🖼️
The project:
When I bought my first home, the previous owners had removed the wall to what was originally the third bedroom, leaving an awkward oversized space with very little storage and no real purpose. I wanted to create a cosy living room that flowed naturally from the kitchen, worked better for entertaining and finally gave me the fireplace and mantle I'd always dreamed of decorating at Christmas. Using modular cabinetry, timber framing, decorative mouldings and an electric fireplace, I transformed the space into a functional built-in feature wall that's now become the heart of my home.
- Materials:
Building Materials
- MDF sheets (various thicknesses) – used for the fireplace surround, shelving, cabinet extensions and trim details.
- Pine DAR (Dressed All Round) timber – used for the mantle and decorative finishing pieces.
- Decorative dado moulding – used to create the feature wall panelling.
- Quarter round moulding – used to finish the cabinetry at floor level.
- Gyprock 55mm Cove Cornice – used to finish the ceiling around the new built-in wall.
Preparation & Finishing
- Zinniser Bin Primer (https://www.bunnings.com.au/zinsser-946ml-white-b-i-n-primer-sealer-stain-blocker_p1561796)
- Timbermate White Wood Filler (https://www.bunnings.com.au/timbermate-500g-white-wood-filler_p1560732)
- Selleys No More Gaps Fast Dry (https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-475g-no-more-gaps-interior-fast-dry-gap-filler_p1230089)
- Selleys No More Gaps Interior (https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-475g-no-more-gaps-interior-multipurpose-gap-filler_p1230010)
Paint
- Dulux Wash & Wear Matt (https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-10l-vivid-white-matt-wash-wear-interior-paint_p0638902)
- Dulux Ceiling White (https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-white-ceiling-paint_p1370215)
Fixtures
- Electric fireplace insert
- TV wall mount
- LED strip lighting
- Cabinet handles
- HDMI wall plate
- Concealed power points
- Floating shelves
Cabinetry
- Modular cabinetry, customised with framing, trim, upper storage boxes and paint to create a built-in appearance.
- Tools:
TOOLS
- Ryobi Brad Nailer
- Ryobi Mitre Saw
- Ryobi Circular Saw
- Ryobi Multi Tool
- Paslode Framing Nailer
- Makita Orbital Sander
- Makita Power Planer
- Cordless Drill
- Impact Driver
- Spirit Level
- Tape Measure
- Speed Square
- Clamps
- Caulking Gun
- Paint Rollers
- Paint Brushes
- Step 1:
The previous owners had removed the wall to what was originally the third bedroom, but the space never really worked. It felt oversized, lacked storage and didn't have a clear purpose.
What I did
- Measured the room and existing recesses.
- Drew several layout options.
- Planned the size of the fireplace and cabinetry.
- Tested furniture layouts.
- Used masking tape to mark cabinet and fireplace positions on the floor.
I wanted the room to:
- feel balanced
- connect naturally with the kitchen
- provide more storage
- become somewhere friends and family would naturally gather.
💡 DIY Tip
Don't rush the planning stage. I changed my design several times before I was happy, and it was much easier to move masking tape than cabinetry!
Products used
Tools used
- Step 2:
Before making any structural changes, I had a qualified carpenter inspect the remaining wall and confirm it was non-load-bearing.
What I did
- Confirmed the wall was safe to remove.
- Removed the remaining wall.
- Repaired surrounding plaster.
- Cleaned and prepared the area.
- Marked out the new feature wall.
💡 DIY Tip
If you're unsure whether a wall is structural, always have it checked by a qualified professional before removing it.
Products used
- Structural pine framing timber
Tools used
- Step 3:
Everything else depends on getting this step right.
What I did
- Built the structural timber frame.
- Framed the fireplace opening.
- Added support where the mantle and shelving would be fixed.
- Constantly checked everything was level, plumb and square.
💡 DIY Tip
Take your time with framing. Even small measurement errors become much more noticeable once cabinets and trim are installed.
Products used
- Structural pine
- Timber screws
- Framing nails
Tools used
- Paslode framing nailer
- Spirit level
- Speed square
- Drill
- Step 4:
Rather than building cabinetry from scratch, I used modular cabinetry as the foundation before integrating it into the feature wall.
