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I finally got started on the mudroom in a box project. I started with the bench part of things. I have to admit- how it looks on paper and how it translates in 3-D can be quite different! This bench seems HUGE!

Here's how it looks right now:

I still need to make the drawers and paint it... and then I'll start on the cabinet that goes on top of the bench.

This is proving to be more work than I had anticipated- but it would help if I could just make a plan and stick with it. Every time I change something, it changes something else, and more than once I've failed to think far enough ahead and have had to adjust my plans even more.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tomatoqueen,

Boxes do look 'huge' when they are being made, as long as measurements work out, no problem. I find it amazing how, for example a 30" kitchen cabinet standing on its own in a room can look 'huge' but then put it into place, and it is only part of a wall of cabinets. They seem to 'shrink' when put into place!

Can't wait to see the final result. You are a busy gal! You are doing the work yourself?

Sounds like an ambitious project but well worth it when done! Nice job so far.

Regards

This is a little OT but just wanted to tell you TQ that I am giving myself an inexpensive compressor and nail gun for Father's Day (I was mom AND dad for my son so why not celebrate Father's Day?). You are an inspiration. Thank you.

This bench is 25" deep and 54" long. (18"high)= which does seem huge- but I'm going to put a cabinet on top for coats, etc, and wanted there to be enough space to sit on the bench to put on/take off shoes. (even with the cupboard there.

The drawers will be quite roomy- and though I know the shoes will be a jumbled mess when put into drawers, it's still better than the jumbled mess of shoes on the floor. I'm planning on building the drawers to look like crates so there will be ventilation.

MyLife: Good for you! I hope the compressor makes for many fun projects! I know I have enjoyed mine.

I'm thinking my husband needs a new table saw for Father's Day (seeing that the old one has gone kaput and is not necessarily a quality brand... it might not be worth fixing)

Tomatoqueen,
The first gift I gave to myself when we settled down (DH and me) was to get HIM some great tools! I never regretted it because that was the gift that kept on giving over the years!

And when we moved to Florida, my first purchase when we got a house here, was to update, and replace any worn tools for DH and myself. They are the means to make anything happen!

I admire you for making something on your own. Love working with wood, I missed my calling, for if I had it to do now (with women allowed to join woodworking classes, not so in the 60's) I would have worked with wood and metal more in my life.

So I injured my back and had to take a day off from working on this- and then I had to take it easy after that.

My back is feeling better and I've made a bit more progress. The bench is sanded, primed and painted. I've cut hardboard for the bottom and back, and also cut out the major pieces for the cabinet that will go above.

I've run into a small hiccup, though. There is only one electrical outlet on that wall- and it will be behind the bench. I don't want to lose the outlet- but I don't want to change the design at this point. As it is, this is a semi-built in. (meaning I plan on anchoring it to the wall)

My husband thinks we should put a power strip in one of the drawers, but I think that could be problematic.

I do have an electrician coming next week to install our new ceiling fan- so maybe I'll get an estimate on moving the outlet. I'm thinking that maybe I could move it up several inches so that it will be inside the cupboard where the coats hang.

So my choices are:
a) move the outlet up
b) install a power strip in one of the drawers
c) forget the outlet and just use others in the room.

Any thoughts?

If this is intended to be permanent, and it sounds like it is, I would move it up.

In the cupboard sounds great on several levels. First, you can put a small lamp on a shelf so you can light the inside and see what you have there. Second, you can run a power strip and have a place for charging things you want to walk out the door with (phone earpieces, kindles, even cellphones). Depending on location, you could put a chiming clock, and/or ipad base speaker and have ambient entry hall music coming from there!

And that is an easy slam dunk for electrician/ right up the stud inside the wall. You can cut out a small rectangle in the back of the cabinet right where it is, and put the outlet cover on the inside of your cabinet - voila - finished neatly / built in!

Now you have essentially one of those really expensive "smart" cabinets!!!

thanks for all the feedback/ideas re: the outlet.

I think it's pretty funny that I did all this planning and forgot that one little detail.

The electrician is coming tomorrow to install the ceiling fan- so the only thing really holding me back on this is if it costs too much. (BTW- I would normally install the ceiling fan myself, but with the vaulted ceiling, I really think it's beyond my capabilities.... "know your limitations" is a good philosophy to have with DIY!

So... not finished yet, but making progress! Here's the bench -now painted- and placed where it will go. I've taken down all the old shelves that were there and, as you can see.... had the outlet moved up

I still need to secure the hardboard at the bottom and the back, and make the drawers. Yes- we've started putting shoes there already- just to get them out of the way.

Here's a picture of the cabinet that will go on top of the bench. It is half the depth, so there will be room to sit on the bench in front of the cabinet.

The lower part will be enclosed with doors. I have a lot of detail work to do yet- including making the doors. But it is coming together!