I think it would look funny for the bookcase to come up just that little bit. What about cutting off the legs?

No way to really suggest how to treat the window without knowing a bit more. Do you want to be able to close drapery, or just have them hang on the side. Do you want some kind of blinds or shutters? Do you need light control or insulation for the window area? What style is your decor? What kind of window treatments do you like (or hate)?

It's a nice looking bookcase, but if you want to use it I would follow les' suggestion to cut off the legs. I think it would look funny it came up into the window. You might also consider having a bookshelf custom made for the space. It probably wouldn't cost too much.

I thought it would look funny too. That's why I came here to find alternatives. I'm trying to do it on the cheap since I spent a fortune on MB remodel (thanks bathroom forum!).

The window treatment WOULD need to open and close. The hideous one there have a big ugly wood cornice & icky box pleat drapes with a 1970s look. I'll post a pic later.

I'm looking at Mission furniture for that area. The sofa in the other part of the room is black leather relaxed sofa & the coffee & and end tables are mission-y.

Sounds like a wonderful space -I love mission.

What about doing woven woods or wood blinds instead of drapery? I would like to see the cornice before you get rid of it - it might be useful painted or changed in some way if you do blinds or woven woods, and to replace it later could be expensive.

Just out of curiosity, have you looked in Craigslist? I'm not sure you'd find mission, but you'd maybe find something that fit and cost a lot less, and that you could refinish. Maybe even something you or a carpenter could add that Mission touch to? Or maybe it won't matter once you get the books in and a few nick-nacks and a lamp on top?

Les --- I was thinking along the same lines. I'm going to dig up some old simth & noble catalogs.

Oceanna - I was also thinking about craigslist or yard sales, but I wanted to figure out what I was looking for and the size of space.

I found some "benches" on line. Most have woven storage baskets, stand about 20" tall & have cushions on top... Guess it would double as a window seat. Don't completely love the idea though b/c baskets tend to accumulate "stuff" & open shelves might be more accessible.

FYI - I didn't want to bore you with all the details of the space but near that window will be a small table & chairs (haven't gotten it yet.) For playing board games, cards etc. The back or corner wall will have a larger bookcase for storing all of our games, etc. In the front of the space is a fireplace. (It is part of a larger family room but I've definitely delineated this special gaming area space...)

What about something like these?

http://www.homedecorators.com/images/items/detail/m4005240150.jpg
http://www.homedecorators.com/images/items/detail/m4029880120.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful:

Can you have the bookcase pulled a few inches away from the wall, enough to allow the drapes to hang freely behind it? We have a setup like this under one of our windows.

I don't know how to post pictures in my reply. Here is the ugly window treatment & cornice I'll replace on the side wall window where I'll put the bench or bookcase.

My preference is still open shelves versus closed cabinets or baskets. I also prefer a more casual style than some of the formal traditional stuff shown.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

The back wall window is narrower and drops to the floor (as opposed to the side wall which stops 27.5" above the floor.)

Obviously, I'll ditch the cornice and ugly drapes.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I have not bought any furniture or window treatments yet. The only thing that I have ordered for the space is the rug shown in the link below.

So now you've seen the little game area space... Front wall is a fireplace. Sidewall is the long wall with long window. Little back wall with long narrow window and other side opens to larger family room.

P.S. Ceilings are 9ft in the room. There are 2 yukky ceiling mount light fixtures. I'm thinking I'll replace with a wide pendant lighting...

Here is a link that might be useful: new rug

Harriettho - Do you have a bookcase or a bench? I could see pullng a bookcase out. I'm not sure how comfortable a bench would be pulled out...

Hmm. another concern with the bench would be people leaning on (pulling down?) the drapes...

I've been eyeballing this at Ikea as sort of a window seat/extra storage thing. It's short though...not sure how that would work for you.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70115187

Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea piece

That is the best new idea yet... It's not as tall as the one i picked out (that's good!) It's also open shelves (which is perfect for displaying and retrieving board games...)

I'll run out to ikea this weekend to see it b/c I don't want it if it looks "cheap". I also like that it is longer than the one I picked...

This is good!

I was actually pretty impressed by it - didn't think it looked cheap at all, especially in the black color. The shelves might be a little small though - depends on how big your board games are!

Good luck - if you get it, let me know how you like it.

Don't forget to check out unfinished furniture stores. There are a couple in my city that have some really great stuff out of many different woods. You can buy and finish yourself or they will do it for you for additional cost.

My DH ended up building our bookcase/bench for our sunroom. Before he decided he wanted to do that I was pondering between several different unfinshed cases and benches. It's important to me to have solid wood pieces.

This is the perfect height. 25 1/4" tall. It looks very plain but Ikea offers many add-ons to dress it up so maybe I'll put drawers on top with open shelves below (or vice versa) I'd probable get 2 & place side by side since it's not long enough on it's own...

The darker color is probably better...

Here is a link that might be useful: bookcase

Ours is a shelf (closed back). Our window does not go down as far as yours. The drapes on that window are lace sheers that fall to the baseboard molding. It's not the greatest thing, but it doesn't look terrible, either. The main reason I put the shelf there was so I could put some of my plants on it.

Unless there's something for people to lean on, a bench is not going to be very comfortable even if it's pushed against the wall.

Can't see much from the room photo, but having a piece of furniture in front like that which is a bit above may or may not look funny. Once you get a lamp and other things on top it ... I've seen one irl with sheers dropped behind tall, lower windows and a dresser in front and it looks very nice.

Your cornice doesn't appear to be ugly at all. Maybe just some fresh drapes and sheers to cover what looks like might be aluminum windows. You might even paint it out.