Bucktown Fireplace & Custom Cabinetry Built-Ins

The Challenge

‍This Bucktown vintage home had a beautiful original fireplace that anchored the living room, but the surrounding wall felt unfinished and underutilized. The homeowners had a growing book collection with nowhere to display it, media components sitting on mismatched furniture, and wasted vertical space on either side of the fireplace. They needed custom cabinetry Chicago that would honor the home's 1920s character while providing modern storage and creating a true focal point for the room.

Our Solution

‍We designed floor-to-ceiling custom built-ins flanking the fireplace to maximize storage and visual impact. Custom cabinets Chicago were crafted from painted maple with shaker-style doors and open shelving to display books and decorative items. Lower cabinets with soft-close drawers hide media components and clutter while maintaining ventilation for electronics. We incorporated adjustable shelving to accommodate different book heights, integrated LED lighting to highlight the displays, and added crown molding that ties into the home's original trim work for a seamless, built-in appearance.

The Result

‍The completed custom built-ins Chicago transformed this Bucktown living room from good bones to showpiece. The fireplace wall now serves as an elegant focal point with ample storage for 200+ books, organized media equipment, and decorative displays. The custom cabinetry looks original to the home while dramatically improving functionality and increasing property value. This project showcases our expertise in custom carpentry Chicago that respects historic architecture while solving modern storage needs.

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