Seattle Homes & Lifestyles Blog

Quest for the Perfect Bookshelf

October 6th, 2008 at 05:39am Guest

I had never realized its necessity until my collection of Shakespeare’s works was forced to live underneath a table piled high with books. Shakespeare did not belong on my floor. He deserved more attention, a grand display, a place where he could mingle harmoniously with Henmingway and Fitzgerald. That’s when I knew I needed to buy a bookshelf.

As an English major in college, I needed a standout piece of furniture so that visitors would not only admire my impressive amount of Jane Austen novels, but also the beauty and design of the bookshelf that displays them. Here are some of the many beauties I found.

This traditional bookshelf, in a dark brown color, has four shelves and two bottom drawers, which would comfortably hold my thick volumes of Dickens. $179 at Ballard Home Comforts, 5334 Ballard Ave. N.W., (206) 781-1040.

I can easily picture my work Bronte novesl atop the shelves of this three-drawer shelf. It is tall, spacious, made of solid elm and has an antique feel. $1,325 at Camelion, 5330 Ballard Ave. N.W. (206) 632-0886.

This shelf unit is the least traditional, but the materials—steel and reclaimed Douglas fir—give the piece a very natural feel. $2,000 at Bitters Co., 513 N. 36th, (206) 632-0886.

The most modern of all the pieces I saw, these black "ladder" shelves are minimalistic, but surprisingly sturdy. $169 at Retrofit Home, 1419 12th Ave., (206) 568-4663. 

Whimsical is the perfect description for this walnut and ivory bookcase. The five shelves, each with their own circular cutouts, add a little humor to home décor. I can look through the cutouts, much like Alice, and see the Lewis Carroll classic waiting to be read. $3,500 at Whimsy Home Decor, 1535 14th Ave., (206) 324-4679.

Like many great stories, mine ends with a little tragedy. Although I found many beautiful bookshelves and was inspired, I didn’t buy one—there may well be a sequel to this tale. —Kait Heacock

Photographs by Abiel Hoff

Entry Filed under: Books, Furniture