Libraries
A well-made library changes the way a room feels. We have been making shelving and library furniture since 1977, in listed buildings and new-builds, in studies and sitting rooms, for collections of hundreds of books and for a handful of well-chosen ones.
Library Shelving I: fitted home office shelving
How we work
Shelving looks wrong more often than it looks right. The depth of the shelf, the height of the bay, the size of the cornice and base: these things matter enormously and they cannot be solved with standard modules. We design library furniture from the room outwards.
All work is designed and made at Lime Tree Studio & Workshops in Hindon, Wiltshire, in solid British hardwoods.
Fitted or freestanding
Both approaches have their place. Fitted shelving integrates with the architecture and can resolve awkward chimney breasts, alcoves or ceiling heights. Freestanding pieces can move with you and stand on their own terms. We design both, often in the same room.
Proportion
The relationship between the bay width, the shelf depth, the cornice height and the room: these are not details. They are what makes library furniture look like it belongs or like it was bought from a catalogue. We work from first principles on every commission.
Beyond books
A library is rarely just shelving. Most of our commissions include a desk, a reading chair, or storage for non-book objects. We design the whole room if that is useful, or contribute a single piece that holds its own alongside what is already there.
Selected library work
Common questions
Do you work in period and listed buildings?
Yes. A significant part of our library work has been in listed and historic buildings, where proportions, materials and methods have to respond to the existing architecture. We are experienced in working alongside conservation requirements.
Can shelving be fitted around a chimney breast or alcove?
Yes. Alcoves and chimney breasts are among the most satisfying problems to solve. We measure carefully, design to the specific geometry, and finish the piece so it reads as part of the building rather than something fitted around it.
Do you make reading furniture to go with the shelving?
Yes. We make desks, reading tables, chairs and benches and are happy to design these as part of the same commission. A library designed as a single scheme tends to feel very different from one assembled over time.
What timber is most suitable for library shelving?
Oak is the most common choice for library furniture: it is strong, dimensionally stable and ages well. English walnut gives a darker, quieter result. The right choice depends partly on the room and partly on what you are putting on the shelves. We will help you decide.
How long does a library commission take?
Fitted library commissions vary significantly in scale. A single alcove of shelving may take 8–10 weeks from deposit; a full room scheme may take 16–20 weeks. We will give you a realistic timeline at the outset and keep you informed throughout.
From the archive
Library shelving, reading companions, desks and integrated study furniture, made over four decades in settings from Georgian town houses to contemporary new-builds.