| Project by Rick Sergi | posted 30 days ago | 636 views | 3 times favorited | 8 comments |  |
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The fireplace in our family room was brick from floor to ceiling with recesses on both sides. We wanted to spruce it up and create some usable storage on each side. The result was 2 built-in bookcases and a mantel in red oak. For the bookcase backs, I created individual strips that fit together with tongue/groove rather than a plain, flat back. This gave the bookcases a bit more visual appeal. Shelves are all adjustable and made with oak plywood with solid oak strips applied to the front both for strength and to cover the edge of the plywood. Once the bookcases were in place, I covered up the top part of the fireplace with “floating” plywood which was attached only to the bookcases, not actually to the brick at all. The plywood gave me a substrate to apply wallboard to yet it can be removed in the future if desired with no damage to the brick. The “floating wall” (plywood covered by wallboard) is additionally held in place by molding on all sides. An “arch” theme was used for the top of the bookcases as well as the tops of the doors. Recessed lights were the final touch.
-- Rick Sergi - Bethlehem, PA
8 comments so far
a1Jim
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16598 posts in 469 days
posted 30 days ago
This looks great Rick well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
ken90712
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334 posts in 81 days
posted 30 days ago
Adds a nice balance to the room. Can’t go wrong with oak, great job! The only thing I would change is putting the same size crown over the mantel as on the side walls. But that just me just my two cents worth. Something to be proud of.
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
lumberdustjohn
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82 posts in 59 days
posted 30 days ago
Warm and inviting apeal.
Nice work.
-- John Stoler Apple Creek Ohio
RexMcKinnon
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652 posts in 88 days
posted 30 days ago
I thought you said you wanted to spruce it up but it looks like you oaked it up. LOL
Looks great.
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
Scott Bryan
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20564 posts in 714 days
posted 30 days ago
Rick, this is a nice addition to your home. The fireplace is now a beautiful focal point for the room that immediately gets your attention. You put a lot of detail in these, such as the onlays, fluted columns and arched rails/panels, that give the bookcases visual interest.
Nice job.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Beginningwoodworker
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4102 posts in 565 days
posted 30 days ago
Nice work, Rick.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
Oscar Rodriguez
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4 posts in 101 days
posted 30 days ago
Wow, simply beautiful…
-- Oscar
huff
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1608 posts in 177 days
posted 29 days ago
Very nice Rick, you difinetly accomplished your goal. Nice addition to the room.
-- John @ Myrtle Beach