Custom Built-Ins & Bookcases — Chattanooga, TN
Built-ins make a Chattanooga home feel finished in a way that no freestanding furniture can replicate. We design and build floor-to-ceiling bookcases, fireplace built-ins, entertainment centers, and window seats for homes across the Chattanooga metro — all scribed to your walls and ceiling so they look like they were always there.
Chattanooga's historic neighborhoods — St. Elmo, North Shore, Highland Park, Missionary Ridge — have homes with architectural features that demand built-ins done right. Original craftsman trim, tall plaster ceilings, brick fireplace surrounds. We design built-ins that work with those features rather than ignoring them. That means matching wood species to existing trim, continuing original molding profiles around new pieces, and building to the actual ceiling height of the room — not a standard 96 inches.
For newer homes in East Brainerd, Ooltewah, and Hixson, built-ins are often about adding architectural character to rooms that don't have it yet. Flanking a fireplace with floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving transforms a plain living room into a focal point. A built-in entertainment center replaces a freestanding TV stand and six feet of wasted wall with something intentional. We design these from scratch, around your room's specific proportions, so the result looks like it was planned from the beginning.
We build built-in bookcases, entertainment centers, home office built-ins, window seats with storage, and mudroom lockers for Chattanooga clients regularly. Our shop is 30 minutes from downtown. Free initial estimates — call 706-657-8112.
What's included
- Scribed to walls and ceilings for a seamless fit
- Adjustable shelving with concealed hardware
- Cable management for media centers
- Integrated lighting options
- Fireplace surround and mantle integration
Built-Ins & Media Centers projects
- Floor-to-Ceiling Bookshelf Room Divider - This floor-to-ceiling white bookshelf divides an open-concept room in a Chattanooga-area home without closing off the view through the space. The open shelves can be seen from both sides, with staggered display tiers above a shaker-style cabinet base. The base cabinets provide enclosed storage, while an integrated bench adds a place to sit. Matte black handles, exposed ceiling beams and the nearby cable-railing staircase give context to the finished installation. Use the front and side photographs to compare the open shelving, cabinet storage and relationship to the room. The project walkthrough shows the divider in the surrounding space. Designed and built by Sims Custom Woodwork in Trenton, GA.
- Murphy Bed with Built-In Bookshelf - Custom Murphy wall bed integrated into a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf divider with white painted finish, exposed wood beam ceiling, and adjacent cabinetry. Folds down to reveal a full mattress while maintaining open shelving above.
- Blue-Grey Laundry Room Cabinetry - Custom blue-grey laundry room cabinetry for a North Georgia home — washer/dryer surround, shaker upper cabinets, hanging rod, and adjacent folding station with beadboard back panel. Upper cubby cabinets, crown molding, and herringbone tile floor throughout. Laundry room cabinetry by Sims Custom Woodwork in Trenton, GA, serving Chattanooga and North Georgia.
- Under-Stair Desk and Hidden Storage - This built-in combines a desk with concealed storage under a modern open-riser staircase. A walnut desktop, white drawers and a floating shelf form the work area at the taller end of the space, beside the cable railing. Flat push-open panels follow the stair slope and open to divided interior shelving. Keeping the storage behind closed fronts gives the desk and surrounding room a simpler appearance while retaining access to the space under the stairs. The gallery shows the finished desk, the closed panels and the storage with its doors open. Watch the door-opening video to see how the concealed compartments are accessed. Built by Sims Custom Woodwork in Trenton, GA.
- Walk-In Closet Built-In Organizer - Custom walk-in closet organizer with white beadboard-style drawer fronts, matte black bar-pull hardware, open cubby shelving, double hanging rods, adjustable shelf inserts, and soft-close drawers.
- Dark Entertainment Center with Arched Niches - Full-width dark-painted built-in entertainment center for a Chattanooga-area living room — arched display niches, picture lights, sliding TV compartment doors, shaker-style drawers with brass pulls, and center cabinet storage. Styled with books and artwork on hardwood floors. Custom built-in by Sims Custom Woodwork in Trenton, GA.
Frequently asked questions
Can built-ins be designed around an existing fireplace?
Yes — this is one of our most popular requests. We design around your fireplace dimensions, mantle, and any heat clearance requirements for a seamless, built-in look.
Do built-ins add value to a home?
Built-ins can add useful storage and architectural interest. Any effect on resale value depends on the home, design, and local market; we focus the design on how you want to use the room.
How are built-ins attached to the wall?
We secure built-ins directly to wall studs using concealed fasteners. The result is rock-solid and looks like part of the original architecture.