How to Turn a Closet Door into a Bookcase, Continued

• They positioned the top panel against the side panels using the assembly block and then secured the corners together with screws.

• They repeated the process for the bottom panel and then were ready to move on to the shelves.

4. Shelf installation:

• Ron had asked the Saifers to get some of the typical items they planned to display on their shelves so that they could determine how the shelves should be spaced. They used several shelving pieces and simply set them in place in the cabinet to get a feel for how they would look.

• They decided on four shelves and Ron used a combination square to mark the final position of the shelves.

• Then they ran a bead of glue over the ends of each shelving piece…

• …and attached them with screws.

• Ron placed one more board at the bottom of the unit. This was actually not a shelf, but rather a false bottom. The purpose was to provide a surface to which they could attach a piece of trim later on. They once again used a bead of glue on this last piece and they secured it in place with screws.

• After all of the shelves were installed, it was time attach the back, which was cut from a sheet of 1/4" birch veneer plywood. They laid a bead of glue all the way around the outside edges and across the back of the shelves.

• They carefully positioned the back of the bookcase in place and then secured it with an air-powered stapler.

• They had transferred the shelf locations to the back panel before attaching it, so they would know where to attach the staples.

5. Embellishments:

• The final step was to decorate and embellish the basic case design beginning with fluted molding on the sides and a plinth block at the bottom.

• Across the bottom of the shelf, Ron thought a piece of baseboard would work well. The extra shelf they had installed earlier would be used to attach the molding along both the top and bottom edges. To attach the trim, they started down at the bottom and then worked their way up to the top.

• They attached the plinth block and the rest of the molding with a combination of glue and nails.

• They also decided to add wooden rosettes to the top corners for added elegance.

• The decorative moldings were attached to only one side of the case. A matching set would be attached to the bedroom wall on the hinged side of the door rather than to the case. This would allow the case to open and close without binding.
  

• To create a lip for the shelves, they attached narrow strips of wood along each front edge.