Window Seat

Dec 27, 2015
2 min read

Our game room has an elongated, rectangular shape, which doesn't allow for vary many changes, if we ever had that itch. We were only able to fit a L-shaped sectional in there, too. I wanted to add white bookcases that would flank a window seat. I planned out my build for about four months. Trying to decide on, first, how I was going to build the shelves, then how I would build the bookcase. I had to consider what items would be stored on it, so that it was more practical that just for looks.

Unfortunately, I did not take any "before" pictures of the wall, but here is the start of the window seat.

(Tell me, don't you just love the originality of my 3-year-old's artwork?!)

There were SOOOO many things to consider when building this window seat:

Can I attach it to the wall? Or do I make it moveable?
How can I build around this outlet without closing it off?
Where are the studs?
How will the bookcase attach? Or will there be a gap?

I started, as you can see above, a frame. I had to remove the baseboard with a oscillating tool, so that the base frame was flush with the wall. Then I added 3/4" plywood to the sides, bottom, and top. I then went over the gaps and screw holes with wood putty.

BEFORE

Well the moment I put on the top part of the frame, I realized I made a mistake in my measurements! I didn't add the 1.5 inches to the top to account for the 3/4" sides. I measured the top, instead, the same as the inner bottom. Sigh. Lesson learned. I corrected my mistake with some quarter-round that I had laying around the garage.

Building the frame was actually easy, especially with the great Spax screws from Home Depot that I was using!!! I then used my electric sander to sand down the entire unit making it smooth and ready for paint.

The final results are, I believe, not too bad. After building this bench, I do believe I can do a whole lot better next time, being that I understand my mistakes with measuring, the use of the best wood filler, instead of putty, and considering the size and shape. However, my kids love how oversized the bench turned out.

AFTER