want to find a thin moulding that coordinates with the other elements of the room.

The trim I found at Home Depot is almost an exact match to the detail on the inside panel of the cabinet doors I'll be installing on the vanity. Miter the corners of each piece to create a frame. Apply wood glue to the back and angled cuts, then nail them to the plywood shelf edges. Wood filler will fix up any gaps and nail holes.

Caulk the outside edge where the trim meets the wall and the interior seams. It looks like a mess now, but it will look great once it's painted! These recessed shelves aren't very big, but it's a great spot for displaying my favorite soaps, lotions and bath accessories!

The giant hole from my overly aggressive chiseling was patched up with the drywall cut out for the shelves. Everything was smoothed over with joint compound and is ready for new tile! This stuff is great for strengthening ripped drywall paper or gouges that are crumbling. You can find my tutorial for how to repair torn drywall paper here. All of these surfaces will be covered with tile as well. I had some leftover cement backer board from building my fireplace hearth , so I pieced together enough to cover the vanity.

Next week is all about vanity tile , sink and faucet installation! I'm excited to finally start making this bathroom pretty! Check out these other bathroom project ideas! Designing Around Almond Bathroom Fixtures.

As you can see I did mine out of butcher block because of cost. I am only building a box with a top, bottom and sides out of the butcher block and then putting a back on using some luan or paneling again to save on cost.

There was one shelf that I nailed and screwed in about 12 inches from the bottom for structural strength and usability. Painting, sealing or staining I would suggest sealing it somehow. I decided to paint mine white to match the other trim and things in my office.

Depending on your situation you may need additional bracing. I used 2x4 I had in order to do this, bracing where the shelf is going to sit. If you recall I removed my stud. I actually resused the same stud 2x4 and just ran it across the top, drilling it into the rest of the stud that I left attached and hanging down.

I did the same thing on the bottom with another 2x4. Once your bracing is in place you can install your shelf or book case. Once you have secured your shelves to the wall stud and braced things as needed you are now ready for the trim. I have cut my trim at 45 degree angles on the ends, so it meets like a picture frame, and attached it to the edge of the shelf with a brad and nail gun. I'm actually in the middle of this step myself Now you touch up the paint on the shelves and the trim where you need to.

Add your shelving clips. Add your shelves and adjust them to the heights needed. Hannah and I are just finishing up our first recessed cabinet for the arts and crafts room. There you go. Your first shelf. What do you think? Okay, Steve, let's see if this fits. Good job, perfect. A real nice fit. Now we clamp the shelf to our wall stud, making sure the face of the shelf is perfectly flush with the face of the drywall. Yeah, I was apprehensive at first and —but once I got in the thick of it, the first couple cuts and I got used to it.

It was fun. It was a lot of fun. Shims help us keep it level and plumb. Katie wants the shelves to have a whimsical frame with sweeping curves. The installation is temporary, so we just tack the plywood in place with a few small nails.

The spray adhesive is applied so that we can temporarily attach the strips of paper to the surface of the plywood. After trimming off the excess paper, we remove the plywood and cut it to shape, using the paper pattern as a guideline. We're able to take something that's solid like wood but it's also organic and we can make it appear fluid.

Okay, good. Now I've never done this either. I've been always wanting to experience it. We apply some pan adhesive to the back of the frame sections, then nail them to the edge of the cabinets. Now remember, this is the bay that we couldn't use because it had the plumbing inside and Katie came up with a great idea, which was to put a bulletin board up here.

So that's exactly what we're going to do now. We've moved the electrical outlet from down here, up here. So we'll start by putting some construction adhesive or pan adhesive on the back of our cork board here. All right, so let's drop this inside our frame. Cut this to fit. One last piece of trim completes this Gormanlove original and our shelves are now a piece of art. Just doing my last bit of nailing here.

Position the side boards to form a square, and use two clamps to hold the structure together. With a pencil, make marks for two screws at each corner.

Use a power drill to make pilot holes , followed by the screws. Line the sides of the shelf with wood glue as shown above. Place the cut craft board directly on top of the box structure and press down.

Let dry. Once glue is dry, drill one screw in the middle of each side. Drill pilot holes followed by screws. Set aside. Use wood glue to press the corners of the shelf lip together.

Line the shelf structure with wood glue, and place the shelf lip directly on top. Press down and let dry. Use a hammer and finishing nails to secure the lip to the shelf as shown above. Use two nails per side. Apply wood putty to all seams in the shelf using a flat putty knife.