News Tue May 10 2011

Whither Goest the Built-In Bookshelf?

By Veronica Bond

With the advent of e-books comes another, unexpected demise--the built-in bookshelf is going the way of shag carpeting and mustard-colored kitchen appliances. According to Crain's, homeowners are either opting to drywall over their built-ins to make room for flat screen TVs and other entertainment accoutrement or using them only to shelve knickknacks. As someone whose dream home includes a room lined with built-in bookcases filled to the brim with books, I'm dismayed to read that people are just building over them. I can't help but wonder if some sort of Save the Bookshelf campaign should be started--perhaps for only $.29 a day, you too can sponsor an unwanted built-in. This doesn't even touch on the fact that the books you keep in your home speak volumes about you. How are we bibliophiles supposed to judge others without them?

Flora Caputo / May 10, 2011 1:06 PM

Have no fear, there are many of us out here still loving books. I myself have a mini library off my dining room with shelves floor to ceiling with books. ebooks will have their place, but its hard to cozy up to a kindle with a cup of tea and a blanket with your cat at your feet. It is not as tactile and the screen is very bright for reading at night. Maybe I'm old fashioned. I guess time will tell! But I'm not giving up my cozy home library for ANYTHING! (urbandomesticdiva.com, mammaslibrary.com)

Pete / May 10, 2011 1:38 PM

I guess we'll have to judge them by how many inches of flat-screen they have. Which automatically rates lower than having a shelf full of Mitch Albom novels.

tk / May 13, 2011 10:38 AM

No! It took me a year to save up to have one wall of floor-to-ceiling built-ins made & installed in the bedroom. In the interest of full disclosure, they do include a cabinet for a small TV, but it's closed 99% of the time, and has a lovely painting on the outside... Those shelves are what made it home!