#17 Done: Convert Spare Room into Office/Library

It took a pandemic, but I needed a space to write.

Step One: Cleared out the room and removed the base boards

Step two: I wanted a dark and luxurious library, so I settled on this blue paint color. It took several coats.

Step three: Put together the bookcases that would eventually become built-ins.

Step four: Secured the bookcases to a frame that I bolted to the studs. They’re going nowhere.

Step five: Brought the frame up to the ceiling so that I could add lights.

Step six: Added voice commanded lights and covered the frame with MDF and plywood. Watched a lot of YouTube instructional videos on how to wire electricity.

Step seven: Bought a nail gun and added trim between the bookcases and on the ceiling. Next, I added the baseboards to compete the built-in look. I must have cut each corner of the baseboards a dozen times before I got the angles right. I also caulked every hole, crack and blemish.

Step eight: Sanded and painted everything. After using a paint roller on the first shelf, I bought an electric paint sprayer and banged it out in a day.

Step nine: Hung the chandelier and began the difficult process of tiling the ceiling. The old adage, measure twice, cut once, didn’t seem to work for me. I would measure twice, cut once, scream, then try again.

Step ten: Somehow I managed to tile the entire room and it looks great.

Step eleven: Books, furniture and artwork. Still need to add some furnishing and artwork, but I couldn’t be happier with how it all came out. Now I can put the tools away and write.