The Upper West Side and Morningside Heights, near Columbia, are full of readers and full of prewar apartments with 9 to 10 foot ceilings. That combination makes them the city's natural home for built-in bookcases.
01Wall to wall, floor to ceiling
A full wall of shelves at 10 to 12 inches deep holds hundreds of books without crowding the room. With tall ceilings, add a library ladder on a rail.
02Around windows and radiators
Bookcases either side of a window, with a seat over a ventilated radiator cover, are the classic Upper West Side layout. See bookcases around a window seat.
03Match the room
Painted bookcases with a cornice that meets the existing crown look original to the building.
04Hallway libraries
Long prewar hallways can hold a shallow run of shelves.
05Co-op process
Most buildings here are co-ops; expect insurance certificates and set work hours, and board approval if electrical work is added for lighting.
See Manhattan bookcases, plan yours in the Library Worx designer, or book a free design visit.