What I did
- Assembled all cabinetry.
- Positioned and levelled each cabinet.
- Ensured the fireplace opening remained centred.
- Secured cabinets to the wall.
💡 DIY Tip
Don't permanently secure everything straight away. Stand back and check the overall proportions before fixing anything in place.
Products used
Tools used
- Step 5:
This was probably my favourite stage because the project finally started looking like the vision I'd imagined.
What I did
- Built upper storage boxes to reach the ceiling.
- Installed MDF side panels.
- Built the shelving.
- Added trim around the cabinetry.
- Used the Bunnings cut-to-size service for some of the larger MDF panels.
💡 DIY Tip
Taking cabinetry all the way to the ceiling instantly makes it feel more custom and avoids awkward dust-collecting gaps.
Products used
- MDF sheets
- DAR pine
- Brad nails
Tools used
- Ryobi Circular Saw
- Ryobi Mitre Saw
- Ryobi Brad Nailer
- Makita Planer
- Step 6:
Before closing the wall, I had a licensed electrician install all of the electrical work.
What I did
- Installed concealed power points.
- Ran HDMI cabling.
- Installed LED shelf lighting.
- Added power inside the cabinet to hide TV equipment and cables.
💡 DIY Tip
Plan every cable before closing the wall. It's much easier to do now than after everything is finished.
Products used
- LED strip lighting
- HDMI wall plate
- Power points
Tools used
- Electrical work completed by a licensed electrician.
- Step 7:
This was the stage that really gave the room its character.
What I did
- Built the fireplace surround.
- Installed the mantle.
- Installed decorative dado moulding.
- Added quarter round.
- Installed new cornice.
💡 DIY Tip
Dry-fit every piece of moulding before nailing it. Walls and ceilings are rarely perfectly straight, so making small adjustments first will give you a much cleaner finish.
Products used
- MDF
- DAR pine
- Dado moulding
- Quarter round
- Gyprock Cove Cornice
Tools used
- Ryobi Mitre Saw
- Ryobi Brad Nailer
- Makita Orbital Sander
- Step 8:
Preparation probably took longer than any other stage, but it made the biggest difference to the finished result.
What I did
- Filled every nail and screw hole with Timbermate.
- Caulked every join using Selleys No More Gaps.
- Sanded everything smooth.
- Primed all MDF and timber using Zinsser BIN.
💡 DIY Tip
Run your hand across every surface before painting. If you can feel an imperfection, you'll almost certainly see it after painting.
Products used
- Timbermate White Wood Filler
- Selleys No More Gaps
- Zinsser BIN Primer
Tools used
- Makita Orbital Sander
- Caulking gun
- Filling knife
- Step 9:
Paint completely transformed the project.
What I did
- Tested several Dulux sample pots on the wall and viewed them in both natural and artificial light before deciding on the final colour.
- Had my chosen Dulux Wash & Wear colour custom tinted at the Bunnings Paint Desk.
- Painted the feature wall, mouldings and fireplace surround.
- Painted the new cornice with Dulux Ceiling White.
- Installed the fireplace, TV, lighting and cabinet handles.
💡 DIY Tip
Always test paint samples at different times of day. The colour I chose looked completely different in morning and evening light.
Products used
- Dulux Wash & Wear Matt
- Dulux Ceiling White
- Dulux sample pots
- Paint rollers
- Paint brushes
Tools used
- Step 10:
This project completely changed how I use my home. What was once an awkward oversized dining area is now my favourite room in the house. It provides the storage I was missing, creates a much better connection to the kitchen for entertaining and finally gives me the fireplace and mantle I'd always imagined decorating at Christmas.
Lessons learnt
- Don't be afraid to ask questions.
- Spend extra time on preparation—it really shows in the finished result.
- Know when to bring in professionals for structural and electrical work.
- The Bunnings cut-to-size service made handling large MDF sheets much easier, and the Bunnings Paint Desk helped me custom tint the exact Dulux colour I wanted. Whenever I got stuck, the team at my local Bunnings were always happy to answer my questions, and I found the Bunnings Workshop community to be an incredible source of ideas, inspiration and practical advice throughout the project. It gave me the confidence to tackle my biggest DIY project yet.
