Source for made in USA solid wood bookshelves?

7 years ago

I was going to have custom made bookshelves from the people who did our custom kitchen cabinets but they are slammed with work and I don't want to wait any longer.

Does anyone have a good source for a company that makes bookshelves made in the USA from solid wood? I prefer sustainable forestry practices and good carpentry techniques. I know I can buy cheaper cases from chain stores but I would rather support and independent company.

I want three cases along the wall with the mirror. (I'm getting ride of the table and current bookcase.) They will be about the height of a counter top. Below are inspiration pics.

Oceanfront Cottage · More Info

Pelham Place · More Info

Featured Answer

Sammy

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

If you’re going to be painting them, then I don’t know why you’d object to a manufactured wood product, say plywood, MDF, etc. (Heck, even if you wanted them to be stained you wouldn’t need to use solid wood.) What, may I ask, is driving the desire for them to be solid wood, made in the USA and from sustainably sourced wood? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, btw, just trying to understand everything so that my advice is the best it can be! ;) Also, I’m a bit confused about the placement you mentioned—three along the wall with the mirror, right? Would they be connected to each other across the entire length of the wall? If so, how do you envision the corner on the left with the window on the adjacent wall?

P.S. I’ve designed and had built custom shelving units, one of which was for my converted attic space, which I intended to be used as an additional guest room/office/craft/tv room, that included a desk with filing cabinet drawers, hutch-style bookcases and entertainment center with pocket or flapper doors to hide the electronic components. In other words, I enjoy this kind of stuff. :)

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Comments (9)

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The KEEPING ROOM
7 years ago
Century Furniture does USA-made bookcases , you can see them at this link (Quick Ship units in specific colors are imported).

https://www.centuryfurniture.com/products.aspx?SEARCH=TRUE&qSearch=bookcases
Kendrah
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the link. I didn't see any bookcases that aren't quick ship that are half height. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place on the site?
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rwiegand
7 years ago
Almost any woodworker or cabinetmaker can build you shelves fit exactly to your space and made of whatever wood you like.
Kendrah
Original Author
7 years ago
I have a great cabinetmaker who did my kitchen but am finding that I have fallen to the bottom of their to-do list when competing with their other clients who have $100k - $250k kitchens that are far more profitable for them. I assume this might be the case with most cabinetmakers, my book cases are small potatoes. I think it might just be easier to find a place to order them from.

I have also spoken with a few cabinetmakers who insist on plywood construction for bookshelves when I want solid wood throughout. Not sure why. I know that solid wood will be more expensive and I am willing to pay the price. Any thoughts?
janiceme
7 years ago
Check out https://vermontwoodsstudios.com and look at their bookcases.
Kendrah
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your questions Sammy. Glad you have some experience in this arena. I like to support craftspeople in the USA, protect forests, and I have reactions to adhesives and off-gassing after going through chemo, so try to avoid composite or engineered. All of the rest of our furniture is antique and solid wood and I just like the heft and feel.

The window corner is problematic as you noted, and there is a heat register in the corner behind the spindle chair near the window.

The wall is 130" long. I'm thinking of having made three pieces that will be pushed together and centered on the wall totaling 106", leaving 12" on either side. It won't have a built in look necessarily but I think I am ok with that. It would also enable us to reuse the bookcases in different locations when we move into a condo in NYC sometime in the next 8 years.

I saw this pic as inspiration for three separate units pushed together. This one is a total of 108". (It is way too ornate for my tastes.)

Our floors are crooked - 165 year old house. So I'm concerned that with three together they will look wonky or uneven. What are your thoughts? Any other ideas on how to deal with the window corner?
Sammy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Oh, so they‘d be free-standing, not built-in...gotcha ;) My first choice for custom, heirloom-quality case goods would have been The Wright Table Company, but they closed up shop a few years ago :/ I did recently stumble across another company, though, which looked promising for just this sort of thing. I’m going to go look through my files and see what I can find. In the meantime, check out Kennebec cabinets. They’re in Maine and they do beautiful, simple custom cabinetry. Sorry for the delayed response, btw.
Lalala (zone 6b)
7 years ago
I don't know where you live, but if you're in the Boston area, I have bought things from this store with good results. They sell finished and unfinished and can do custom work.

https://www.bostonwood.com/