There are two types of people in this world: bibliophiles and those who aren’t crazy about books. One of the first indicators that Tom and I were compatible were the large, packed bookcases in our apartments. We would horrify Marie Kondo. Both of us carry items from high school, college, and grad school. Tom and I appreciate the effort we have poured into studying various texts, and we both value the ability to pull down a volume whose ideas we have internalized along the way.
We knew when we bought this house that we would have to find some solution for our 20+ boxes of books. Yes, part of the solution has been to shed some of them. I have gone through everything multiple times, asked myself which books spark joy or are truly important to me, and which books reflect the future I am creating for myself. However, because we are book people, and it appears as though our children are turning into book people too, built-ins are necessary in our forever home.
At my last home, my dad built me a gorgeous built-in bookcase. It was originally intended to house books for my home office. We took a whole wall in my third bedroom, and there was a space carved out for me to insert a desk and computer. Two weeks after he finished that project, I found out unexpectedly that I was pregnant with Josie. The room was quickly transitioned into a nursery with a gigantic bookcase framing a changing table!
We knew when we moved here that one of the first projects we would need Dad’s help with is building yet another bookcase. However, this time we hope to use it for its intended purpose for many years! At first we weren’t exactly sure where we would place built-ins, but our family’s center of gravity eventually migrated toward the western side of the house once we mounted our TV in the back sunroom. When we moved in, Tom and I agreed that he would set up his office in the sunroom and I would take one of the rooms in the basement. There was a long, bare wall facing the windows with no baseboard heating. We figured we would build the bookcase in the L and mount the TV on the shorter wall.
The room already feels cozy with the introduction of our books. There are so many windows that showcase vibrant peach and blue sunsets in the evening. We’re looking forward to having our daybed from Pottery Barn delivered and to finish decorating the room in honor of the sunsets that we adore. I’ll have more to share on lighting, upgraded windows, and other decor soon…
Link to bookcase plan: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-build-a-built-in-bookcase/