We have a nursery update: two new purchases we’ve brought home, assembled, and are now preparing to customize. In an earlier planning post we imagined building custom built-ins to flank the crib, but realized we needed to decide what style to build first: base cabinets with doors and bookcase tops, lower cabinets with drawers, dressers topped with shelves and molding, or tall armoire-like units on either side of the wall.
After a lot of inspiration browsing and comparing measurements across furniture and cabinetry options, we settled on a solution we hope will be both attractive and truly functional for the long haul: sturdy wood drawers at the base with bookcase-style tops built up to the ceiling and finished with molding. We picked up two solid dressers and assembled them, so the nursery currently looks like a work in progress.
Eventually we expect the finished built-ins to resemble a clean, integrated look with deep storage below and open shelving above, though without the overly-Photoshopped feel of some concept images. For now the focus was getting durable, deep drawers installed as a foundation for the custom work that will follow.
Before I dive further into the construction details, I want to share a personal aside about some worries I’ve had about becoming a second-time father—and how assembling these dressers unexpectedly helped me process those feelings. Bear with me for a moment of sentimentality.
I tend to be my own toughest critic when it comes to parenting. I think I do a decent job, but I always want to be more patient, to have more adventures, and to give more undivided attention. That last wish feels particularly fraught when we’re expecting a second child: how do you divide focus between two children when sometimes it already feels like you’re not doing enough for one?
When we expected Clara, life felt simpler. She arrived the very day I left my advertising job to blog full-time with Sherry, so her early days were lived in a slower household rhythm. We had more flexible hours, a slower pace on projects, and the bandwidth to soak up those first months together. The Barnacle—our nickname for the new baby—will arrive into a very different schedule. He’ll come while we’re finishing a showhouse, photographing elements for our second book, and wrapping up a secret project. Naturally I worry he’ll meet a busier, more distracted version of us, and sometimes I feel like he deserves an apology for not getting the same leisurely introduction his big sister had.
Putting those Ikea dressers together helped shift my perspective. We opened the first box after dinner, tired and not particularly excited to spend the evening assembling furniture. Clara walked in and asked if she could help. Her interest made me realize this baby’s experience will be different but in many positive ways. He’ll have a sister eager to include him in everyday life, from small chores to big projects, and that relationship will be a unique gift. Clara didn’t have that when she arrived, and that difference is something to look forward to rather than worry over.
Building together with Clara turned out to be genuinely fun. Sometimes she played or sang nearby; other times she actively participated. She helped me find the correct pieces from the bags—“I need six wood pieces that look like this, can you find them?”—and took on the job of placing dowels in the right holes. Watching her take part in creating her sibling’s room made the project feel collaborative and meaningful. This isn’t just a space built by parents; it’s a room that a big sister helped shape with her own hands.
That doesn’t mean every insecurity about parenting two kids has vanished—I still have practical questions like “do I remember how to hold a newborn?”—but it did help me stop comparing the two experiences and stop beating myself up over differences. Different doesn’t mean worse. With that out of the way, back to the built-ins.
We reviewed a number of built-in approaches we saw online. Many used base kitchen cabinets from home improvement stores, which often looked too kitchen-like or used particle board rather than solid wood. Others incorporated Ikea’s BILLY bookcases or the BESTA system. Those options were fine, but we wanted something deeper and more drawer-like for the lower portion—deep, easy-access storage rather than shallow cabinet doors. When we discovered the FJELL dressers, which measure 21″ deep, they seemed to fit the bill nicely. Seeing them in person confirmed our impression: they felt solid and well-made.
Priced at $299 each, they’re a bit more than a typical Ikea dresser, but they’re solid wood rather than particle board. Details like the wood-grain texture on the top and drawer fronts appealed to us and prompted the idea to stain the tops while painting the rest. Since we’re investing time to build bookcase tops and frame everything with molding, it made sense to start with a more substantial base that will hold up over time and won’t need replacing as the kids grow.
For finish and color, we’re leaning toward painting everything except the dresser tops, which we’ll stain so the built-in tops visually match the drawer fronts. We may choose a muted non-white color—possibly a soft gray or muted green—but we’ll finalize the palette after the build and paint are complete. To avoid removing hardware during painting, we’re holding off on installing drawer pulls for now and using temporary string handles while we work. The hardware that comes with the dressers is actually quite nice and will complement the finished look.
We also chose this dresser width intentionally. Although the crib currently looks slightly off-center in photos, we wanted to ensure that the space between the two dressers could eventually accommodate a twin bed lengthwise or even a full or queen widthwise as the room evolves. We’re aiming for pieces that will grow with the room beyond its nursery phase.
There’s still a lot of work ahead: building the bookcase tops, installing crown molding to match the built-ins, caulking, priming, painting, and staining. I hope the next update will be a “they’re done!” post, but realistically there’s plenty of labor between now and then. If progress is slow, you’ll know we’re neck-deep in trim and paint. And I may see if my little assistant—who’s already mastered dowels and Allen wrenches—can help speed things along.