Built-Inspirations

Need more storage space in your old house? Built-ins are a good way to find it.

By OHJ Editorial Staff

A staircase landing proves the perfect spot for a linen closet so roomy it can house a wardrobe as well. The attached bench (with drawer) is a good place to sit and fold towels. Fabienne Photography photo courtesy of Arciform LLC

Historic houses are known for many fine original details—leaded glass windows, parquet floors, ceiling medallions, rich woodwork—but storage space isn't usually one of them. In fact, fitting an accumulation of 21st-century belongings into an 18th-century house can be a challenge of epic proportions.

The clever use of built-ins can help. Built-ins had already been popular for centuries (Thomas Jefferson designed several for his rooms at Monticello) by the time they reached their peak in the early 20th century, thanks to architects (and plan books) who used them at seemingly every opportunity. Nothing makes better use of space, per square foot, than a well-conceived built-in—one that aligns with the rest of the woodwork and trim in your house, and incorporates clever shelving, drawers, cubbies, or doors. Built-ins are also generally easy to retrofit into an existing space, so they're worth considering for old-house areas that need de-cluttering. We've rounded up some good examples of built-ins, old and new, in a room-by-room breakdown, hoping they'll inspire a new look at an old-house storage workhorse.

Hallways

Tucked beneath stairs, a closet ekes every inch of storage out of an otherwise unused space.	A new laundry area is topped with cabinets and shelves made era appropriate with beadboard and compound-profiled supports.	A wall of original glass-enclosed shelves is grounded by a row of drawers (a clever design concept that pulls double duty).

Bedrooms

Floor-to-ceiling built-ins can make the most of bedroom walls; this modern example uses a distressed finish to complement the century-old home. [Photo: Theresa Coleman	Built-in bookcases surrounding a fireplace maximize unused real estate on the wall, and are easily accessible on lazy afternoons. [Photo: Clare Martin]
Retrofitted attic knee walls allow tons of provisions to be shoehorned into an otherwise cramped room. [Photo: Arciform LLC]	Clever add-ons like inset drawers or hinged lids can maximize the utility of window seats. [Photo: Arciform LLC]

Kitchens & Baths

A set of built-in cabinets, bridged by a vanity and adorned with period-style glass pulls, offers space for towels and toiletries, as well as a place to primp. [Photo: Arciform LLC]	Many early 20th-century built-ins for ironing boards have been turned into shelves, but a pull-out board concealed by a drawer captures the once-revolutionary concept anew. [Photo: Wendi Dunlap]
This breakfast nook takes advantage of an unusual configuration to carve out an eating area, desk, cubbies, and display cabinets highlighted by new leaded glass. [Photo: Arciform LLC]	A tall shelf built into kitchen cabinets puts cookbooks within easy reach, and their colorful spines help brighten up the all-white decor. [Photo: Plain & Fancy]