Design Help for this Built-In in Dining Room

11 years ago

I have a lot of built-ins in my new home. I'm really having trouble with this one in the dining room with so many openings. I do not want to fill with books or china or photo frames. I want it to look modern and not cluttered...worthy of a magazine.

Featured Answer

AMN

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I think you're on the right track with having a bunch of similarly colored items. We did that with a (much smaller) shelf grouping in our living room, and it looks nice.

The bottom two rows could also be functional. Get appropriately-sized, nice-looking boxes or baskets to put in each hole, leaving fewer spots above that you have to decorate. Nice boxes like these (there would be so many of them that they work together to kind of suggest a sideboard): http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/win-these-hudson-walnut-storag-101909

Another idea would be to convert one or two strategically chosen holes to wine holders with two pieces of wood cross-set. See Pic: http://www.hefnerwoodworking.com/photo-gallery/furniture/9905475 This idea would be diningroom appropriate.

Remember, also, that you don't necessarily have to fill every hole.

Add wallpaper or an interesting paint color to the backs of some or all of the holes.

Sorry - can't think of a better term than "hole" at this time. :)

Some more inspiration:

(not exactly uncluttered, but still cool) http://homefuturedecorating.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/white-grey-contemporary-living-spaces-built-ins-600x368.jpg

One other thing. Depending on how these shelves are assembled, I wonder if you could saw off, sand, and repaint couple smartly-chosen shelves so you end up with just a few boxes that are double the height that they are now. I think variety of hole size is needed. That way, you can put some taller, bigger things in some of the spots.

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Comments (9)

PRO
Susan Mills Design
11 years ago
I would love to see you paint the interior for depth, what accent color do you have in the room? I am trying to see your art, is it pale blue? If so paint the back of the spaces with this color, then hang mirrors such as this picture, all you would need is the paint and the mirrors to create an interesting wall. Allow a few things into the spaces such as linen bound books with the jackets showing in the same color as the fabric on your chairs. Keep anything you put back into the spaces the same linen color. You could paint some of the items you already have. Lovely room feature by the way!

Susan Mills
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lionnessone
11 years ago
From the top of the cabinet to the forth shelf down add glass cabinet doors, you will need four. The first one will be attached to the first vertical unit, and the second to the next vertical unit, opening from the center, opening to the left and to the right. On the right side you will do the same. From that point down attach solid cabinet doors that match your entrance door. You are tuning your shelving unit into a built in hutch. Does that make any sense?
puncuz
11 years ago
Why don't you combine some of them ,especially in the middle-place a Buddha or so. Use modern lightening and highlight the same.
lionnessone
11 years ago
I attached inspirational pictures I found on Houzz. Now that makes sense! [houzz=
Dining Room · More Info
][houzz=
Capital Hill Residence · More Info
]
PRO
Vikrant Sharma Homez
11 years ago
I see you have six horizontal shelves , use the third and fourth for Books and in rest of the sections put one object each for it to stand out ANM's post has a nice idea of Walnut boxes , keep then in the bottom shelf , alternately Susan's Inspirational picture has the base with shutters that too is a good idea , But you have White So when you place any object it will look Beautiful but Remember Less is More !
cdossol
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all for the suggestions!
anitajoyce
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
if you use the items in the picture, place only one in each space. It looks too cluttered the way it is now. Also, how about something to fill the space in another color like green or blue to go with the black. Mix it up. The room is very bland.
nmcs
11 years ago
Put some cupboard doors over the bottom 2 or 3 (I'm not sure of the dimensions of the space or your storage needs). Put one item in each of the rest. Consider putting some sculptured accents along the top to soften the look if you like that sort of thing, or accent with a different color on the wall behind or on the shelves themselves. Maybe some under cupboard lights in some of them for accent. Not all of these together to avoid being too busy, but some of them to create an interesting look