Build a Zen shelving unit

Shake up your living room! Bookcases don't have to be boring. Have you noticed that the big home decor stores have quietly introduced bookcases sporting more unusual styling? Like this one from Crate and Barrel, for instance. Yet this is something the DIY'er might like to try his or her own hand at. Need ideas? I found this wonderful example from Lowes sister site, LowesCreativeIdeas: it's a "Zen" shelving unit -- "inspired by the clean lines of Asian design." Visit the site to check out their photo of what the finished project will look like. Isn't it just gorgeous?

A rundown of materials needed and instructions are on the site, along with diagrams and the finished-work pic. However, you can download a pdf of full instructions from the site, too. Nice. The Lowes elves estimate the total cost to be around $120, which is substantially less than it would cost you to buy ready-made. On the down side, this looks like it would be fairly time-consuming for a beginner woodworker like myself. (Read: completion date estimated sometime in 2010.)

Here's a thought: "fake it, don't make it." I wonder if you could cut corners by using pre-made storage cubbies, like this one of mine pictured above. You could attach them within A) a frame of your own design or B) an unwanted bookcase with the shelves removed. Once painted to match and installed, no one would notice they are not all one unit.

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