Bespoke Bookshelf Design
A custom-designed bookcase or shelving unit are more than a day dream with Cutshop®.
For a bibliophile, there is nothing more sacred than a bookcase. More than a simple place to store an object, the humble bookcase is where imagination waits ready to transport the reader elsewhere.
For an aesthete, a bookshelf is home to more than just a collection of art, it is art itself. Housing creativity, a haven to all things beautiful.
The bookcase has come a long way from its beginnings. From the private libraries in Alexandra, Egypt to the revolving bookcases in the libraries of ancient China, the bookcase was the only way to store knowledge, however the past two decades has seen an evolution in how we store books.
Whilst our love for reading has not waned, the way we read truly has changed.
With the invention of electronic books via the kindle or digital platforms, bookcases and bookshelves are no longer all about the book and are transforming into pieces of art, experiments of engineering and creative constructions where books are showcased next to photographs, all types of art, house plants and more.
Bespoke bookcase for Grant Bannatyne made in HPL Futura Ply from Plytech.
“Many thanks for the great service you provided cutting and delivering ply sheets for my shelving and tables projects, for which all of the pieces were dimensionally perfect! I’ve told many friends and colleagues about your service, and can’t wait for the next project!”
At Cutshop® we view the humble bookcase as more than simply planks of wood, and we encourage creative and imaginative design. Your home is your sanctuary and the interior design is a reflection of your personality.
Whether a minimalist at heart or a lover of creative chaos, bookcase and bookshelf design are a way to add an extra dimension to your room.
More often than not a bookcase is a focal point of a room, designed not to blend into the background but to enhance the aesthetics whilst also providing the functionality of storage.
“Cutshop® are reliable, fast, and communication is great. Our customer is over the moon, it was even better than he envisaged from the commuter generated plans.”
Furniture that is made precisely to fit provides a seamless finish that looks elegant in any space.
Bespoke bookcases with incorporated cupboards allow you to hide the things you don’t want on display and highlight the things you do and when Peter and Rachael, from Citywide Kitchens, came to us with a bespoke bookcase design for their St Helier’s based clients, we knew it would look special.
Within the design, the space needed to house the TV, books and photos as well as the clients’ vast music collection and turntable as well as provide extra storage.
Peter and Rachael came up with a design that created a corner open unit, which is purposefully positioned so that when you enter the room the focal point is the music and turntable as opposed to the TV. Below the bookcases are concealed storage cabinets with push catches that ensure that streamlined look the client wanted.
The client chose MDF MREO 30 mm for the material, lacquered in Resene Alabaster Finish, giving the completed bookcase and storage unit a stunning aesthetic that fits perfectly with the overall style for the house.
Five ways to add custom-built bookcases to your home:
1. Living Room Bookshelf
Built-in shelves around your TV cabinetry can add an extra dimension to your flat-screen TV. Adding a personal touch where the shelving can be custom designed to fit your space perfectly allowing you to showcase your trophies and hobbies as well as provide a space for the TV.
2. Built-in Bedroom Bookcase
The perfect edition for any bedroom, for those who love reading before bed, need extra storage space or want to house a private collection. Custom designed bookcases can transform a bedroom into a haven. Perfect for kids rooms where books, trophies and toys can often create clutter and mess, or perhaps a place to add a work space without adding clutter.
3. Home Office Bookcase
Transform your workspace into the perfect working environment with a beautiful built-in bookcase or bookshelves. Turn away from the stereotypical ‘office’ proforma of durable, bland, drab and uniform in exchange for interesting use of bookcase styles and design, incorporating ingenuity with accessories and style.
“It was just so easy. I wish I’d known about Cutshop® earlier. As it turned out, I got a custom-built unit for around 30% less than the cost of the original shelving. Cutshop® kept me informed every step of the way – I couldn’t have had a better experience.”
“Cutshop® offer a very good service – it’s a professional, cost-effective business,” Paul said. “Simon at Cutshop® Mt Wellington was happy to help me with any queries after the cut wood had been delivered flat packed. No problem was too big or too small. It was an exciting thing to do – a real creative outlet. Cutshop® allows home handymen to go out and tackle bigger projects themselves and get a great result.”
4. Create A Unique Library Space
In your home, it’s your rules and so design a space that is as creative a reflection of your personality as you can. A custom designed bookcase or shelving can transform a space into an interactive library in your home, a cave of knowledge or art, where you can sit, rest, relax or be inspired.
Cutshop® worked alongside artist Sean Beldon to create this bookcase for an exhibition he held. However who’s to say it wouldn’t look amazing in a home as a designated library space, custom created to fit any room.
5. Dining Room Side-board
For showing off your favourite centrepieces and serving dishes, or housing the cookbooks, a custom-designed dining board is a perfect addition to a dining room. The addition of glass fronted doors can keep pieces of special significance safe yet visible, just like this cabinet we worked on for client Paul Munro.
Paul Munro
Tips on how to style a bespoke bookcase
Pick a theme - bookcases don’t need to house books. Choose a theme for the room and use your book case to showcase art or photography that fits the theme.
Creative books - for those who are an avid reader, having cube style bookcases can be a great way to organise and compartmentalise your collection. Showcase your books by genre or author, or get creative and order your books by colour and coordinate with art pieces in the room.
Take a step back - try not to overcrowd a bookcase. Mix things up with a small indoor plant or a family trinket as an overcrowded bookcase can make a space feel small and cluttered. Does it look balanced? Can you easily access the books or objects you want?
Design tip from Rachael - use solid materials that can support weight and think about the complexity of the build as this can escalate cost.
Working with Cutshop® makes creating a bespoke bookcase or shelving unit easy to achieve.
Our teams work with you to make sure your design is exactly what you want. With advice on the best materials to use in order to achieve exactly the right look, in the exact colour that you want and all within your budget.
A bookcase or a bookshelf, a bookstand, a cupboard or a bookrack - no matter how you say it, is here to stay.
