Wood for bookcases

AlisonHarrison

I am thinking of having two book cases built into the alcoves of my dining room so that I can use it as an office.
I want open shelves at the top and cupboards at the bottom.
I was inspired by Kirsty's "Fill your house for free" when someone built some book cases from reclaimed wood, and she said only the wood on show was bought and was good quality.
However, I thought most of the wood was on show?
Anyway, if I paint the book cases, would I see the difference between expensive dressed wood and MDF?
I am considering getting some Art Deco looking doors from, say an old china cabinet for the cupboards, as that is the age of my house.
My house had really poor quality doors when I moved in, so we got some very plain doors (not expensive) and made a sort of art deco pattern on them. May do this either.
Would MDF do?

Quickblood

Yeah primer then paint and you'll get a nice solid colour.

robatwork

"I'm Kirsty / Tommy and I'm making a TV programme and can get your firm some free TV publicity so can I have some decent stuff that you're pretending to give away"
cuts a lot more ice than
"I'm Alison and I saw Kirsty on TV and am wondering if you have any end of lines or offcuts that you can....hello......hello?"

If you're painting then a few coats on MDF will be fine.

27col

A nicely painted bit of MDF will come up rather better than some old bit of knotty pine that you got out of a skip.

bizzybee

I've got exactly what you're describing in 3 different alcoves.

We used MDF and painted with a roller and they look great.

Because the walls aren't true, we had to make a frame from floor to ceiling that slid into the alcove.

We used 18mm for the shelves because they carry a lot of books.

We used recessed adjustable shelf support strips, 2 on either side and one at the back for additional strength (lots and lots if books!).

Around the outside edge of the shelves, down to the top of the cupboard is a routed strip of architraving to cover the small gap between the wall and the frame.

We just have plain MDF doors on the cupboards although I guess I could put some beading on them. The cupboards sticks out further than the shelves because the tv sits on top of one of them, it also means we can store a lot more in them than if they were only as deep as the alcoves (300mm).

So in answer to your question, yes MDF, looks just as good as wood when painted, in my opinion.

missbiggles1

AlisonHarrison wrote: »

I am thinking of having two book cases built into the alcoves of my dining room so that I can use it as an office.
I want open shelves at the top and cupboards at the bottom.
I was inspired by Kirsty's "Fill your house for free" when someone built some book cases from reclaimed wood, and she said only the wood on show was bought and was good quality.
However, I thought most of the wood was on show?
Anyway, if I paint the book cases, would I see the difference between expensive dressed wood and MDF?
I am considering getting some Art Deco looking doors from, say an old china cabinet for the cupboards, as that is the age of my house.
My house had really poor quality doors when I moved in, so we got some very plain doors (not expensive) and made a sort of art deco pattern on them. May do this either.
Would MDF do?

On my bookshelves you can't see most of the wood/mdf because the books are standing on it - won't that be the same for you?

AlisonHarrison

So would you put wood on the walls of the alcove, or would you just paint the walls. The walls have been plastered, so they are about as smooth as you would get. I am thinking perhaps, hanging the shelves on the wall and putting some nice architrave down the side? Would that work?
I want to put a cupboard underneath. Perhaps two to three foot up.

bizzybee

How were you planning to support the shelves?

Will they be in a fixed position or adjustable?

What do you intend to keep on them?

How much do you want to spend?

I would search for some images on the internet and start building up a better idea of what you want the shelves and cupboards to look like. I think this will help you decide whether to use the plastered walls which I guess would be a lot cheaper then building a frame to go into the alcoves.

AlisonHarrison

I was thinking something like this. http://www.livingroomcabinets.co.uk/
There are lights in the alcove now, so I could get an electrician to move the wall lights so they light up the shelves as I want them.
Not sure that I want the shelves adjustable as I would have to have a strip going down the sides which I don't want to be seen. (or perhaps if I put some architrave down the side you wouldn't anyway)
I want to spend as little as possible, without it looking like I spent as little as possible. If I have to spend more I will.

cyclonebri1

AlisonHarrison wrote: »

I am thinking of having two book cases built into the alcoves of my dining room so that I can use it as an office.
I want open shelves at the top and cupboards at the bottom.
I was inspired by Kirsty's "Fill your house for free" when someone built some book cases from reclaimed wood, and she said only the wood on show was bought and was good quality.
However, I thought most of the wood was on show?
Anyway, if I paint the book cases, would I see the difference between expensive dressed wood and MDF?
I am considering getting some Art Deco looking doors from, say an old china cabinet for the cupboards, as that is the age of my house.
My house had really poor quality doors when I moved in, so we got some very plain doors (not expensive) and made a sort of art deco pattern on them. May do this either.
Would MDF do?

Only when you filled the shelves with books, :A:A

The real question is;

"Anyway, if I paint the book cases, would there be, or would I know there was,I see the difference between expensive dressed wood and MDF"

Proper timber or regurgitated spit and sawdust, you choose:D