I think built-ins are such an important part of a farmhouse. I've walked through so many old places, filled with room after room of built-ins. I love how they make a house feel.
Wherever possible (and feasible), I've added in built-ins of our own that will be really functional for our family. Here are a few:
Boys desk, bookcase, and window seat. These built-ins sit in the common area between all of the boys rooms. I'm using a black laminate desktop here because it's incredibly durable and inexpensive and doesn't show the black seam (which can make laminate look cheap). The drawer hardware needs to be added still and I'll be adding an upholstered cushion that will sit atop the window seat. On the opposite wall is a nice big closet that we'll store our boardgames in. I'll also add in some beanbags for the floor and hope that they'll all congregate here together, like brothers do.
Kitchen bookcase. This bookcase is built into the stairs and will be put to good use with my collection of cookbooks. It will be painted soon, along with all of the trim in the house.
Pantry shelves. I knew there was a little bit of room in the wall behind the right-hand side of my pantry and where my dining room built-in sits, so I decided to utilize that space for smaller pantry food items. I wanted the shelves to all be fully adjustable so I could fit any products in there. What I didn't consider is that would mean over 800 holes would have to be drilled. *Gulp*! Mike, the finish carpenter, told me I darn well better adjust those shelves on a regular basis. And Colin? He thinks I'm cuh-razy! And he told me he thinks I'll never move the shelves. Well great, now I'll have to prove him wrong.
Entryway bench. We're a shoe-free house, so this is a nice place for guests to be able to sit and remove their shoes. A beadboard backing is being added to the wall behind and will be topped with a shelf and sturdy hooks just beneath for coats. I'll add an upholstered cushion for sitting and baskets beneath for shoes. There's also an entryway closet to the right for added coat hanging flexibility.
The countertops were templated on Monday, so those will be getting installed soon. Mike has finished all of the crown molding and is working on the base trim. After that, he'll be getting to work on the stair newel posts and balusters. (I'm REALLY looking forward to that part!) Todd has installed the tile floors in the bathrooms and laundry room and is now working on the master bath walls and ceiling tile. He's doing a beautiful job. Graham and crew are doing prep work for the paint. I swear, all I hear whenever I'm at the house lately is the sound of them sandpapering trim.
I remember thinking when we got the painting quote that I could just paint everything. Oh my word! One of my craziest thoughts ever. EVER.
Thank goodness Colin knows when to just smile and not do as I say.
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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.
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we're up to painting in our little ol' house and whenever i go there i am SO grateful that i'm not the one doing the painting!!!
i've really enjoyed watching your house "come up out of the ground". it's going to be fantastic!
all the best.
Posted by: aussie gal | February 17, 2011 at 12:18 AM
I love built-ins too - these all look amazing and such great use of space. I can't wait to see them all finished and dressed up.
~Sam
Posted by: Samantha | February 17, 2011 at 12:19 AM
I love the entry way bench. How do you get people to take their shoes off without being rude? I have always had a problem with guests not taking off their shoes.
Posted by: Clean Freak | February 17, 2011 at 04:32 AM
I love your built-ins!! Sweet! Your house is really comin' along fine. I can't wait to see the final reveal of your new home.
Mel's Cabin follows you.
Posted by: Mel's Cabin | February 17, 2011 at 04:49 AM
Serena, your farm house is going to be beautiful!!!! I just love all of the built ins & the think that the adjustable shelves are pretty cool. There is nothing like cramming a cereal box in to a space that is too small :).
XoXXo
amy
Posted by: amy~ the gypsy chick | February 17, 2011 at 05:25 AM
It's just gorgeous, Serena! I love all your built-ins. I wish I had done more of those when we were rehabbing my house. Good choice on getting someone else to paint all that trim! 5 years later I am still painting trim!
Posted by: Cari Skuse | February 17, 2011 at 05:45 AM
WHAT COLOR IS THE CABINETS AND BUILT INS? I AM LOOKING FIR A GOOD FARM HOUSE COLOR!
Posted by: mj | February 17, 2011 at 06:09 AM
Whoo! Looking good Serena! ;-) xo
Posted by: khristian a. howell | February 17, 2011 at 06:35 AM
It is coming together sooo beautifully! It will be a great home for your family I'm sure. Is the headquarters a seperate attachment to the main house or a floor of the main house? In Turkey it is customary to take your shoes off at anybody's home, so these benches come very helpful, I want to build in one also, so I would love to see the end results to the entryway. Take care.Ebru
Posted by: ebru | February 17, 2011 at 06:59 AM
What great built ins! We also, with 5 kids, are a shoe free home. But sometimes the kids just drop down and crawl thru the house on their hands and knees and dirty jeans...aaggghh!
