For as long as we have lived in our current home, the formal living room has been a playroom. With a little imagination and an additional wall we ended up with the perfect backdrop for a built-in to maximize storage.
Now we are finally ready to tackle this built-in beauty, but figuring out what we want and need now while planning for the future, hasn’t been easy.
We know what we really need for the next several years is not only a playroom, but a room that doubles as a home office. The built-in needs to offer ample storage, but also work functionally for someone to sit at and be productive. Before we talk built-in details, let’s take a moment to understand where we started.
So now that you can appreciate just how long this process has been and how much there is to still do, let’s dive into the world of built-ins.
There has been substantial back and forth at home regarding the look of these built-ins. My husband has really tried to keep the computer monitors in mind whereas I am looking at the long-term use case. We eventually envision this room becoming more of a multi-purpose hang out. As our kids get older, we see us having a round game table in the corner, a small couch for reading a book, and a place to do homework/crafts.
For me personally, I want a built-in that will provide lots of hidden storage and also hide unsightly cords. I also don’t want to stare at monitors when I enter the room. That is why, I am asking my husband to provide a hidden garage door if you will. Is that expensive? Perhaps.
Will it happen? Time will tell.
Below are some inspiration photos for this wall of storage.
On my quest for built-ins, I found several that sparked inspiration. However, there are plenty more than what I shared above, but I just can’t find the original sources.
One thing I can say is we plan to use unfinished cabinets from the home improvement store and make it feel “custom” by varying the cabinets and scale.
For now, it is time to really finalize the overall look of the built-ins and then it is time to select a color!
No matter what, I know this space will be beautiful when it comes together. We are genuinely excited to really bring this space to life and finally have some wonderful storage solutions.
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From the time I was a young child, I have loved interior design and beautiful things. Ten-year-old me would create “floor plans” on notebook paper and design the dream homes of my siblings. We would have an initial meeting and after jotting down their wish list, I got to work creating the home of their dreams.
After designing the layout, I would take the Sunday newspaper ads (are those still a thing?) and cut out pictures of furniture, lamps, and accessories to create mood boards for each room in the home. When I was all done, weeks and weeks later, I would showcase my work and pitch my design ideas to a sibling.
If you too enjoy beautiful things and the process of turning a vision into a reality, welcome! If you love watching homes transform, but just don’t know how to start or have the resources to buy everything you like, stick around. I love finding affordable and practical design solutions to give YOU a gorgeous home you can be proud of.
Together, let’s reveal what’s possible.
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