Is this on a diagonal?

Yes to wrap around the corner and feed into the other bookcase wall

I think that diagonal section may make it seem even more lopsided, because there’s only that one narrow column flat against the wall to the right of the window. It seems like the proportions may work so you have three same-sized sections: two to the left of the window and one to the right. I think that would look fine. But you’d have to nix the diagonal section and just do a traditional corner.

Yes, I have a suggestion. Copy the narrow bookcase that you have on the right of the window to the left side so you have symmetry around the window. Then use the rest of the space on the left with lower bookcases and leave the sheetrock above for display purposes. I had the same issue in my library and that's how I solved it. I got the symmetry around the fireplace that I wanted. I also found I liked the breathing room of not all bookcases. I got the idea when I visited the University Club in DC where they had bookcases stop short and put artwork above.

I am a symmetry nut. I like AD’s idea for achieving symmetry…a narrow bookcase on each side of the window. I think the diagonal bookcase is throwing everything off. I love the idea of a hidden door!!!

I remember suggesting low cabinets with art displayed above them as a solution for your other library area. At least I think that was a different room. In that room, you were trying to eliminate an awkward angled wall that was causing asymmetry. Here you're adding an angled bookcase that recreates the same problem.

The one narrow section looks odd as does the angled section. I'd somehow eliminate the angle and then maybe you'd have sections the same size on either side of the window.

@Annie Deighnaughwhat is on the wall on the other side of that low angled display area? Because I have to run mine into another bookcase ?

In my case, it's just a flat wall. I don't have bookcases meeting in a corner.

Thanks. Yours looks really nice but I'm not sure if it would look as nice with a bookcase on that other side and I need those since that's my hidden bookcase wall...

I think you'd be better served with a blind corner rather than an angle.

Could you use low bookcases on both walls that meet in the corner?

Or one unit?

The angles corner cabinet does not look good, a blind corner would be much cleaner. Post the plan with dimensions as well as the new elevations when the cabinet maker has drafted them

Tall built-in corner bookcase--one unit. It can be asymmetrical. I find it more interesting when it's asymmetrical.

Separate cabinets.

A narrow cabinet in the corner creates a much smaller angle than the one in your plan.

Here's an overview of the whole room, I had sort of forgotten the angled cabinet was in there because of the bar on the other side which it also has to flow into.

So that complicates things because if I lose the angle on the side by the window, that messers up the bar wall.

One proposal is to make the two cabinets by the wndow symmetrical and then do something else with the wide cabinet. Here, we did it mimicking the bar that's across but I don't think I qutie like that. I'm thinking f I just do glass drawers and doors though, that are the same depth as the bookcases, that might look better?

So, picture this except the three cabinets with the counter surface area would be flush and eliminate the counter...

Do you think that would work ?

I'm finding the full walls of floor to ceiling bookcases oppressive. It's going to make for a very busy space, especially when they are full of books and tchotchkes. I think the eye will need to rest somewhere. That's one of the reasons I went with the shorter bookcase too...for some breathing room. I'm also not liking the angled bookcases. I prefer a corner instead...

What is the purpose of this room? It is (agree with Annie) starting to look closed-in, with no room for furniture.

I totally agree with Annie. i loved her idea of a shorter space with artwork displayed above and a shelf for other pieces. I do not care for the diagonal corner shelf at all as it looks contrived and further contributes to the asymmetry by the window.

Somewhere I saved some ideas for wrapping shelves in a corner and will try to find those. I have been thinking of doing some built-ins in our small study and want to wrap in one corner to accommodate a TV stand. I think most were like the examples already shown but will look.

I do love your secret door.

Here are the examples I was referring to above

I really like this first one and the narrow alcove that is created for a tall narrow vase display. You could, of course, use shelves instead of drawers as shown to the left. I was really loving this one but I liked the storage aspects for my situation and the area to put a TV as this room is DH's man-cave mostly.

This one was interesting with the door shown off-center. I like the space above the door. As Annie pointed out, it's nice to have some relief from just shelves here and there.

Another interesting use of shelves with art work. I'd like to have seen more of the room.

And one more with a wrap around a corner.

Thanks! These pictures are great. Where the sticking point for me, though, is the bar cabinet. The wall to the right of the window with the hidden bookcase door needs to be a wall of bookcases. But the opposing side is the bar cabinets. If I get rid of the angle, what do I do over there?

I just now realized the room has 90-degree corners and so I'm wondering why you would do any angles at all. A number of people have posted blind corners. I think I prefer the look of the last example that Outside posted. The angles make the room feel like it's closing in.

THe main sticking point is what to do about the bar. We added the angled corner in the first place to try to make the bar flow nicely into the bookcases. I don't think any of these other corners will work with the bar...

What do you think of the alcove solution shown in Outside's first photo?

I would shrink the bar area some and make it look more like a separate piece. It'll be different anyway with the glass uppers and the counter area and sink. Let it end before the wall, have some sheetrock show and then run the bookcase from corner to corner along that hidden door wall, and then up the window wall. IMO, it would benefit from the breathing space any way.

It's reading like a man's room so I would only use bookcases on the door wall, nix the window bench and set up a game table in front of the window. Add a comfy upholstered chair or two with ottomans.

The window has one of the prettiest lake views in the house, so I really don't want to give up my wndow seat there...

Shrinking the bar is a possibility but I am not sure of the feasibiliy as we have dish washers, sink, and undercounter fridges to think about.

I don't think the alcove solution will work because there is a glass bar cabinet right on the end there.

This was so much easier when I built a house and could design everything from scratch rather than havng to retrofit with what's existing :(

You might not have to shrink the bar area much or at all if you didn't angle the bookcase...

The angled cabinet butting up to the bar looks like an awkward transition to me. I think your angled bookcase should turn the corner into another floor-to-ceiling cabinet. Maybe you could make that cabinet bar-like with a wine rack/stemware rack. Do the angled cabinets have to be that wide?

If you search Library bar in Photos on Houzz there are some ideas for using wall cabinetry for a bar. I can't post them because I get signed out of GW when I try to post Houzz photos.

I presume you have been working with a cabinet maker/designer on this. Have you taken any of these ideas back to the designer to get new drawings thst don’t have the angled corners? Surely this person could take some of the photos and ideas and come up with a new sketch that didn’t have the angled cabs.

Also, I was thinking the tall alcove would work better on the corner that wrapped near the window wall, not the bar wall. I’d just do a shelf system and maybe another low cabinet next to the bar. It might be skinnier than the rest of the shelves but it would fit in there for sure. Then it seems like you could pretty seamlessly run a bar cabinet top into the side of a the tall skinny ’cabinet’ you created.

Yes, I'm waiting for new drawings from the cabinet maker :)

I'll also ask about making the angeled cabinets less wide as an alternative option.

The bar basically does have to stay almost exactly as is for practical purposes. The side cabinets are going to have a micro and coffee maker in them. Dishwasher and sink and fridge are definite as well.

I think that's the best plan if you want to keep the angled cabinets. Even that bookcase to the right of the window would look better wider by shrinking the corner bookcases.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/edgewood-eclectic-family-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~316415