build | cubby bookshelf

I've been wanting/needing a cubby bookshelf for our in-progress nursery nook.  Really I just needed some type of storage for our growing supply of baby stuff, but I wanted a cubby bookshelf a la:

via Pottery Barn

However, along with our limited budget we also have limited space.  I wanted something that would offer versatile storage (room for books, baskets for onsies, burp cloths, etc.) without getting too crowded in our little nursery corner.  I found a perfect 4 cubby bookshelf plan from Ana White that I could build for less than $20 worth of lumber (I already had nails, screws, wood glue, primer, paint, etc. leftover from other projects).  I love that it's very similar to the top half of the Pottery Barn version (which is all we had room for anyways), and it gives us a place to put the lamp and alarm clock which were previously sitting on top of the clothes hamper. That situation wasn't exactly ideal because then all our dirty laundry ended up on the floor. Oh, you say we could have just moved the lamp whenever we wanted to put clothes in the hamper? Haha, good one...

I painted the bookshelf to match the dresser/changing table so that we'll have a matching set when we move baby girl into her own room.

A few tips if you decide to build this bookshelf for yourself:
1) Originally I was just going to build the basic frame and leave off the front and back faceplates to save money. Don't. The faceplate makes it look finished and professional and is worth the extra $3 in 1x2 boards. However, I did not build the faceplate for the back because ours will always be facing the wall and no one will ever see it.

2) Take the time to carefully fill in all your holes with wood putty, sand well, and use a good primer before you paint. I always use cheap-o Wal-Mart paint (I love it!) but a decent primer makes all the difference in how my projects come out in the end. In the past I haven't always taken the time to prime because I hated the extra step, but it makes a huge difference in the finished quality.

3) It really helps to have a second person around for the assembly part of larger projects like this one. Especially if you're 7 months pregnant but even if you aren't. One person can easily do all the preliminary measuring, pre-drilling, faceplate, finishing, etc, but it's a lot easier to get the main frame boards lined up properly if you have someone holding everything together and making sure nothing shifts while you're assembling.