A little over a month ago we started building built-in bookshelves for our living room.  We have a fairly large library of books and DVD’s and needed a place to store them all that was convenient and attractive.

We decided we would cover our empty living room wall with wall-to-wall shelving that we would build ourselves.  It certainly was no small task, but we’ve basically completed it.  It took us right at a month to build.  We also had to move the fan control switch to the other side of the wall so we didn’t cover it up, which required running new electrical wires.  We also added a second outlet along the shelf wall so we could plug stuff in.  There are just a few little details left to make it 100% complete, but it’s done as far as the functionality is concerned.

We’re planning on putting up crown molding along the top, and we’ll connect the two units across the doorway so they appear as one.  The carpet needs to be re-tacked and the baseboards need to be put back on, but that’s about it.  We also might run another outlet above so we can add some indirect lighting to the top of the bookshelves for a nice ambient effect.

It was a crap-load of work, but it was definitely worth it.  We got much needed shelves all while increasing the value of our house.

Below are some pictures of the process along with the complete product with all our books alphabetized on them.

The Oracle

by Garrison Locke

“The fourth of May

in terms of winter,”

said the caterpillar to the swan,

“is when you sail the wall tomorrow

here to there and back and yon.”

He told her this as if it was clear

what he meant by the nonsense

he spoke into her ear.

“Sure..,” she said, cocking her head.

She flapped her wings and flew away.

Four-thirty

by Garrison Locke

nonsense isn’t nonsense

unless it’s an elephant

jumping on the back

of a train escaping

to Mars after the nukes

shot-gunned, we plant

trees of apple

delicious red

on the face

of Phobos

our souls are reaved

Wyoming

by Garrison Locke

Snow capped mountains,

plains of golden grass,

verdant forests

bordered by zigzag fence,

fields of prairie dogs,

midnight blue glass-top lakes…

One day I’ll buy some land here –

a quaint house,

a small lake perhaps.

Miles and miles and miles

away from civilization.

Clean air.

Endless sky…

When the frontier life calls,

I think I’ll answer.

The Trees of Light

by Garrison Locke

The Trees of Light stood waiting.

Fire had rained from the sky for weeks

with no end in sight.

Three had fallen;

many more lost branches.

Translucent silver leaves incinerated.

The memories of those connected to the trees

began to fade…

The people had never met their memory keepers –

they couldn’t understand their condition.

The trees wanted to help –

the memories were their lifeblood.

But Yggdrasil’s dew would save them

and extinguish the fire;

the Great Tree always did.

The ash would restore the world once more.

Dizzy

by Garrison Locke

In the dream

I’m running.

The room spins –

a yellow blanket,

someone has a gun –

Awake.

Java

by Garrison Locke

Blackest coffee, sweetest bean,

down it goes, so smooth, so clean.

Latte, mocha, cappuccino,

caffeine, French Roast, Daybreak dream.

I’ll take mine with sugar and cream!

Tempest

by Garrison Locke

Doom arrives from the West.

Static and deafening concussions

fill the air –

The wrath of God is on display;

Warning us that we are

failing.

Lycanthropy

by Garrison Locke

Lycanthropic dreams

keeping him awake at night,

howling at the moon.

Strychnine

by Garrison Locke

Yesterday I drank a beer it was marvelous!

Poisonous it tasted…what is that twinge?

Hey look a donkey said the bubble,

what the crap it’s Barney Rubble.

There is a needle in my eye,

oh my God do I feel high.

This poison beer has made me rhyme,

excuse me sir dost thou have lime?