| Project by Alan Young | posted 356 days ago | 425 views | 6 times favorited | 10 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
I was commissioned by two friends, to build a set of bookcases. The request came from a couple that wanted an appropriate place to store their materials which had been kept in boxes since a move. They own a number of books as well as musical scores that were in need of a home.
My friends were looking for a “cottage feel” for these bookcases. So they decided on a painted finish.
These bookcase were built from dimensional clear pine, pine beadboard ply and masonite. The finish is alkyd oil paint. They also wanted the open shelved areas to be illuminated with an indirect soft glow.After some searching we found a low voltage tape light system.
The beadboard, inset rosettes, a layered crown molding, routed profiles and custom milled moldings, are the details that give these cases a simple but sophisticated look.


Alan































10 comments so far
Don Newton
home | projects | blog
521 posts in 497 days
posted 356 days ago
Very nice job! If I’d of done that the space for the piano would be 1” too small.
-- Don, Pittsburgh
Chris Cunanan
home | projects | blog
213 posts in 359 days
posted 356 days ago
very professional design, love how the flute lines ‘n the curves flow….call you butter baby cuz ur on a rollll
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 356 days ago
These are absolutely beautiful pieces, with fantastic craftsmanship evident!
Did you consider building them flush to the back wall and ceiling? Somehow, the very small gap between the top of the crown and the ceiling disturbs my sense of proportion. If they were a foot shorter, it would be fine. (Just personal preference, of course… not meant to detract from the beauty of your work.)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
ToddE
home | projects | blog
125 posts in 813 days
posted 356 days ago
BINGO! You nailed it!
Simple, stylish, and elegant. Nice Job
If I can ask, how many lights are in the upper cabinet? Just one at the top?
-- Do we do this for purpose or passion?
woodworm
home | projects | blog
7828 posts in 469 days
posted 356 days ago
Very beautiful bookcases.
Great job.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Icemizer
home | projects | blog
68 posts in 418 days
posted 356 days ago
A pair of amazing pieces. The paint work looks excellent.
-- Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Alan Young
home | projects | blog
57 posts in 599 days
posted 355 days ago
Charlie-
Yes we discussed that but the clients wanted them to be free standing pieces that they could move if necessary some day. Note that there is molding across the top of the wall that would keep the
cases from being flush-They didn’t want to remove that molding. The upper and lower cases are separate pieces. If we made them tight to the ceiling it would have been near impossible to set the top case on the lower case….
ToddE
The lights are tape lights spaced at 3” so I guess there are about ten small light across the top.
Here’s the tape light system we used:
http://www.budgetlighting.com/cabinet-lighting.html
Alan
Napaman
home | projects | blog
3416 posts in 956 days
posted 355 days ago
these are great!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 355 days ago
I understand, Alan. If moving them in the future might be in the cards, this was the only way to go.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
14852 posts in 729 days
posted 354 days ago
Very stylish design Alan. Great workmanship.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python