If you live in a pre-war apartment, like me, you can use old nooks for super-useful storage. Turn an old ironing board nook into a spice and liquor rack, or convert an unused window into a bookshelf. It's a great way to create more storage space from unused areas.

For this project you'll need:
-pencil
-ruler or tape measurer
-level
-power drill
-saw
-"L" brackets
-screws
-wood
-a friend to hold the shelves while you're drilling

Step 1: Measure

Remove the door if there is one. Measure the width of the recessed area. This will be the width of your shelves. Add 2" to that length and this will be the width of the "stay bar". Determine how many shelves you want.

Step 2: Mark and Cut

Mark the wood to the dimensions you measured. Cut the wood.

Step 3: Screw

Add an "L"Â bracket to the ends of each shelf. Then, Insert the shelf into the space. Have a friend hold it while you screw it in place. When you have one side screwed in, level the shelf. Then screw in the other side.

Step 4: Add Stay Bars

Place the "stay bars" about 2" above the shelf and screw in on each side. This will keep your liquor and spices from falling out.

Step 5: Fill 'er Up

Fill up your new shelf space and you're done!

Step 6: Make a Window Into a Bookshelf

Optional: you can also use this same idea to make a bookshelf from an a window that's been boarded up. In this case a building was built right next to the window covering up the view. The window is a bit deeper than the ironing board. There's also no need for the front "stay bars".