11 Comments
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Frances Howell's avatar

A friend of mine uses the String System for books (two former English majors and one current academic so they have lots of books). It requires drilling into walls but they’ve held up in two different NYC apartments. It’s a modular system so it’s very customizable and comes with extras like shelving for desks or a cabinet. I have a string system shelf in my kitchen and a smaller one in my bathroom too so it’s multi use too for when you finally get your built-ins!

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Liana Hornyak's avatar

I’ve got the String system and absolutely love it! Over time, we’ve built an entire wall of books + added a cabinet to hide tech stuff + a desk for my son. It’s in my office so the wall is my Zoom background and I always get compliments from random colleagues.

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Amy's avatar

love love LOVE how the string system looks

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Carrie Carrollo's avatar

the post we've been waiting for!

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Marissa Gallerani's avatar

Thank you for this bookshelf porn. 10/10. No notes.

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AG's avatar

A little late to this post, but wanted to recommend a few books (ironic, i know lol) with bookshelf inspiration:

Books Do Furnish a Room, Anthony Powell

Bibliostyle, Nina Freudenberger (especially love this one for the peek into Larry McMurtry's home/bookstore!)

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Nora's avatar

That fourth picture is gorgeous!! I can't wait to see what your bookshelf will look like!

I personally have considered a spine bookshelf like the Design Within one, because I haven't collected as many books in my new apartment yet (I left the older ones at my parental home for now since I simply don't have the space now haha)

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Ashley Manfred's avatar

Have you looked at the CB2 Stairway or Helix? The stairway is white and goes to 96” and looks good with several stacked together. The Helix has cabinet/drawer options below. We’ve used both for clients and they have held up well and are nice price points.

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Martha's avatar

This is such an important matter. The real question is how will you go about organising said shelves?? We’ve recently got some new built in shelves and I’ve got full reign on them as my room is a book hoarding centre. I no longer want book stacks everywhere!!! The blank canvas possibility of the shelves is so exciting I can’t take it. I’m considering organising them in publisher OR genre - I can’t decide.

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Ali LaBelle's avatar

Maybe this is the push I needed to upgrade my various foam core boards stacked against the wall to an actual bulletin board…

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Ash T.'s avatar

I also love the Vitsoe shelving, but after giving away 120+ books before a big move, our current setup works. We have a long & lovely midcentury TV stand that houses our downstairs books perfectly (upstairs books live haphazardly on our nightstands).

My current media storage issue is finding a way to display my magazine collection so that they (1) aren't getting too much direct sunlight and (2) can remain in their protector sleeves.

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