Built-in bookcases make great design sense

At what point in a project, readers often ask, should an interior designer be called in to help. I can only respond, “Before it starts to hurt.”

Professional designers don’t come cheap, it’s true, but they can be big money-savers nonetheless — by ensuring, for example, that costly mistakes are avoided. Designers can also suggest modifications and additions that can be made during the construction or renovation phase. That’s an economizing measure as well. If you’ve already got carpenters on the job, to offer another example, why not have them build simple cabinetry and shelving on site rather than purchasing prefab or custom-made units later on?

A savvy designer also will know where electrical outlets, switching and built-in lighting should be placed. When do-it-yourselfers make these sorts of decisions, they often end up having to correct errors — at considerable expense.

Q: We’re partitioning the end of our family room nearest the kitchen in order to create a small, quiet reading area. Hundreds of books are to be stored in this new space, so we need to get some sturdy bookcases. What kind would you suggest? And can you please advise us on how to light the shelves?

A: I hope you’ll consider the possibility of having bookcases built on the spot by the carpenters who will be constructing the partition in your family room. With custom-made units, it’s usually possible to take maximum advantage of available space while fully integrating the look of the bookcases with the design of the nearby woodwork. Painting or staining bookcases will also result in a more organized, finished look, which will in turn cause a space to appear larger.

But you first must decide whether the units should have fixed or adjustable shelves. If you prefer the convenience and flexibility of moveable shelves, make sure they’re thick enough to support your heaviest books. One inch should suffice in most standard length shelving.

One important but seldom considered factor with bookshelf lighting is to ensure that the spines of the books are evenly illuminated. Fixtures designed specifically for this task can be installed in the ceiling or suspended from it. A lighting distributor — or an interior designer — can advise you on the best option by taking account of the construction of your ceiling and the height and depth of your bookcases.

Alternately, lighting fixtures can be installed directly on the shelving, although this is a pricier option and a shield in the form of a molding must often be placed in front of the lighting.

The accompanying photo shows floor-to-ceiling shelving built into a wall as part of a renovation project. This solution, involving fixed shelves of varying heights, is included in Frank Shirley’s “New Rooms for Old Houses,” recently published by the Taunton Press.

Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at rsca@ritastclair.com.