Beautiful solid oak bookcase taking up space and hardly used!

10 years ago

I bought this bookcase last year for my books, after filling 3 shelves I realised it was over the top for my small paperback collection. As much as I love it, I considered selling it on, but the size and weight mean its not easily transportable. It's about 3 Meters wide and 8ft high.
So I'm trying to think of a better use, to suit my lifestyle. I have a wonderful tea set collection and use the spare shelves to display them, but it's not a dresser and it doesn't look right.
This bookcase needs to be filled with large, leather bound hard back books to show it in all it's glory. But that's not me and I don't have any!
I'm currently thinking if I can move it into my new bedroom when its decorated and make it into a cupboard, inside I'd put my shoe and handbag collection. The space is ideal, perfect size.
It would then be used daily and serve a good purpose. Not sure how I add doors to the curved end sections. I'm thinking either shutter type doors with material or a criss cross type grid, like I've seen on dressers.
I've discounted a curtain and pole approach, I feel it needs more. Any ideas would be appreciated, I don't want to spoil it! I'm planning to draft a design spec and get a carpenter/joiner to do the work... Don't panic I'm not about to get out my cordless drill! :)

Featured Answer

Carolina

10 years ago

It is a beautiful piece. I do think that it will look a whole lot better if you display your tea set collection and books in it differently. It is visually top heavy on the left side, where all the books are and looks very cluttered where you've placed the other items.
So... before you hire a carpenter and have him or her make those beautiful doors (you can still do that and have just simple shelves behind them)... try rearranging everything that's in your bookcase now.

It's a bit of a trial and error thing, getting it exactly right, but I would begin with removing half the books from the left side and put them in the right side. Leaving empty spaces next to them is fine. You don't have to fill a whole shelve. Stand back regularly and see if the balance is right. Large, dark, heavy looking items go in the lower half.

Then reshuffle your tea sets. I'd say that the three tiered cake stand would be nice in the center on the top shelf with a couple of cups and saucers to the left and right of it. Perhaps the plates at the back again. Don't spread everything out over the length of the shelf, but group them together. Leave some spaces to the sides on some shelves, but not on the others.

Stand back every now and again to see how it looks. Keep tweaking and I'm sure you're beautiful bookcase will look much, much better :-) You can keep posting pics as you go, we'll see if we can help you get the display right.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it.

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Comments (73)

PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Is this right?
Carolina
10 years ago
Oh... I do think it looks much better already. Keep tweaking (when you feel like it)

Couple of things to try:
# 1 switch the books with the plate
# 2 those books above each other look too heavy
# 3 move those books to there
# 4 those items to there
# 5 those items to the top shelf

See how it looks then. Honestly, I don't think that anyone finds this easy. Everybody keeps changing things around to get it right. Some people enjoy it more than others though ;-)
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Carolina
10 years ago
Oooorrrr, switch the blue books (5) with the items on the bottom shelf and forget step 4.
SNZTH
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I think your idea of turning it into a 'cupboard' - terrible word for such a magnificent piece - for your shoes is the best thing for it. It'd be more of a shoe cabinet rather than a cupboard though. Opting for glass doors your shoes can be on display and you can see what you want at a glance.
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi Caitlin, the end sections are curved. I'm not sure how doors would work because of that reason. Hence why I posted this initially, I fancied a lattice effect glass door with material behind.
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Carolins- I'm getting dizzy! This better?
Carolina
10 years ago
Yep! Don't you think? One final last twist for now... bottom left shelf: switch the books around. Standing ones to the left side. Much better. You're getting the hang of this.
PRO
Essentia Interior Design
10 years ago
Some times a tea set looks nice displayed on a tray, this way it doesnt get lost on the shelf! I am sure you could make it work.
Judy M
10 years ago
Beautiful piece! I think you need a few larger pieces on a few shelves. Several large baskets, that hold your recent catalogs or magazines.
A piece of art standing on the back of a shelf or two.

