Lara’s Library Built-ins-1

Hey all, it’s time for another Sawdust Diary project introduction:  This is Lara’s Library in which she (and her husband Jay who has recently come on board the Sawdust train) is building some badass built-ins with arches and drawers and doors and killer molding…  Of course it will be awesome!

I have to tell you about Laura.  She had never built anything before we started and was so nervous and excited that the first five times we Skyped she’d just scream for the first few seconds.  Not like – horror film scream but — AAAAAAAAAOH MY GOSH SANDRA I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M DOING THIS!  Maddie always calls out, “Is that Lara”?  Hee hee.

She has a LOT of energy and is super adorable.   Anyway… this is the library.

 

Here’s a better view of the wall and the light source for the entire room.   FYI: most rooms that don’t have lights but DO have a light switch (and you can’t figure out what that switch is supposed to control) — that switch is generally wired to one section of the double electrical outlets in one or all the electrical outlets in that room.  That way turns on any lamps that you have plugged in but the other half of the outlet is always hot and works like a normal outlet where you don’t have to turn on a switch to have power.

The first plan of action was to see if she could find an electrician to install receced lights — because the lamp situation was just sad.  They had two electricians come in to scope out the situation and they both said they couldn’t do it — so Lara and Jay were going to accept it.        Uhhhh-huh…we’ll see about that.  😉

 

Here’s Lara’s take on the project so far.

 

Oh-my-lanta, where do you I start, I have always loved the look, feel and in general what built-ins do to a room.  I saw Sandra’s Library Built in, my jaw dropped and it blew my mind, and so I got in touch with Sandra and the rest is history (well history in making). Being the gem that she is, she was kind enough to help me and work with me to get my vision to reality. Last week, she sent me my cut list and we talked through the final basics and we pulled the trigger. Yikes

 

Day 1: I drove to my favorite Lowe’s bright and early in the morning (so I won’t be in the way of real carpenters and professionals) to pick up wood for my project.  The Lowe’s guy began cutting the MDF and made several mistakes here and there, but he was nice enough to replace the wood for free. So I got back home, measured everything and upon further inspection saw that 3 of my boards were 3 inches off. Sigh…., but I was just too excited to get started besides I was headed back to the store to pick up more items so I was not too disappointed.

 

 

So the wonderful folk at Lowe’s were so helpful and nice enough to help me get everything in the car. I got home and then started to lift the MDF indoors. THEY ARE FLIPPING HEAVY…I did break a nail or two.

 

Before I got started, I called the MOTHERSHIP (Sandra) to get more advice via Skype and she walked me through assembling the cabinet, giving me tips to make sure that my cabinets lined up straight and avoid any novice mistake.

 

Sandra had some tricks and tips for me and I asked her every question I could think of –but  I confess I don’t know all the carpentry terms – i.e cleats, shims, etc.   I would ask Sandra a questions like – “how do I make this thingy match that thingy” ….My husband would laugh, but I tell—Sandra got everything I was saying and/or understood what I meant to say….  I tell you that alone was a big blessing.

 

I am thankful for all the encouragement she pumped me with because it was indeed what I needed to hear. I was more pumped, I felt like she was right there thought it all.

 

I was able to put ¾ of the cabinet bases together.  I am so happy to be doing this with Sandra at my side, I pinch myself.

In the middle of the night (at about 3 am) — I crept into the garage to see the cabinet bases looking pretty at me and I smiled to myself and crept back in to bed, all happy and proud…..

 

Things I learned:

1.     Measure, Measure and Measure (I measured all my wood 3 times and still made a mistake)

2.    Inspect YOUR WOOD (I bought some warped wood that was so twisted…Never again)

3.    Call Sandra, she will fix everything.

 

Lara Thomas