Built In Bookshelves & Custom Bookcases Sydney

CUSTOM BOOKSHELVES FOR YOUR HOME

Residential library within a heritage apartment renovation in Sydney featuring bespoke bookcases, library ladder, antique map mural and integrated study.
Built in bookshelves should feel as though they belong to the architecture of the home. Groth & Sons designs and creates custom bookshelves and built in bookcases for Sydney homes, with each project individually designed around the proportions of the room, the architecture and the way the space will be used. Rather than adapting standard cabinetry to fit, we consider the bookcase as part of the interior itself. Shelving proportions, cabinetry, storage, lighting and architectural details are developed together to create a finished piece that is both practical and visually connected to the home.
Residential library within a heritage apartment renovation in Sydney featuring bespoke bookcases, library ladder, antique map mural and integrated study.
Built in bookcases with timber library ladder in a Sydney home

FLOOR TO CEILING BUILT IN BOOKSHELVES

Military Home Office design
Floor to ceiling built in bookcases can transform an otherwise unused wall into an architectural feature while providing substantial storage for books, artwork and personal collections. The proportions of the shelving are designed specifically for the room, taking into account ceiling height, cornices, skirtings, windows, doors and existing architectural details. Taller bookcases can also incorporate a library ladder, allowing upper shelves to remain accessible while adding a distinctive element to the finished design.

BOOKCASES DESIGNED AROUND YOUR INTERIOR

Feature bookcase joinery in a custom-designed family room interior
The most successful built in bookshelves feel like a natural part of the room. Rather than designing cabinetry in isolation, we consider the proportions of the space, existing architectural details, furniture, circulation and how the bookcases will be viewed from adjoining rooms. In period homes, this may mean responding to existing mouldings, wall panelling, skirtings and cornices so the new work feels established within the interior. In contemporary homes, custom bookcases can take a more sculptural approach, using form, colour, materials and lighting to create a feature that is deliberately individual.
Feature bookcase joinery in a custom-designed family room interior
Custom built in bookcases designed around architectural columns in a Sydney home

LIBRARY LADDERS, SECRET DOORS & INTEGRATED FEATURES

Custom built in bookcases designed around architectural columns in a Sydney home
Custom bookcases can do considerably more than provide shelving for books. Depending on the room and the way it is used, we can incorporate library ladders, concealed storage, secret doors, integrated lighting, display areas, television and audio equipment, drinks cabinetry and other practical elements within the overall design. For taller bookcases, a library ladder provides practical access to upper shelves while adding character to the room. Secret doors can be designed to disappear within a continuous run of bookcases, while lighting and concealed cabinetry can be integrated without compromising the proportions of the shelving. These details are considered from the beginning so they form part of the architecture rather than appearing as additions later.

CUSTOM BOOKCASE DESIGN & MANUFACTURE

Kids play room
Every custom bookcase begins with a detailed design consultation to understand the room, the available space and what the shelving needs to accommodate. We consider book sizes, display pieces, storage requirements, access to upper shelves and additional features such as cabinetry, lighting, library ladders or concealed doors. Scale, proportion, shelf depths, materials, fixtures and finishes are considered as part of the overall interior before manufacture begins. This design process allows practical requirements and architectural details to be resolved early, creating custom made bookcases that are both functional and appropriate to the room. Our built in bookshelves and bookcases are then manufactured in our Sydney workshop and carefully installed on site.
Kids play room
Built in bookshelves with library ladder in a Sydney dining room

BUILT IN BOOKSHELVES FOR EVERY ROOM

Built in bookshelves with library ladder in a Sydney dining room
Built in bookshelves are not limited to a traditional library or study. Custom shelving can make use of walls and spaces throughout the home, including living rooms, dining rooms, home offices, entrance halls, hallways and stairwells. Shelving can extend around windows and doorways, utilise otherwise difficult spaces or form part of a larger arrangement of custom cabinetry. Because every bookcase is designed for its location, the configuration can respond to both the available space and what needs to be stored or displayed. Books can be combined with artwork, collections and decorative objects, while lower cabinetry can provide practical concealed storage. The result is a purpose designed feature that adds useful storage while becoming an integral part of the room.