Try a few shelves with all books, it gives the eye a rest from the busier shelves.
Carolina
10 years ago
See... lots of ideas from the others and good excuses to go shopping. Think about shopping around in your home. See what you can find that would be a good addition to your cabinet. The others are right, adding a couple of larger pieces will create a calmer look. And I'd like to see a silver tray or something (like a couple of framed prints perhaps) standing against the back on top shelf.
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Carolins, thank you so much for your guidance today, and patience! I have learnt a lot from you, you really do have an eye for this! X
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
This bookcase isn't working for me, I'm going to have another think. Buying more stuff for it defeats the object, it's like one giant ornament! Pointless, so much dusting. Thing is I love it, but we aren't compatible. Maybe I need to accept that!
Carolina
10 years ago
You know... with discussions like this I'd love to just come over and have a go at rearranging things myself. Unfortunately... I'm not next door :-)
Keep tweaking, have fun.
Carolina
10 years ago
Oh... okay... so... I guess it's going to be a shoe cabinet. Ah well... you've tried :-)
handymam
10 years ago
carolins, you have great patience and did a great job. I think it came out lovely as you had arranged it, but the shoes won. I don't own enough shoes to fill a shoe rack myself, but that's me... Nice work that you did though!
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Carolins, what do you think? Can I make this work?! I've brought some shoes downstairs for a trial. Tried to apply what you have taught me today. Haven't filled all the shelves just tried a few out. I guess I could line all the shoes up in the middle and bags on the end to keep it simple. But anyway, what do you think? Do I need doors? Does it look strange?!
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
I could get some baskets for other items too, close up here. Will need clear dust bags ideally.
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
All back how it was now, with china and books. just 1 breakage. Good job I took the final photo or I would have been here all night! :)
Judy M
10 years ago
I want to come shopping at your boutique! I have my eye on one of those red purses. :)
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Judy M does it work do you think? Can I move it to my bedroom? :)
Phoebe
10 years ago
I think it could be great in your bedroom…and how nice to be able to pick your shoes and bags so easily! It has a bit of a boutique feel that way, but your bedroom furniture does too, so I can imagine it all working well.
Carolina
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Looooove the shoe collection with the matching purses/bags. Definitely looks great in the cabinet. Looks like it could be a shop. I'd like to think the little course in how to arrange and display items in a bookcase worked :-) Or this is just where you're love lies and you instinctively know how to display shoes and bags.

So... bedroom it is :-D

@handymam, thanks :-)
groveraxle
10 years ago
I'm late to the party, but just had to weigh in. I think it looks great with shoes and purses, especially since you have such nice shoes and purses. Keep your tennies and flipflops in the closet behind closed doors. ;-)

I would definitely NOT have doors made. I think it will ruin the lines of the piece. Besides, with it open like that, you have an excuse to buy a few more shoes and purses to fill any empty spaces.
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Carolins, I tried to place them like you taught me! I'm going to keep practising too. Thank you for spending your time with me :)
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Groveraxle thank you! It's going in my bedroom when it's finished, without doors! I have lots of red bags and shoes though it may clash a bit. Maybe a multi coloured bedspread is in order?
PRO
Catherine Belan
10 years ago
Kusten, a good cabinet maker can make curved doors. The one thing I can't tell is if they will have difficulty opening. I think mounting and operating is going to be the greater challenge. I think you'll need someone who can actually lay hands on the shelf unit - I think if you try to have doors made elsewhere just based on measurements and to be installed, you'll run into problems.

Do you have to do the same thing all the way across? I think you will have a more pleasing solution that won't overwhelm the room if you do something different to the side versus the middle.

Consider sliding, by-pass doors (2) for the main section. You may have to cut down the shelf depth to allow for installation - no matter what type of doors you do. But I think the sliding ones may work better; can still be the idea of X with fabric. Your photos with shoes shows you have the space, so no loss of function.