Posted by: Kathy | February 17, 2011 at 07:19 AM
oh my goodness ... we start building our suburban "farmhouse" in april, and reading your stories from the construction always get me so excited! like, "can't sit still because i can't wait" excited! these built-ins have just pushed me over the edge ... you need to hurry up and post more photos so i can get the fixes i need to get me through the next six weeks until i can live out my own construction dreams!! world headquarters, etc. is going to be amazing!
Posted by: michele | February 17, 2011 at 07:41 AM
It must be an American thing, wearing the shoes in the house. Up here in Canada...we ALWAYS take off our shoes, no matter what the season, they come off at the front door!
Posted by: Nikki Lawrence | February 17, 2011 at 08:15 AM
I've got it bad... I'm hot for built-ins.
So beautiful, so simple.
Clean Freak's question about being rude- I say things like,"Welcome! Kick your shoes off, make yourself comfortable!" But others feeling at home in my home is more important than the occasional shoe being worn on my hardwood or carpeting. For whatever reason, if someone doesn't want to take their shoes off, I'm not going to be a stickler about it. They're my guests.
I may be a little more strict if it's muddy, if I have a gravel walkway or if it's a cultural thing, but those are all things that can tactfully be explained without any offense given.
Posted by: Lori | February 17, 2011 at 08:41 AM
Love built-ins too...so vintage and purposeful. Unlucky for us, we dont have room in our house to do them (maybe our next one!)
Love the grey color on your walls...it is similar to what we just had painted in ours. It looks clean and crisp with the white trim - *love*.
And I know what you mean about "painting everything yourself"....we seriously thought about it too. But overall its not worth it. I loved walking in and seeing the whole house painted!! I was in heaven....
Posted by: Lolo | February 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM
I hope your window seats are of sufficient depth. We moved into a house that has two window seats and it seemed like such a lovely idea, unfortunately, they are only 16" deep and are not comfortable for anything other than a place for very, small children. A few years ago I was reading an article about house design and architecture and it mentioned that unless window seats were at least 19" deep they wouldn't ever be used. So true.
Posted by: Dina (Pond) McRae | February 17, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Thank you for sharing,it has been such fun to follow along!
Posted by: Vick Cotnoir | February 17, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Aren't built ins great??? My pantry has the same shelving. My hubby added it when we had a water leak and had to re-do the pantry. I have adjusted the shelves many times!!!!
I love the updates...thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Holly | February 17, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Our fridge has adjustable shelves and I adjust them weekly! I assume if I had adjustable shelving in my pantry I would constantly adjust those too :-) My Grandmother's pantry was only on large can of tomatoes deep (only behind cupboard doors), and it was perfect. You never had to sort through cans the way I do now to get what you want. You are going to love it!
Posted by: Arriving | February 17, 2011 at 04:13 PM
I think it's great that you have a shoe-free home.
I have an whole blog about removing shoes in homes: Shoes Off at the Door, Please You might like to take a look.
Posted by: Matthew C | February 18, 2011 at 03:57 AM
Great stuff.Seems a liitle strange that someone would devote an entire blog to removing shoes. Its something we do but dont get uptight about others not doing the same. sounds a bit intrusive to me.
Posted by: lianne | February 18, 2011 at 09:59 AM
guess i should've just said nice job! <3 it all!
Posted by: colette | February 18, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I am SO in love with your built-in's Serena... your home is gorgeous. I cannot wait to see it finished.
I am especially in love with the under the stair-case project. I cannot wait to do this in my dream house someday. :-)
Posted by: naomig | February 18, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Love love love the built-ins!
My parents have built their own houses for years and my dad is an antique dealer so they love to bring old-world charm and character to their new creations. Built-ins are always a must. They make a house unique and special. {Not to mention functional!}
I heart them!
Posted by: Tanya @ Life in 3D | February 21, 2011 at 10:57 AM
It's all so lovely!!
Posted by: Monica | February 21, 2011 at 07:29 PM
Love, yur carefully thought out design!! My husband built our "built-ins and I added shoe drawers and taller boot drawers to the design (They look a little like pots and pans drawers, shallow lipped). I can't tell you how wonderful these are.
Especially when there were five kids in the house. We used beadboard in the whole mud room four feet high. So nice when those boots get kicked off! Our bench has hooks above also and it is surrounded by floor to ceiling storage cupboards, the top cupboards are set back about six inches for breathing room...I didn't want to waste and inch in this small space.
Posted by: Roseanna Bogley | February 22, 2011 at 07:17 AM