Putting Your Summer on the Shelf

Don't you wish you could just bottle up some of the summer feeling? You could open the bottle in January and you'd be right there on the beach, sipping a long, cool drink and soaking up the sun.

Well, we've made some great technological advances in the past few decades (think video games), but, unfortunately, no one's figured out a way to recreate that summer feeling during the long, cold, Midwestern winters.

Until now, that is! I have a suggestion that will at least help you remember those wonderful days of vacation, not just in January, but every day of the year.

No space is too small or too insignificant for decoration, accessories are a must.

The addition of crown molding shelves, vacation pictures and souvenirs transformed a purely functional hallway into the hall of vacation fame. If you'd like a hall of fame in your house, these crown-molding shelves are a great way to display your favorite vacation mementos.

Materials:

one 1inch x 10 inches x 8 feet for top of shelf
one 1inch x 8 inches x 8 foot for bottom of shelf
two 2 inches x 4 inches x 8 feet for spacers
one 12-foot piece of crown molding
circular saw
drywall screws
lag bolts
drill
countersink bit
finish nails
sanding sealer
stain of your choice
polyurethane

Steps:

First determine the length and width of the shelf you want. The materials listed will create a 7-foot-long, 9-inch-deep shelf, but can be adapted. To prepare the top part of the shelf, set your circular saw for a 35-degree angle and mark the shelf's length and width. Realize that once you add the crown molding, you will be adding 1/2 inch to the depth and one inch to the length. Then, follow your markings and cut a 35-degree angle around three sides of the board.

The bottom of the shelf needs to be cut 1-1/2 inch narrower and 3 inches shorter than the top piece, due to the angle of the crown molding . Don't angle these cuts; just make them straight with the circular saw.

Cut the back spacer out of the 2 x 4 by cutting it in half to create two (2 x 2). Then for the front spacer, cut the face of the other 2 x 2 on the same 35-degree angle as the top-shelf edge. This will add support for the crown molding and the shelf. If both spacers are about six feet long, that will do the trick.

To assemble the hollow shelf, start by laying the top of the shelf upside down on the bench. Center and line up the front support piece flush with the bevel edge of the top. Drill pilot holes into the support piece and, using drywall screws, attach the front support to the underneath side of the top. Then line up the bottom of the shelf, drill pilot holes and nail the bottom to the front support piece. (You may want to set the back spacer in place to make attaching the front edge easier).

Cut the crown molding to size. Then drill very small pilot holes to help keep it from splitting as it's added around the three sides. Countersink the nails (don't fill the holes up yet), sand the entire piece smooth with a 220-grit sandpaper, wipe with a tack rag and then add a sanding sealer to help even out the stain. Once it's dry, add the desired stain, and follow that up with a couple coats of polyurethane.

To install the shelf, begin by finding the wall studs. Once found, mark them with tape and draw a level line 3/4 inch lower than where you want the top of the shelf. This is where the back support will be mounted and you must leave space for the thickness of the top shelf. Drill pilot holes that coincide with your wall studs into the 2 x 2 spacer/mounting board.

Using lag bolts, screw the mounting board to the wall. Once secure, add decorative brackets 3/4 inch below the mounting board and then slide the hollow shelf over the mounting board. When everything is centered and even, drill pilot holes into the shelf and down into the support board. Using a countersink bit, create space so the screw heads sink into the top. Then screw in the shelf securely to the wall. Finally, use matching wood putty to fill in all of the holes.

Tip: Fill holes on stained projects after the entire project is finished and then match the putty to the stain. If you putty the holes and then stain, the putty always looks discolored.

Now for the fun part: On a cold day next winter, set up your favorite beach chair in your personal vacation hall of fame. Sit back, relax and let those vacation memories take you back to summer. And if you're still having trouble regaining that summertime feeling, you can always turn up the thermostat to 87 degrees.

Vacation Help
  No more stress
  Houseplants
  Saving the Summer
  Workout

100% Protected Payment Process With every order, you will be entered to win a gas card. Above is not the actual gas card, gas suppliers will vary. Get notified when we change our inventory it's private powered by ChangeDetection

  Angels Heaven Store    Baby Gifts and Needs    Birdfeeders    Candles and Candle Holders    Christmas Ideas    Computer Extras   Free Shipping    Gift Ideas at a Discount    Hunting Corner, Wear and Not Be Seen    Jewelry Assistance, Help and Ideas    Just for you Kitchen Gifts    Mickey Mouse Store    Miniature Sets    Mirrors, Hand Designed, Etched    Native American Gifts    Paintings    Pet Gifts    Black and White Prints    Support the Pink    Attn: Raider Fans, Gifts on Wheels   Suncatcher, window hangings    USA The Greatest Country, Show your pride    Wood working plans that you create    Gifts from the Far East with Free Shipping   Jesus, Cross, Wall, Clock, Paperweight, Show your faith with our Lord   Medieval Charms and Spirits   Photo Frames for All Occasions   Just for your little princess   Scrollwork Designs