Alcoves. To shelve or not to shelve?
Alex
5 years ago
Looking to do something with these shallow but potentially useful fireside alcoves in small Victorian house. Wall lights? Mirrors? Books? Really don't want it to look cramped.. Any advice welcome! Thanks
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Comments (7)
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What to put around hob, shelves,cabinets, or box shelves?
Comments (1)I think the answer is, it depends... On what sort of cooking you do; how much pain you feel if you see a grease spot; what sort of things you want to put on the shelf and whether you will replace them often. Of course, you could just put glass doors, although the effect won't be the same. I applaud your choice of matt cabinet finish - super shiny finishes are such a pain to keep looking good....See MoreLounge advice... no alcoves for shelves
Comments (7)Various options to consider in addition to those of bookworm. A mantle shelf (think chunky, but rounded, oak in a driftwood style - could work to help bring the stove area "forward" - alternatively you could work in shelving which has radiused ends which curve gently in towards the stive, keeping a focal point. My own preference, however, would be to frame out around the stove to give a false chimney breast, and possibly add a fireplace or mantle shelve, then add bespoke shelving/cupboards either side. If you size it carefully, you could use standard sized kitchen/furniture cupboards to keep costs down. The fake chimney breast need not be expensive - some cheap timber framing, a couple of sheets of plaster board and two skimming beads plus some paint. And with a little careful thought, you could build in some secret hidden storage as well!...See Moremirror back to alcove with glass shelves
Comments (2)You could use Mirrored Acrylic sheet for the back. It's far more easily cut and will look effective. You can put the acrylic up and still drill through it to put up the shelves, which you can't do with mirror so easily. Bear in mind though, that if you want strip lights, they don't stick particularly well in my experience, plus, if using glass, you will see them. You may be better off with Mirrored acrylic for the back and wooden shelving or black shelving to tie in with the kitchen. You can add a lip to the wood with quadrant on the front of the shelf, this then allows the strip lighting to sit on the wood and it will stay where you put it, plus the little quadrant lip with direct the light slightly backwards on to the mirror. However, you will still see the reflection of the back of the wood and the strip lighting in the mirror. I think i'd be tempted to go with the mirrored acrylic with your glass shelves and no strip lighting. You have a spot light very nearby, so the acrylic will pick up on that. You have no socket / power source nearby for the transformer, so you'd have to come off one of the spotlights, mount it in the ceiling and then come down to the shelves. Seems a shame when you'e just finished all the plastering....See MoreIs it too late to add Glass shelves in my shower Alcoves/niches??
Comments (3)No, it is not too late, in fact you could not have done it before. I’d suggest taking accurate measurements to a glass supplier, they should know what deductions to make to enable them to fit accurately. If the tiles are porcelain a diamond tip drill bit will be required to affix the brackets. It will look very smart!...See More
PROAlex thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
Joanna Bradley
5 years agoWe went for shelves over a base unit. Can take them with us if we ever move! They were from Dormy House. Not their standard size but they were really accommodating and made us something that fits really well
Alex thanked Joanna Bradley
PROFeature Radiators
5 years agoThe radiator is in a bit of an awkward position at the moment. If you can move it on to the window wall I think that would be preferable and would free up space to put in some fitting shelving etc as above. The gorgeous fireplace would work well with a cast iron radiator in a similar finish, maybe under the window?
ideas · More InfoOr go for a vertical one in the corner?
Radiators in narrow spaces · More InfoGive me a call on 01274 515734 if you need any advice. Warm regards.
Sam Potter
5 years agoI was gonna shelve mine. I've got a lot of books and the TV to deal with. But then I decided to keep them free of built in shelves and put a whole wall of shelving behind the sofa instead. Which means the books aren't the first things you'll see walking into the room. And from the sofa the view will be more relaxing. Plus pulling the sofa out almost into the middle of the room is a lot cosier and on trend than having it up against the wall. I haven't built the shelf unit yet but here's a sketch, and the most recent photo of the alcove. I've got a brass fender there now too.
jbtanyderi
5 years ago
honeypoppet