DIY Network

Metal Mesh Shelving, Closet Organization and Finishing Touches Custom shelving enhances horror-film memorabilia. From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-105

Transformation magic has taken place thanks to the DIY rescue team.

Custom-designed metal mesh shelving will help Steve Boreman display his old horror-film memorabilia with panache--and serve as an edgy complement to the fog-colored walls, shadow-trimmed windows, and eerie wall mural. A futuristic lamp and graphic rug are provide the perfect finishing touches to the room, while supplies and extraneous materials find a new home in new closet shelves, drawers and organizers.

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Metal Mesh Shelving

Materials:

metal mesh (also known as "expand-a-mesh"), cut to desired sizes
eye bolts (2 for handing shelves; 2-4 for each window or door shelf)
metal cable (need 4 times the length of the hanging shelf unit, plus 3")
cable clamps (4 per shelf in hanging unit, plus 2 for each piece of cable)
hook-and-eye turnbuckle (one for each window/door shelf cable hanger)
"L" brackets (2 for top metal shelf)
level
measuring Tape

	Host Karl Champley adds movie memorabilia to metal mesh shelving suspended above the office window.
	A futuristic lamp, leather club chair, and graphic rug are the perfect counterparts to Boreman's collection of classic movie memorabilia.

Hanging Shelf Unit

1. Have metal shelves cut by metal fabricator or buy pre-made shelves. For best design, consider the stud width of the wall (usually 16" apart). 32" is a good width. Install eye bolts into studs at top of wall--studs are usually 16" apart--so 32-34" is a good shelf length.

2. Wrap a wire cable through each eyebolt, back around onto itself and secure the end to the cable using a cable clamp.

3. Find the top shelf placement and install an "L" bracket on each side to support the back of the shelf at the wall. Screw these into the wall studs.

4. Place the back edge of the top shelf on the "L" brackets, against the wall and hold the front edge out. String the two wire cables through the front edge corner holes and attach a cable clamp underneath the shelf. Level the shelf and adjust the cable clamp as necessary.

5. Attach two pieces of cable to the back corners of the top shelf--using a cable clamp on top of the shelf to hold the cable. Now you should have four pieces of cable hanging down--ready for the installation of the second shelf.

6. String the four pieces of cable through the corner holes in the second shelf. Install a cable clamp underneath each corner to hold the shelf in place. Level and adjust the clamps as necessary.

7. Continue down the shelving unit--adding shelves and 4 cable clamps per shelf.

8. Cut off excess cable.

Window/Door Shelves

1. Have metal shelves cut the width of the window (or door). The back edges of these shelves will sit on the window/door molding. Mark the studs along that wall and make a cable hanger for every other stud (usually 32").

2. Make each hanging unit by wrapping the cable through an eyebolt and back around onto itself--securing the end with a cable clamp.

3. Wrap the other end through the eye of a turnbuckle--again back around onto itself and secure using a cable clamp.

4. Secure the eye bolts in the wall studs at the desired measurements.

5. Pull the cable attachments out and hook the ends onto the front edge holes in the metal shelf. Adjust the turnbuckle to level the shelf.

The Rescue crew also created a horizontal wire cable along one wall--to use as a "clothes line" to hang art from. The cable was the same as above: two eye bolt connections at either end and the cable wrapped through the bolts and secured using a cable clamp. The eye bolts were then installed into studs in the wall.

Closet Organization

Ready-to-Assemble closet organization units were trimmed to fit the 37"w x 19"h x 16" d closet. Those included a "Shoe Organizer"--cubbyhole unit that works great for small items. Pieces can be cut down using a power saw: table saw, circular saw, etc. Use a fine-tooth blade to cut through the hard finish. It helps to put a piece of tape down to keep the finish from cracking when cutting.

Next: Kids Storage Cubes