create your own leather strap shelves

TUTORIAL REBECCA & ADAM FOGARTY OF HAMMERED LEATHERWORKS | PHOTOGRAPHY TANYA COLLIER

Simple, natural and stylish, leather strap shelves are perfect for any space.

MATERIALS

+ 2 x dressed timber planks for shelves - 235mm x 30mm x 700mm long
+ 2 x 1200mm leather straps or belts
+ 12 x galvanised nails
+ fixings and screws to attach your shelf to the wall

TOOLS

+ hammer
+ tape measure
+ right angle or ruler
+ pliers
+ blocks of wood for spacing

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

If you are hanging your shelves on a plasterboard wall, bear in mind the positioning of your studs as this may determine the spacing of your leather straps

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STEP 1

Mark the positions for your straps onto each shelf. Our shelves are 700mm long and we’ve marked a spot 140mm in from each end.

STEP 2

Using a right angle (or ruler) and the strap positions you’ve just marked, rule a line on the width of the base and sides of your bottom shelf, and sides only on your top shelf.

STEP 3

Take one piece of leather strapping and fold it to find the centre point. Place this (right side facing up) onto the base of the first shelf, with centres matching. Hammer a nail into the centre.

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STEP 4

Hammer an additional two nails, evenly spaced, to secure the leather strap to the base of the shelf.

STEP 5

Repeat steps 3 & 4 at the other end of the shelf.

STEP 6

Turn the shelf onto its side and fold strapping around, keeping it aligned to the inside of the line you marked earlier, and hammer in a nail to secure. Repeat at other end.

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STEP 7

Turn the shelf over so the other edge is facing up and hammer another nail so that you now have a total of five nails securing each leather strap to each end of your bottom shelf.

STEP 8

Use blocks or books to ensure equal spacing at both ends. We’ve spaced ours approximately 200mm apart. Hammer a nail in to secure the leather strap to the top shelf on both the front and back edge.

STEP 9

Working on one end at a time, measure and mark a hanging point on the straps. Keeping the bottom strap taut and flat on the worktop, mark a point 200mm up from the top shelf. Keep the ruler in place (or use a paper marker) and bring the top strap to meet the bottom one and mark at the same point.

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STEP 10

Nail or drill a hole through the centre of each strap at the marked hanging point.

STEP 11

Finish the ends of the leather
straps neatly with a craft knife
or scissors.

STEP 12

Time to hang your shelves! Drill holes and apply fixings to your wall to match the positions of your straps. Keep in mind, the fixings you need will depend on how your wall has been constructed, and in turn will determine the load your shelves can hold.

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For a great range of DIY leatherwork kits and supplies, visit Hammered Leatherworks online at hammeredleatherworks.com.au