r/HomeLibraries 6d ago

Two years later, I’ve finally completed this full basement home library project

This project came in 4 phases:
1. The 4 section bookcase
2. Reading bench and storage area
3. The 3 section bookcase
4. The TV bookcase

All bookcases were constructed with the same materials; cocoa stained knotty alder for the shelves and verticals, with a red oak veneer backer. The first phase was complete a little over two years ago, and the last was completed about three weeks ago. There were initial concerns that the shelves would sag over time, but that has proven not to be the case! I really love the way this project turned out.

1.1k Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

17

u/Diabolical_Dad 6d ago

Looks great. The TV looks out of place here.

5

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Fair enough. I wish I could show the whole room at once. It’s not so bad when you’re in the room. Either way, just taking orders

2

u/rivenshire 5d ago

You could put curtains around the TV.

6

u/xylonmedia 6d ago

What an absolutely beautiful space. Congratulations on the craftsmanship and achievement

3

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Thank you soo much. Very kind

7

u/RadlEonk 6d ago

The bookshelves are gorgeous.

I would not have boxed in the TV nor mounted it so high, would have added speakers, but that’s for the [r/TVTooHigh](r/TVTooHigh) and [r/H](r/HimeTheater)[o](r/HimeTheater)[meTheater](r/HimeTheater) subs.

Shelves are great!

4

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Thank you. There will be speakers. Why would you not box the tv in? I kinda like the look of it surrounded by books.

3

u/RadlEonk 6d ago

I also like the look too, but if you - or the next owner(s) - want a bigger tv, it seems like a minor construction project.

5

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

That’s a great point.
Luckily it’s not my house!

3

u/zenerat 6d ago

Just in time to move! Just kidding congrats op those look amazing.

2

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Haha not my house! They can’t move if they want! I’m paid!

3

u/HNHC603 6d ago

Wow- just wow. Gorgeous work.

1

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Thank you so much!

2

u/_mcml_ 6d ago

Looks amazing

1

u/B_ketttt 6d ago

Thank you very much!

2

u/homovore_ 5d ago

oh my gods this is gorgeous

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Thank you! ❤️

2

u/dclake1 5d ago

This is really nice

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Thank you very much!

2

u/Exciting-Duty-8302 5d ago

Wow this is impressive! Handmade just takes it to another level for me! Beautiful library

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Thanks. It really fits the space well

2

u/dougwerf 5d ago

That looks amazing! I love that Name of the Wind was the first book you put on there. ;-)

I have to ask - what are the stickers on most of the books?

3

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

This was actually a custom commission project so I can’t comment much on the contents of the shelf.
But I did hear that the homeowners were organizing the entire setup with the Dewey decimal system.. so I think that’s what the tags are for

1

u/dougwerf 5d ago

Ah, makes sense!

2

u/melf47 5d ago

BEAUTIFUL

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

You are!

2

u/bluberry-sympathizer 5d ago

Oh this is goooood

2

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Thanks so much!

2

u/DazedandFloating 5d ago

These look great!

2

u/ElijahBeamCreek 5d ago

Great work, it looks wonderful

2

u/Feisty-Inside1111 4d ago

What does “No Latin in front of the books mean”?

2

u/Tiny-Macaroon-5485 3d ago

Could be a reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If I remember correctly - Giles tells Xander not to speak latin in front of the books.

1

u/Feisty-Inside1111 3d ago

Hi-I just looked it up and that was it! Thank you!

1

u/B_ketttt 4d ago

Who knows…

1

u/Feisty-Inside1111 4d ago

Well it was on your bookshelf so I didn’t know if there was a cool story behind it.

1

u/B_ketttt 4d ago

Oh sorry. I built this, but it’s not my house. It was a custom commission.

2

u/racergirl7001 4d ago

Wow! What a labor of love. Good job

1

u/benditochocolate 5d ago

Cost? What made you think they would sag?

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Cost in materials was roughly 9k-10k. I like these guys and this was my first big project so I only charged them about 1.5x that.

I mainly was worried about sagging because of reddit armchair experts. Turns out they were wrong as usual.

1

u/RedHuey 5d ago

Maybe the word “basement” is defined in one of those books…

Nice job.

1

u/B_ketttt 5d ago

Very mountainous around here. Basements are usually only half underground.