Longing for shelving

One week from tonight, I hope to be a homeowner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I told someone recently that I was buying a seven-bedroom house, he wasn't at all shocked as most are. He said, "Great! One room for you and six for the books." That's about right.

One of the things I dream about are ample bookshelves, especially built-in ones. I've been collecting pictures...

I thought this idea was ingenious. They took a room with open rafters and nailed up sheets at certain points for instant shelves. I think this one works best it the ceiling is already fairly low so that the books are accessible.

While I'm not sure about the color of these, I find them to to be the quinessential shelves - that combination of open shelves with lower cabinets that allow ample space for books and decorative objects. Oh for a wall that big!

This one cleverly hides the built-in book shelf behind the door but has that added bonus of the built-in desk next to it. It may be a bit much, but it's certainly on the right track of an idea.

I like the idea of some combination of open shelves and shelves with glass doors (stay tuned for some kitchen ideas along thos lines...). While glass doors inhibit access, they cut down on the dust big time. If you have as many books and other items as me, dust has to figure prominently in shelving design considerations...

I feel a little mixed about this idea. I like it in concept, but I'm not sure I want that cantilevered affect inside, and like the first phot, books that might be too inaccessible. But if you're not blessed with space, I say take it!

In the new house I have to do some major space planning and thinking about which books will go in which room, where are the current bookshelves going to go, where do I eventually want to put in more shelves. Cookbooks near the kitchen, obviously, and craft books upstairs in the craft room. Novels in the parlour. But where does one store their 80+ books about tea.

I wouldn't give up the challenge of figuring this out for anything.