I'm not paying £650 for a bookcase! Alternatives?

Alexei

I made the mistake of going to Heal's in London a the weekend and saw a bookcase that we would love in our living room... but it's £650 :eek:

http://www.heals.co.uk/invt/418246&bklist=icat,4,shop,livingroomfurn,shelving

It's ideal because we have an awkwardly-sized alcove in our living room, 1.5m wide, which we want to make best use of. A standard bookcase doesn't fill the space, two together are too wide. The two halves of this bookcase slide together to make it any width from 107-172 cm, plus it can be arranged at right angles which may be useful when we move to a new place. We also like the fact that the compartments aren't all the same size, and I think all my bits and pieces will fit well on it (e.g. hifi and speakers).

However nice it is, I don't want to pay 650 quid for it (especially when it's not even all solid wood)! Does anywhere else sell something similar? Or a nice-looking (preferably oak finish, I think) bookcase that's about 1.5m wide?

All advice welcome!

Gingernutmeg

Could you maybe ask a local carpenter if they'd be able to make you something similar?

patrick1

I like everything in Heals but it's always so expensive, and their sale stock is fairly limited.

Probably worth trying Ikea?

wishiwasarichgirl

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

Could you maybe ask a local carpenter if they'd be able to make you something similar?

or put up some shelves in the alcove

shop-to-drop

You could always keep an eye on ebay. I like Heal and Habitat myself and have managed to get many items as new or even new via ebay at fraction of price.

I sort by location so I can spot items fairly close by. If you are happy to keep looking and be patient chances are the exact item you want will come along in time.

Good Luck!

shandypants5

maybe if you sold all your books you could afford it..? :rotfl:

whufc_3

www.dwell.co.uk has some cool contempory shelving

Alexei

Thanks all for your suggestions; I think I'm going to follow up with a few local carpenters to see whether they can make something similar. If not, then it's time to get saving I think :-)

redhaze_2

Hi,
I've just had delivered to my work place 2 fantastic bookcases (along with other office equipment in the Annandale range), which although are not solid oak they are very convincing and solid - they also have sold backs and not the flimsy plyboard you can get. The prices were very reasonable £67.00 for 4 shelves. They come in various heights and widths and you dont have to be a work place to order from them. You could maybe order different heights/widths to fit your alcove.

Give their website a look at www.equip4work.co.uk. Its worth look even if its not what youre looking for.

Best wishes
Redhaze;)