Adapt IKEA shelving or bespoke bookshelf?

[Ragamuffin8]

Hi,

Am partway through renovating my flat and would welcome some advice about shelving for my extensive book collection. Initially I wanted bespoke shelving created, but quotes were around the £1.5k mark & I’m probably going to stay five years max (& can’t take it with me when I move). So plan B involves assembling x4 extra tall IKEA billy bookcases together, securing it against the wall (taking account of the skirting & pipe - see pics), then adding some bespoke details (eg baseboard, beading to conceal joins, cornice).

However I have no idea if this is possible, I’m no DIYer, so would need to pay a handyman to do it. But before I shell I out a couple hundred on shelving etc, would welcome views if it’s possible due to skirting and pipe (containing electrical wiring I can’t move). Pics show wall and skirting/pipe in question.

Grateful for any advice, thanks.

Im doing exactly the same and we figured instead of my partner buying some wood, cutting and treating it, finding brackets and drilling it all to the wall it would be best to modify a few billy bookcases:

www.thespruce.com/ingenious-ikea-billy-bookcase-hacks-4006865

Sounds like a good idea. You've probably already found them, but there are loads of suggestions and projects online about how to customise your Billies.

There's no reason why that trunking (stuff containing cables is usually called that, or ducting, rather than a pipe) should be a problem. If necessary a small bit at the back of the bookcase can be cut away to accommodate it. Billies already have a cutaway in the rear of the base to allow for skirting board. It looks like your skirting may be a bit higher than the standard cutaway, but again whoever does the installation can enlarge the cutaway as necessary.

An alternative would be a shelving system like Vitsoe.
It's flexible, versatile and you can take them with you when you move.
Got mine for £1700, not cheap but it'll last forever and can evolve overtime.

Awesome thank you everyone, I will check out that link and Vitsoe.

I would probably get a shelving system or solid wood bookcases from IKEA rather than Billy.
Hemnes can be adapted (skirting added) to make it look built in, but its solid wood so looks nicer IMO.
www.apartmenttherapy.com/ikea-hemnes-bookcase-36749483
Another option is the Havsta range. Its not cheap but is modular, comes in a range of colour choices and again solid wood. You can take it when you leave.
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/havsta-storage-combination-w-glass-doors-white-s39265971/

I agree about the look of solid wood, but if you're going to pack the thing out with books (which is I think the original poster's plan) then you really don't see the bookcase itself.

Ooh! There are websites dedicated to this! Hang on 😁

www.ikeahackers.net/category/hacks/living-room/bookcases-shelving

My experience of the Billy bookcases is that they sag after a while when loaded with books.
This looks good
www.ikeahackers.net/2019/09/ikea-hemnes-built-in-bookcase.html

I would go for the single Billys rather than the wider 80cm Billys as the shelves do tend to sag under the weight of a lot of books.

Re the skirting board being beautiful and taller than the Billy cut out the Billy units or any unit can be raised up on a platform. If you look at any "customised Billy" to make them look like built in they usually sit on a platform or a wooden frame.

You can also get the handyperson to attach a single strip of wood down where one Billy is against the next Billy to give it a more built in look. Like this but not as wide unless you like the look.

Ooh, I’ll check out the hacks, though I do worry the billy bookcases will cope with the weight of my books, given some people’s experiences...thinking maybe I should go for wood?

Your flat looks lovely. I like the shutters. I'd go for the bespoke option personally. If you can get something elegant done for £1.5k. But I think the Hemnes hacks are quite nice.

Try jali.co.uk instead. You can design your shelving to suit and they deliver it to you packed flat. I've used them in lots of places. Totally rate them!

Go for wood yes, either bespoke or hacked Hemnes (add a base?), or Havsta which is solid wood and really nice, with options for sliding glass doors etc, which can look very nice with ornaments as we well as books, also easier to keep clean.
Billy is fine but modern and plastic and wont take the weight.
Your flat looks lovely and classic so its worth spending a bit more to fit in with this look I reckon.