MATERIALS, FINISHES & ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

Traditional built in bookcases with detailed cabinetry and brass library rail
The materials and finishes selected for custom bookshelves have a significant influence on how they sit within an interior. Painted cabinetry can be matched to existing architectural elements, while natural timbers, veneers, metal details and specialist finishes can be used to create bookcases with a more distinctive character. For built in bookcases, we also consider the surrounding skirtings, cornices, wall panelling, doorways and other architectural details. Shelf proportions, cabinetry profiles, hardware and finishes are resolved as part of the overall design, allowing new bookshelves to complement an existing interior or become a deliberate feature within a contemporary home.
Traditional built in bookcases with detailed cabinetry and brass library rail
Heritage-inspired study joinery with full-height bookcases and central feature wall

FROM BOOKCASES TO COMPLETE HOME LIBRARIES

Heritage-inspired study joinery with full-height bookcases and central feature wall
For larger collections or rooms dedicated to reading and display, custom bookcases can form the foundation of a complete home library. Floor to ceiling bookshelves can be designed around windows, doorways and existing architectural features, with cabinetry, lighting and library ladders incorporated where required. A bespoke home library considers more than shelving alone. The proportions of the room, furniture placement, circulation, lighting and the way books and collections are displayed all contribute to the finished interior. Groth & Sons designs and creates home libraries for Sydney and Southern Highlands residences, from traditional library rooms to contemporary spaces where custom bookcases become part of the architecture.

DISCUSS YOUR CUSTOM BOOKCASE PROJECT

Bespoke steampunk inspired interior
Considering built in bookshelves or custom bookcases for your Sydney home? Speak with Groth & Sons about your project, from the initial design and material selection through to manufacture and installation. read more about Home Library Design Custom Library Ladders
Bespoke steampunk inspired interior

BUILT IN BOOKSHELVES SYDNEY FAQs

How much do built in bookshelves cost in Sydney?

The cost of built in bookshelves varies considerably depending on the size, design, materials, finishes and complexity of the project. Features such as cabinetry, integrated lighting, library ladders and secret doors will also influence the cost. Groth & Sons provides project specific costings following the design consultation and development of the proposed bookcase design.

Are built in bookshelves made to measure?
Yes. Groth & Sons built in bookshelves and custom bookcases are designed specifically for the dimensions and architecture of each home. This allows shelving, cabinetry and architectural details to be proportioned to the room and fitted around features such as windows, doorways, skirtings and cornices.
Can built in bookshelves go from floor to ceiling?
Yes. Floor to ceiling bookshelves are particularly effective where a large collection needs to be accommodated or an entire wall is to become part of the interior architecture. Upper shelving can be combined with a custom library ladder where additional access is required.
Can a library ladder be added to custom bookshelves?
Yes. Library ladders can be incorporated into the bookcase design to provide access to higher shelving. Groth & Sons designs and manufactures custom library ladders with rail and hardware options selected to complement the cabinetry and interior.
Can a secret door be incorporated into a bookcase?
Yes. A concealed or secret door can be integrated into a run of custom bookcases so that the doorway forms part of the surrounding cabinetry. The bookcase proportions, shelving and architectural details are designed to help conceal the opening while maintaining practical access between spaces.
Where does Groth & Sons design and install custom bookcases?
Groth & Sons designs, manufactures and installs custom bookcases and built in bookshelves for residential projects across Sydney, the Southern Highlands and surrounding areas. Projects are individually designed following consultation and manufactured in our Sydney workshop.
Other Services
Residential library design
Residential library design
Groth & Sons, the bespoke library outfitters, specialise in the design and construction of home libraries and custom bookcases and love every part of the process.
Residential library design
Secret doors
Secret doors
Groth and Sons can build hinged door panels for discreet storage or concealment along with movable bookcases that offer inconspicuous access to adjoining rooms.
Secret doors
Wall Panelling
Wall Panelling
Enrich existing design elements and add architectural interest to your interior. From wainscoting through to decorative boiserie.
Wall Panelling
Kitchens
Kitchens
A well designed and comfortable kitchen is one of the greatest attributes to a good life and happy household. It is the social hub, the think tank, a provider of nourishment and pleasure.
Kitchens
Custom Ladders
Custom Ladders
A well-designed and crafted library ladder is a thing of beauty and does set a tone to the room, transporting you to another world, turning a row of built-in bookshelves into a potential film set.
Custom Ladders
Home offices
Home offices
The innovative designs of Groth & Sons built-in furniture offer ample display storage and clever concealment of 21st C office technology interfaces, creating spaces that make time spent here more enjoyable, more efficient and therefore more productive.
Home offices
Replica Book Panels
Replica Book Panels
Groth & Sons Replica book panels equate to over ten times the volume of the real book alternative making them a “No Brainer” from a logistical point of view
Replica Book Panels
INSTAGRAM