For the sides with the curves - have your carpenter create drawers. The curved fronts would not be an issue. You can add wood appliques similar in style and detail to the column capital, fluted face or even a drawer front with a piece of glass. Or do a few larger drawers with solid fronts, about 10" tall each. Then do a few skinny drawers with glass face - for scarves, gloves, other accessories.

Then keep the upper 1/3 to 1/2 open with adjustable shelves.

You seem to have access to drawing this up, so try a few configurations and see which proportions you like the most. You'll be the envy of all those women who want a beautifully organized and stylish closet!
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Catieb the side shelves recess quite a lot behind the frame, draws would have to be loose rather than installed, so maybe boxes with handles to pull out instead?
PRO
Catherine Belan
10 years ago
You'd have to try a box first, they might be sized where they won't maneuvor easily to get in and out of there.

I'd let do of the idea of having them go behind the face frame and just have them the width of the opening. Much like prefab cabinetry.

You can also just do baskets etc. I was just trying to make a "complete" piece of furniture. You can always do doors at the center then add to the sides later.

Oh, and consider an antiqued mirror behind the X on doors - would really go well with your style!
decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
Good effort at making this beautiful "white elephant" work! I think the first mistake was buying a piece like this just for paperback books, which are not worthy of showcasing, but should be tucked in to baskets that might sit on the bottom shelves. Paperbacks are an insult to such a piece and I'm not sure shoes do it justice either. Still think the piece would be happier in a real library setting. Sell it to a book lover on Craigs List and buy a shoe and purse bin to slide under the bed or a pocket hanger for over the closet door to hold them. Relegate paperbacks to baskets that might slide under a chair or coffee/side table.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
10 years ago
Carolins did a fab job of teaching you the art of shelf arranging! She's amazing and I feel so fortunate that I will get to meet her this Friday!
Carolina
10 years ago
hahaha Carolyn... thank you. My face has gone red now.
I'm looking forward to meeting you too. So much to talk about. We'll have a great time. And... it's much cooler here this week the weather people say. Although they are not often right, it gives us hope :-D
handymam
10 years ago
Hooray for people actually meeting after meeting on here! One can never have too many friends! Have a great time!
mefor
10 years ago
Don't worry handy ma'am, we'll be next!!
handymam
10 years ago
I think you may be right mforr! :)
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Well if I could I'd have you all over for afternoon tea :)
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
decoenthusiaste I didn't buy it to house paperbacks, my Mum gave me all hers because it was so empty. I bought it because I loved it and still do.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
10 years ago
Be careful, Kusten, or we'll all come! What general area do you live in?
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Cardiff, Wales, UK!
Carolina
10 years ago
Ah... that's only a short swim and a long run away (the Netherlands).
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I figured you for that part of the world when you mentioned your mother, referring to her as "mum". It's a somewhat longer swim for me in Texas.
mefor
10 years ago
Perhaps some motorized water wings? ;)
decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
Its a beautiful piece! I know you'll figure out the best way to make optimal use of it.
Judy M
10 years ago
If it fits in the bedroom, why not?
What a luxury to go "shopping" in your own bedroom each
Morning when you get dressed.
Judy M
10 years ago
Carolins, I hope your face is not as red as those handbags!
Carolina
10 years ago
Judy M, believe me... perfect match :-)
PRO
Kusten Vorland
Original Author
10 years ago
Carolyn, what do you call a "Mum" ?!
Carolina
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I believe in the US they say Mom to Mum.
On this side of the channel we say mam. Even if our mom, mum, mam isn't the Queen.
Carolina
10 years ago
Just realized that we don't 'say' mam. We write mam, but it's pronounced more like mum.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
10 years ago
Back in the day when I was growing up, it was "Mother", but when I had kids of my own, they called, and still call me "Mom", with the O pronounced like ahh.
PRO
On The Tiles (hillingdon) ltd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think you are missing an opportunity here; this is the perfect excuse to buy lots and lots of books. I have have run out of shelf space and have to choose what to pass on before I can buy any more...tough choices. :-)