Last week I came across a post on Apartment Therapy that included some basic steps for building an open shelving plan based on the CB2 3.14 Bookcase. While I love the CB2 shelves, I’m not about to drop $500 on a bookshelf. So, I decided to build it myself this past weekend and give a step-by-step of the process. It ended up costing a little less than $100, which is a deal considering how much it can hold. 

Here are the instructions.

Supplies

• Five 40” pieces of 1×12 pine
• Eight 12” pieces of 1×12 pine
• Sander
• 32 3’’ wood screws
• Electric Drill
• Wood Filler
• Paint Brush
• Pint of primer
• Pint of semi-gloss paint (choose your color)

Go to your local lumber store/Home Depot and have them precut the boards to the dimensions listed above. Be sure to look out for bowing, you’ll want all of them to be straight pieces.

Do a thorough sanding of each piece.  Wipe down afterwards.

Next, layout your first 40’’ board and measure 8’’ from each corner. Mark the measurement on the board. Drill two wood screws into the board approximately 2 1/2’’ from the end (because I was largely doing this on my own, I pre-drilled the holes). Make sure to have the screws flush with the wood so they will blend seamlessly after filling and sanding.  Once the first row of shelving is complete, move onto the next. 

For the second shelf, measure 12’’ from each corner and mark the board. Note: I did 13’’ originally, but I’d recommend 12’’ if I did it a second time. Drill the screws in and continue on with the next level. 

As you continue the level-by-level assembly, remember to alternate between the 8’’ and 12’’ measurement to achieve the staggered look.

Once the shelf assembly is complete, fill the screw holes and any imperfections with wood filler. Let dry, then sand before painting. 

Apply primer, then let dry. Primer will mask the wood grain and give the piece a smooth finish.  Lastly, paint with semi-gloss then let dry. Then, decorate the shelves and enjoy your final project!

Images: Melissa Ness & Apartment Therapy