Monday, April 2, 2012

B is for Built-In Bookcases: My A to Z Wish List

Since I first began collecting books as a teenager, I have turned over my complete library four times during household moves and given away scores of books along the way to make room for new purchases.

I wish I had a room with built-in bookcases on all four walls...leaving just enough space for a door and a window. Besides the bookcases, I'd have a comfortable reading chair, a footstool, and a side table big enough for a lamp, a stack of books, and a coffee cup. The table should have a drawer where I could keep my stash of dark chocolate.

I would spend a lot of time in a room like that.



30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pat - Oh, I want a built-in-bookcase, too!!!! I would love a writing room with all four walls like that!!

Oh, and in case I've not mentioned it, you've chosen such a terrific theme for the A-Z blog challenge!

Jenny said...

Pat, I also wish for built-ins! Maybe not on all four walls, though :-)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've always wanted a library like that.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We have bookshelves all over the house. I would love to have all of the books in one room.

Charmaine Clancy said...

Would love a library!
Wagging Tales

Marian Allen said...

Sounds great! We do have built-in bookcases all over the house, but it would be lovely to have one room just devoted to my TBR and favorites, with the chair and the lamp and the table. ~sigh~

While we're wishing, may our coffee cup always be full of fresh, hot coffee in whatever flavor we want, and may our drawer never run out of chocolate!

Marian Allen
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

Unknown said...

Oh, me too. And a nice window seat as well.

Tracy said...

hah, sounds like an alliteration-built in bookcase!
I too wish I had one, since I have all my free standing ones filld. Oh well, I'll continue to dream!

Rob-bear said...

When we had houses, I used to fill the walls with shelves for books. Then we moved to an apartment. So little space, and not a good place for putting lots of holes in walls. I've been reduced to three book cases. And even the contents of those are going to shrink, some more.

Sitting in a personal library to write and read is awesome. And a luxury.

Patricia Stoltey said...

This is what makes the A to Z Challenge so much fun. We can connect with so many bloggers on so many levels. Yesterday I got a kick out of the aardvaark posts and so many others.

Today I'm working on my novel's synopsis, so I won't be blog-hopping much until this evening. I'll see you all later.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Yes! Built-in bookcases...and secret doors. Always wanted those...

Stephanie said...

Sounds amazing! I see pictures all the time of amazing libraries with walls of bookshelves....looks so relaxing! :)

Elspeth Futcher said...

I've hungered after Professor Higgin's library from My Fair Lady for decades. DECADES. Sigh.

Lynn Proctor said...

i love books, but i have to admit i do not like them lying around or stacked up on tables---so your room sounds lovely :)

Unknown said...

I could live in a room that has built-in bookcases on all four walls. I went into a house like that the other day and it took all my willpower to be polite and listen to the host and hostess rather than dreamily browse all their lovely books, and drool over them...

Susan Spann said...

I would love a room like that too Pat!! My home office has floor-to-ceiling oak bookcases on one wall and one additional floor-to-ceiling bookcase against the wall by my desk. They're not built in, but I like them even better because my father made them. He loved books and woodworking, and made 10 lovely floor-to-ceiling (8') bookcases for his own office. When he passed away, my brother and I divided them between us, and since I'd never had so much shelf space before, I have to say they're an amazing luxury. (They're also full to bursting, but we won't go there...)

Eric W. Trant said...

Add a keg-o-rater and you'd have heaven!

I built a full-wall library in my first house. It was hand-cut, since all I had was a jigsaw, drill, and circular hand-saw. And it looked hand-cut. It was sort of rustic, in a my-first-bookcase sort of way.

I moved out in 2003. A couple of years ago, my ex-wife, who still lives there, remodeled.

She ripped out the library and put in a big-screen tv!

Ah. It was such a peaceful escape, too, at least while it lasted. My new house has no room for a library, seeing as it is almost 1/2 the size with twice the occupants.

But all the more happy for it. I now have a Kindle!

- Eric

Alyssa said...

That sounds like my kind of room. Even down to the chocolate!

Jemi Fraser said...

Maybe 2 chairs! I'll come and join you!! :)

Jan Morrison said...

Okay! That's two for two - I want an agent and built-in bookcases. Will this continue????

DL Hammons said...

Me too! :)

Jeremy Bates said...

Do I ever hear you, Patricia! Check out the libraries on my blog if you get a chance.

I have given away soooo many books in my lifetime because of moves that I swear I could have stocked a small city library.

Yes, I am crying still.

Nancy Lauzon said...

Wow, you read my mind, that's my 'dream room' too, right down to the chocolate!

Anonymous said...

Like you, Pat, I've given away/sold so many books over the past several decades, in all my moves. Your bookcase dream is awesome. Great B post. And as I haven't been over for a while to see you, I see your updated photograph. You look GREAT! I love it when people use their real and current picture. It makes me feel like I'm right there talking to them!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

Stephanie V said...

Love the room with all those books. Best of all the drawer for your chocolate stash. Like you, I could be so happy there.

Laura Eno said...

I would LOVE to have a room like that. Alas, like you, I've turned over so many books through moves and space requirements. Now I'm happy with my Kindle. I don't have that beautiful room but I can keep all my books with ease. ;)

Donna Volkenannt said...

Wonderful idea. The first home my husband and I owned was an older two-story in Western Massachusettes. The home had a built-in bookcase in the living room. At the time I thought it was a terrible waste of space--I was only 25--but now I appreciate the beauty and functionality of it.
Donna V.

Kayla Yow said...

That would be awesome! When you get that room, can I come visit?! I would so love a big, comfy chair, a lamp, some books, and coffee. All I need for a perfect day!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

I saw a cool rolling bookcase that covers an entire wall & hides a door to another room. Ah, a finished basement dream.

Lynn McMonigal said...

Oh!! Sounds nearly perfect. Substitute pretzel M&Ms for the dark chocolate and you'll never get me to leave!