The House Built for Books

One of the biggest problems with being a reader is storage. Some folks can resell things they’ve read or put them in storage, but I need to have all of mine accessible all the time, it’s almost compulsory. Even those that I can’t foresee myself reading again are around, right next to popular favorites that get fondled regularly. This being the case makes storage at home difficult. Just about the only thing I can do is buy bookshelves: tons and tons of bookshelves. There are some better and more creative ways to live with your books, though.

Picture above is a home built by Gianni Bartsford Architects for an “unnamed writer” and depicts one deceptively simple way to incorporate your books into your home’s very structure. Built-in bookshelves across an entire wall is an idea that’s been done since the days of proper libraries, but this home’s use of line, angle and geometry makes it incredibly more appealing that a simple series of vertical lines. (via) Another view here.

The bookshelf stairs are also pretty awesome, but those of us in one-story homes won’t be able to participate. Follow the link for more photos.

Here’s something you could to wherever you are right now with some simple Ikea shelving around the perimeter of a room: wraparound shelving. I love this method because it utilizes all the space above you that goes to waste.

Or you could just install a rotating hidden door bookshelf.

Here’s another brilliant way to store books in typically unused space. Takes a little more work than wraparound shelves, but it also provides way more storage. Rafter storage is probably useful for many things, not just books. Note the little staircase that leads up to the area. More here.

so so cool.

I like the bookshelf stairs. It reminds of this huge independent bookstore I used to frequent before it was bought by Borders.

oh, I love those bookcase stairs. I have a bad habit of keeping books that I will never read again, so I’m trying to go to Half-Price more often to switch them for more books that I might read more often. =)

jealousy.

my wife keeps me limited to two bookcases, and now that we have a double layer of books on top of the vertical ones, she keeps trying to get me to sell them… it hurts my heart to even think of such a thing.

she doesn’t have the book-lover’s spirit, i guess.

on the other hand, she does have dozens and dozens and dozens of shoes. which baffles me.