Now that the guest bedroom is complete, I have moved on to another project that I have been thinking about for some time now.  This project was one that I started developing about 2.5 years ago. It has been completed in stages, starting first with the hardwood floors, next the two-tone paint job and high chair rail, then the pass-through.

Since completing the pass-through almost 1 year ago, I have not done any work to the dining room, even though it is one of the most used rooms in the house. Recently, i did post some photos of the progress and what it look to get to its current state, but it does have a long way to go.

Currently working on:

• Window seat made from stock cabinets and topped with 1x oak boards.
• Sprucing up that weird built-in recessed nook thing
• Finishing chair rail trim
• Window treatments????

The window seat is made from off the shelf unfinished cabinets that I got on sale at Menards for 25% off.

Here is what we started with:

I started by removing the baseboard. 

Then I made a simple 2×4 box base for the cabinets to sit on.  This base raises the cabinets up to a comfortable seating level.

I used another 2×4 to space the box i made out from the wall.  I did this because the cabinets are only 12in deep–if i put them right up the wall one would barely be able sit down on it. If you were lucky, maybe half an ass cheek. 

After making sure everything was level, I screwed the base down to the floor. 

I then cut a bunch of 2x4s to size and attached them to the wall.  These are the same height was the cabinets on the base, minus the height of a 2×4 to place across the length of wall on top of them.  I did this because the cabinets will of course be away from the wall.  These boards will give me the needed support of the top of the window seat. 

You may notice that there are outlets along this wall that would be covered up by the window seat.  We decided to move these outlets.  It is against code to have them covered up, plus we need them.  Adrian and I worked together on this. 

With the outlets moved, I was able to put the cabinets in place.  Sly.  

You may notice that there is a space at the end of the right side.  It looks odd right now, but there is a plan for that.  The air return vent against that wall is in the way there so I could not extend the window seat that way.  I have come up with several options for how to finish this area–some more expensive and time-consuming than others.  

I still need to screw the cabinets together and to the base, add the top, and paint them white–but it is coming along.

Now I am going ice skating.