Built-ins and shelving in Charlotte
Built-ins are cabinets and shelving constructed to fit a specific spot in a house, such as bookcases either side of a fireplace, a mudroom bench with lockers, a home office wall or a window seat. They are built to the wall they live on, trimmed into the room and painted or stained to match. MDO Contracting builds built-ins and custom shelving across Charlotte, NC.
A built-in earns its name by looking like it was always there. That means scribing to the wall, matching the baseboard and crown, and proportions set to the room rather than to a catalogue.
What the job involves
- Fireplace flank bookcases with cabinet bases and adjustable shelves
- Mudroom benches, cubbies, lockers and hooks
- Home office wall units, floating desks and shelving
- Window seats with storage, dining room hutches, media walls
- Lighting and outlets planned into the unit, then paint or stain to a finish grade
How the work runs
- 01
Measure and draw
The wall is measured, the proportions drawn, and shelf heights set to what you actually need to put on them.
- 02
Build the boxes
Cabinet boxes and shelving are built to those measurements, using stock cabinets as bases where that saves money without showing.
- 03
Install and trim
Units are set level and plumb, scribed to the wall, then trimmed into the room with matching base and crown.
- 04
Finish
Fill, caulk, prime and paint, or stain and seal.
Built-ins and custom shelving questions
- Can built-ins go around an existing fireplace?
- Yes, and it is the most common request. Clearances to the firebox and any wiring for a television are planned before the boxes are built.
- Painted or stained?
- Painted built-ins match trim and disappear into the room. Stained ones become furniture. Both are done; the choice is about the room.
- Are the shelves adjustable?
- Usually yes on bookcases. Fixed shelves are stronger for long spans or heavy loads, so a mix is common.
- Do you use stock cabinets in built-ins?
- Where a stock base cabinet does the same job as a custom one and will be hidden behind doors, yes. It keeps the cost down without changing what you see.
- Can outlets and lighting be built in?
- Yes. Outlets for a television or lamps and low-voltage shelf lighting are planned into the unit so nothing is surface mounted later.
Built-ins and custom shelving across the Charlotte area
MDO Contracting works Charlotte and roughly 50 miles out from it. This service comes up most in: