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angiedono88

Approximately how much would this cost?

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

Our living room looks basically like The Before photo below except we have slightly taller ceilings. I would love to do built in bookcases like the after photo below. Any idea on how much this might cost? Thank you.





Comments (25)

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Assuming custom sized to fit your space 10k-20k with Install. If you can use standard cabinets you might save some.

    angiedono88 thanked HALLETT & Co.
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    A lot higher than I imagined, which was around $3k-$5k. Thank you

  • 6 years ago

    Talk to several local cabinet makers and get estimates from them. You don’t need a general building contractor for this as long as you are not getting involved in gas lines and reworking exterior wall structure or replacing the fireplace. Sketch up a measured plan (make copies) or provide inspiration photos so you both will know what your wishes entail. Costs can be different in different parts of the country.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    IMO first figure out what you need the shelves for IMO most often they are filled with a bunch of stuff that never needs to displayed. When you want advice please post a picture of your space .

  • 6 years ago

    Check out ikea hacks. If I remember correctly there is a bookcase hack to make them look built in.

  • 6 years ago

    Yes there's a hack using ikea hemnes book cases and units. Its still going to cost a good few thousand to do though.

    angiedono88 thanked shelleyuk
  • 6 years ago

    You can do this with some IKEA Hemmes or Billy bookcases and trim, etc. A good carpenter should be able to “customize” it

    angiedono88 thanked Gcubed
  • 6 years ago

    @jalarse You did that yourselves?? You are amazing!

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Are you in New York City? Des Moines? Seattle? Barcelona? Glasgow?

    Nobody can tell you, because costs vary wildly. Call some cabinet makers tomorrow. Be prepared to answer questions and give measurements. Simple. Done.

  • 6 years ago

    do you want the fireplace surround/mantle and millwork done as well? then 10K is prob close.

    for just the bookcases, 4-5 would be my guess.


    Ikea has hacks you can do for under 1K





    something like this would cost no where near 10-20K.





  • 6 years ago

    flopyscat1, thank you. Actually we built the house ourselves. The two of us have built two houses in the 47 years we’ve been married. This is the last one.

  • 6 years ago

    @jalarse, WOW!!! You are awesome!

  • 6 years ago

    The prices being quoted sound very high. In Northern California I did a bookcase and surround like that as well as all the cabinetry for 2 large baths, a large linen closet, and a huge kitchen (40 linear feet of cabs plus a big island, all drawers on lowers, and lots of built ins. Everything soft close and hidden hinges). All were done by a local cabinetmaker. He measured, made, painted and stained, and installed plus came back to install the hardware I’d purchased for all the cabs. ALL of that was only $35k. Shop around.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Thank you everyone for the input. I am going to check out the ikea hack as well. We live in New England. We are pretty handy, but figured I’d ask before calling around as its not something we need to get done now, it’s just a “want”. If it’s $15-$20k then it’s a “never”, that’s for sure!

  • 6 years ago

    I have 2 of these flanking door opening and was quoted ~$8k for a carpenter to build (would like have had a little more detailing) to match some other bookcases/millwork in my home. More than we wanted to spend so these are IKEA Billy bookcases “customized”

  • 6 years ago

    Gcubed,,,yes. that's what an Ikea hack means. to customize.

  • 6 years ago

    Yes, hack.

    angiedono88 thanked Gcubed
  • 6 years ago

    You can do an IKEA hack with the base cabinets and order custom doors- there are many options/ companies out there that do custom doors for IKEA cabinets (a list will come up if you google it). We have a small townhouse galley kitchen and the cost for cabinets and custom doors would cost me about 6k from Reform.

  • 6 years ago

    Another option that worked well for us was purchasing unfinished bookshelves then having a carpenter install & add trim. Then paint or stain. A custom job was going to coast me $13,000 in SoFL; the unfinished ceiling hi cabinets cost me $1800 + installation.

  • 6 years ago

    I'm from Toronto and we paid approximately $3,000 CA for our builtin wall unit

  • 6 years ago

    Tatts is right. The cost of labor is so wildly different around the country that it’s impossible to get exact numbers from Houzzers. But you see the range of costs. A local carpenter may give you a huge break if there is a gap in his/her schedule. You never know. Ask for referrals. Keep us all posted. Where do you live?

  • 6 years ago

    Susan Murin - where in Nor Cal are you and can I get the contact info for your cabinet maker? That sounds like quite a deal!! We’re in the East Bay. I can send you my email address if you’d rather not post it publicly.

  • 6 years ago

    Check out Lowes unfinished cabinets. You can catch them often at 20% off.
    You just might find the sizes you need for bases . Buy inexpensive bookcases.
    Add a little bit of molding and paint everything to match. Viola!