Built-in Study Nook

I’ve mentioned that I’m getting ready for the baby to come (February!) and finally getting to all these projects that I’ve been meaning to get to for months. In fact, this project in my son’s room has been one of those things on my to do list since we moved in three years ago. So, thought I’d update you on one of my current projects…

There’s a little nook in Conor’s room that is such wasted space. I got a cheap (Expedit) bookcase from Ikea as a stop-gap, but books keep piling up. The shelf is there because on the other side of the wall there are stairs. This shelf just became a magnet for junk.

I’ve stared at it for three years knowing it wouldn’t be a difficult project, but just couldn’t take the plunge to actually do anything. The previous owners definitely intended for a desk to be there because there are outlets right under the window (left side.) As my son has gotten older, he’s been asking for a space of his own, a desk where he can practice writing, do art projects, etc. So, I decided to make this little area into a built-in desk and bookshelves for the little guy.

Here’s where things are today…

Still need to paint and organize everything, but Conor loves it so far! If he were a little older (taller that is) I think I would have eliminated that first shelf and instead done a bulletin board all the way across the back. But, he needs to have his books reachable so I kept that lower shelf. For the desk, I just had our carpenter continue the existing shelf. The desk is 24″ deep so Conor has plenty of working space. We’ll use the top shelf for storage with baskets of supplies he doesn’t need to access regularly.

The walls are gray so I’m thinking of painting the new desk and shelves a slate blue–while the trim is all BM White Dove, I don’t want to use white because it will show marks (markers!) more easily.

Then maybe bring in a fun punch of color (he is five after all so I want to keep it fun!) with this chair from Room & Board

So making progress! Lots of other projects to fill you in on come January. I’m going to use the holidays when family is in town to try to wrap some things up.