New bookshelves in Milverton

New bookshelves in Milverton

The service I offer

My name is Tom Morrell. I am a musician and craftsman, based in Wiveliscombe.

BESPOKE BOOKSHELVES

I can help you to make the most of the space in your home or workplace with elegant storage, built to your specifications.

DESIGN

I start each project by visiting your space, measuring up and then producing a 3D design, so you know exactly what we're planning. We need to agree that it will be just right for you and for the room.

EXPERT INSTALLATION

The next stage is to produce more detailed design drawings, a cutting list and an estimate of the cost. I install the job myself, using the most appropriate materials, with the minimum of mess and noise. I make sure that your installation looks great, works well and lasts for ever!

contact

email: t.morrell@uwclub.net

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BespokeBookshelves

telephone: 01984 624496


Wood shelving completed in January 2017

Wood shelving completed in January 2017

Testimonials


"Tom's creativity is exceptional. I am grateful for the skill
and application with which he designed, fitted and then painted
different units in my cottage where space is limited and walls are
crumbling and lumpy! Even better, Tom leaves everything clean and tidy at
the end of each day. I am delighted with the end result and can at last
house all my books, CDs and clutter".


Mrs R


I would not hesitate in recommending the work of Tom
Morrell. His thoughtful understanding of his customers' individual requirements
and his excellent craftsmanship in the finished article are outstanding.

Jonquil Alpe



Tom hand crafted a picture frame for me identical to another one [one of
my favourite art nouveau pieces]. Almost impossible to tell difference between
new one and original. I would certainly use his services again and definitely
recommended.


Roger W., Wiveliscombe


Dear Tom, The builders left and you came. You filled the various empty spaces with beautiful cupboards and shelves and our house was completed. Thank you so much for the care, design and solid craftsmanship you put into the many projects we asked you to carry out. Your constructions and painting remain most appropriate and will last for many years and............we really missed you when you had gone.

Mike B


Tom’s design perfectly fitted the bill. Solidly built and beautifully finished
off.

Jane and Jeff







Corner Unit

Corner Unit

An installation for a discerning customer in Wiveliscombe

An installation for a discerning customer in Wiveliscombe

Another installation for the same discerning customer

Another installation for the same discerning customer

2020 Wiveliscombe

2020 Wiveliscombe

completed February 2020

completed February 2020

below: a design for some bedroom shelves

below: a design for some bedroom shelves

finished installation

finished installation

Design for 21st century display unit

Design for 21st century display unit

in place

in place

Drawing room corner unit with concealed cupboard-under-the-stairs

Drawing room corner unit with concealed cupboard-under-the-stairs

bookshelves April 2019

bookshelves April 2019

elegant storage

elegant storage

A kitchen peninsula

A kitchen peninsula

A new unit in oak for a gin connoisseur in Milverton

A new unit in oak for a gin connoisseur in Milverton

little library (please mind your head!)

little library (please mind your head!)

Bespoke Bookcase

Bespoke Bookcase

another bespoke bookcase

another bespoke bookcase

an unusual solution for an unusual corner

an unusual solution for an unusual corner

sitting room cupboards and shelves

sitting room cupboards and shelves

large oak-faced MDF units

large oak-faced MDF units

new top for 1930 dentist's cupboard

new top for 1930 dentist's cupboard

cottage shelves

cottage shelves

L-shaped book case

L-shaped book case

TV station

TV station

Another TV station

Another TV station

Liz's jam store

Liz's jam store

alcove

alcove

home office

home office

mantel shelf with corbels in sapele

mantel shelf with corbels in sapele

smallest room

smallest room

solid oak organ console

solid oak organ console

Music stand

Music stand
(power for the light is through usb cable)

design for pew converted to choir cupboard

desk top

desk top

first stage

first stage

horticultural

horticultural

detail

detail

MDF Shelving

MDF Shelving

loaded kitchen shelves

loaded kitchen shelves

floating study shelves

floating study shelves

drinks cupboard with adjustable shelf

drinks cupboard with adjustable shelf

oak alcove book shelves

oak alcove book shelves

nook with wall-e and friends

nook with wall-e and friends

cupboards and shelves with undetectable false book ends

cupboards and shelves with undetectable false book ends

wardrobe nearing completion

wardrobe nearing completion

ready for painting

ready for painting

shelves under a roof

shelves under a roof

shelves in a shed

shelves in a shed

CAD screenshot of set design

CAD screenshot of set design

ready for action

ready for action

ghostly set

ghostly set

Magdalen College Oxford

Magdalen College Oxford

perspex pigeon holes

perspex pigeon holes

Thursday 20 April 2017


How big should bookshelves be?


 

I'm thinking of the individual spaces within a bookcase here - the height between shelves, the depth from front to back and the width between uprights.

 

Small books:  some paperbacks measure only about 180mm high (A Format books: 178mm, Penguin 181mm), so a shelf height of just 200mm (about 8") might be considered adequate in extreme cases.

Minimum depth 152mm (6") but more usually about190mm (7½").

 

Medium sized books: (B Format 198mm, Demy 216mm, A5 210mm, Royal 234mm) In practice there's a variety of book sizes on most shelves and I suggest that a shelf height of  less than 255mm (10") can look a bit cramped.

 

For most books I recommend a shelf height of between 260mm (10¼") and 305mm (12").

Depth between 240mm (9½") and 305mm (12").

 

Large books: I have several ("coffee table") books which are around 380mm (15") from top to bottom. In most cases you wouldn't need shelf space high enough for these, as they can just as well lie horizontally.

 

Records: I would allow at least 330mm (13") to allow for the generous size of some box sets. Depth also 330mm (13").

 

CDs: I suggest a minimum height of 135mm (5¼") and it's useful to install a backstop 147mm (5¾") from the front edge to stop the CDs sliding away from your grasp. 

 

Sheet music: most of my sheet music lies flat, and so do quite a few of my music  books. The height of the shelf can be quite small - that can help with keeping the music sorted into identifiable sections - from around 155mm (6").

I recommend a depth of 255mm (10") and width of 375mm (14¾").

 

Ring binders: they need about the same height as records.

 

Document wallets: height 305mm (12")  depth 380mm (15") width no more than 500mm (19¾").

 

Every instance is also dependant on the space available and how the bookcase would look in the room. You might want to leave spaces for windows, ornaments, displays, musical instruments or box files...

 

Width: this depends on the size of the available space, the appearance of the bookcase and the strength of the material. Wooden shelves can in theory span 750mm to 1000mm (about 30" to 40") but this seldom looks right, as the broad width tends to conflict with the vertical emphasis of the books themselves. With 18mm mdf (which is smoother than wood and not given to warping) I would suggest that the maximum span  for a book shelf would be 510mm (20") to avoid sag. The span can be increased with thicker material (e.g. 25mm mdf) or gluing pieces together in an mdf sandwich.

 


2 comments:

  1. Wow, I am so amazed by the information shared in this blog about wardrobes and furniture. It has clearly changed mind with reference to using the old school furniture types over bespoke ones. I will surely try these as soon as possible, and it will be a good experience too. Suggest all to have a go through with this post.

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  2. TVs look boring sitting on a table of any kind. TV stands and tables are bulky and for all the “aesthetic appeal” they supposedly bring, they are champions of cluttering up your living room. Let’s be real, there is no functional reason for you to add another bulky piece of furniture to your living room- if you can avoid it. mount for 65 inch tcl

    ReplyDelete