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| coolshire.com |
January is the traditional month to get organized. Whether it's because cold weather keeps us indoors or we have a new year's resolution to de-clutter, we are inspired to find ways to organize our home environments. One of my favorite aspects of interior decor is the opportunity to design custom built-in cabinetry. They not only provide extra storage and display space, they can also add architectural features to a plain room and solve spatial problems. The photo above features quintessential shelf and cabinet units which flank a central fireplace. The symmetry and neutral paint color connect the cabinetry to the surrounding wall spaces and add interesting detail without overwhelming the living room. The balance and harmony of the design are very pleasing to the eye.
The photos below offer a solution to the problem of an existing fireplace that is off-center on the wall. In the first one, symmetrical cabinets encase the fireplace and wall-mounted television and the leftover space is filled with seating and storage that help unify and fill the whole wall. In the second one, the extra space is filled with a complementary unit with glass doors and drawers. These examples also show the difference between cabinetry painted to match the other woodwork in the room versus woodwork stained to contrast with the other painted surfaces.
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| forums.fatakat.com |
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| crown-point.com |
Clients often ask what they can do to make a long living room seem less awkward and more livable. Built-in cabinets surrounding the windows at one end of a room are both useful and visually appealing. A library has been created in the first photo in a minimal amount of wall space. The pop of color inside the built-ins in the second photo adds drama to the room.
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| houzz.com |
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| houzz.com |
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| theinspiredroom.net |
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| vi.sualize.us |
In the two photos above, built-ins show additional solutions to design problems. In one, extra display space has been creatively arranged around a doorway and adds architectural detail. In the other, there is an abundance of detailled woodwork so floor-to-ceiling built-ins would overwhelm the space.
Instead, the cabinets relate the fireplace to the rest of the room but only along the lower half which opens up wall space for artwork and accessories.
The following three photos portray the versatility of built-ins in transition spaces. Stairways and hallways are given convenient and attractive storage areas that blend seamlessly with the homes' interiors. The first stairway unit provides display space for decorative accessories. The second unit creates a mudroom to store outdoor clothing. The third unit has blue glass sliding doors that replicate the sky in the nearby large windows so the enclosed hallway storage seems to disappear.
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| houseanddecoration.com |
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| lanakress.com |
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| hillarydijon.com |
Master bedrooms are enhanced by built-ins to provide storage that doesn't crowd or clutter the spaces. They eliminate the need for the variety of chests and trunks one often finds in these rooms. It's easier to organize clothing and accessories and the feeling the room conveys is more restful.
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| weddingseve.com |
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| funny-pictures.picphoto.net |
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| mobmit.com |
Children's bedrooms usually include both sleeping and play areas so built-ins in these rooms can be both functional and fun. Both photos below highlight how great design can take a child from a very young age through the teenage years...and beyond!
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| home-designing.com |
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| lanite.com |
Kitchens certainly benefit from custom-designed and built cabinetry. I really like the ideas presented in the following two images. The first one suggests installing antique doors over new built-ins and building new freestanding cupboards to replicate old ones. The second photo shows an island that makes use of built-in shelves to hold cookbooks and baskets in an attractive display...items that can look very messy in the room. The wall units combine open and closed shelving which is much more interesting than all covered cabinets.
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| materiadesigns.com |
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| marna-diasdelunayviento.blogspot.com |
The possibilities for built-ins are endless. With creative and quality construction, they add visual appeal and increased value to any home. Whether your home is traditional or modern, built-ins
are a definite plus to the interior design.
