Custom Built-Ins & Carpentry in Philadelphia

Built-in shelving, media walls, closet and storage built to fit your room exactly, including the out-of-square walls and odd alcoves found in older Philadelphia homes.

Call (215) 391-6380 Request an estimate

Open 7 days, 6 AM–10 PM, including evenings and weekends. Call (215) 391-6380.

What I handle

Built-in bookshelves and wall units
Media walls and TV built-ins
Closet and storage systems
Basement and utility shelving
Window seats, benches and alcove builds
Trim, wainscoting and accent walls

Built-ins that fit your house

Store-bought shelving rarely fits a Philadelphia row home. Rooms are narrow, walls are seldom square, floors slope, and there's an alcove or a chimney breast where nothing off the shelf fits. A built-in is made for the space: scribed to the walls, leveled to the floor and trimmed so it looks like it was always part of the house.

I build and install custom shelving and wall units, media walls with framing and finished panels around the TV, slatted accent walls, closet and pantry storage, basement and garage shelving, window seats and benches, and simple custom pieces. You can see examples, including media walls, slatted accent walls and storage shelving, on the Recent Work page.

How a built-in project works

1. Look and measure. We talk about what you want to store or show, how the room is used, and the look you're after. I measure the space and check the walls, floor and anything behind them, like outlets, vents and pipes.

2. Plan. I go over the size, layout, materials and finish with you, including where any wiring for a TV, lighting or outlets needs to go. You get a clear scope before I start building.

Before building. If the wall behind the built-in has cracked plaster, an old patch or signs of a past leak, it's much easier to repair before the unit goes in. I check for that while measuring and include it in the plan so it doesn't get hidden behind new shelving.

3. Build and install. I frame and assemble the unit, scribe it to the walls, and add trim, caulking and finish details so it looks part of the room. When paint is part of the job, I can finish it, or I can leave it ready for your painter.

Media walls and TV built-ins

Media walls are one of the most-requested projects: a framed wall or cabinet unit around the TV with shelving, hidden wiring and sometimes lighting. I handle the framing, drywall or panel finish, and the TV mounting, and I can add a light fixture, outlet or other electrical fixture to the build.

Carpentry for older homes

Besides built-ins, I do the everyday carpentry that older houses need: replacing and matching trim and baseboard, repairing stair treads and railings, rehanging and planing doors, building out closets, and framing small partitions. See carpentry & custom builds and door repair & installation. If a built-in means opening a wall, I handle the drywall and plaster repair too.

Materials and finish

Most painted built-ins are made from cabinet-grade plywood and MDF, which stay flat and take paint well, with solid wood where it gets the most wear, like shelf edges, face frames and benches. For a stained or natural look, the piece can be built in hardwood or veneered plywood. Shelves are sized and supported for what they'll hold, because books and records are heavy, and adjustable shelves can be added where you want flexibility. I go over the options with you before building, so the look and the budget are clear.

In older homes, built-ins often have to work around radiators, heating pipes, outlets, windows and sloped floors. I plan for those during measuring, leaving access where it's needed and scribing the piece so it sits tight against walls that aren't straight. The result looks like it was part of the original house.

Why hire me for built-ins

I'm Scott, the owner. I opened Fishtown Home Solutions & Handyman in 2015, I have more than 10 years of experience, I'm insured, and I do all of the work myself. That means the person who measures your room is the person who builds and installs the piece, so nothing gets lost between a salesperson and an installer. I'm open 7 days a week, 6 AM to 10 PM, including evenings and weekends. Call (215) 391-6380 or send a photo of the space with rough measurements to get started.