Need Feedback on Built-In Design

[jonny round boy]

I've been asked to quote for some bespoke shelving to house a client's vinyl collection. The room it's going into is a dedicated music room in a basement. There's no natural light, but the lighting hasn't been sorted yet. The client wants it to look 'classic' and 'cosy' in there, almost like an old library room.

I've done some research into storage of vinyl as I know it's heavy. I found that a linear metre contains around 230 LP's, and weighs about 55kg. I used the sagulator to calculate what strength I needed from that.

Based on all this, I've designed the following. The carcases would be 18mm (3/4") Euro Oak veneered MDF or blockboard (I'd rather use blockboard but MDF is 40% cheaper!). Shelves would be same, but with a 25x10mm lipping at the front, and fixed in place. All the trim would be solid Euro Oak:

[attachimg=1]

For the finish, I had in mind using a dark oak wax, possibly over a stain too. This way, the finish could all be applied on site after everything was fitted. This would also help disguise any difference between the solid & veneered board.

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Bottom detail:

[attachimg=4]

Top detail:

[attachimg=5]

I will probably add some fluting to the centre columns, but not decided yet.

I've never really designed anything in this style before, so I've just basically made it up as I went along, based on my memory of similar projects I've seen on here.

So, two questions: firstly, before I finalise the drawing & send it to the client, does it look ok? Are there any areas that look wrong/bad?

Secondly, is anyone aware of problems with using a wax finish on shelves for LP's (e.g. solvents potentially damaging the cardboard sleeves)?

Feedback (good or bad!) gratefully & graciously accepted!!!

 

[Bohdan]

The carcases would be 18mm (3/4") Euro Oak veneered MDF or blockboard (I'd rather use blockboard but MDF is 40% cheaper!). Shelves would be same, but with a 25x10mm lipping at the front, and fixed in place. All the trim would be solid Euro Oak:

MDF might be cheaper but it will tend to sag with time. I would offer the client the option of solid Oak shelves.

 

[jonny round boy]

The carcases would be 18mm (3/4") Euro Oak veneered MDF or blockboard (I'd rather use blockboard but MDF is 40% cheaper!). Shelves would be same, but with a 25x10mm lipping at the front, and fixed in place. All the trim would be solid Euro Oak:

MDF might be cheaper but it will tend to sag with time. I would offer the client the option of solid Oak shelves.

Yes, that's why I'd rather use the blockboard, it won't sag like MDF. Particularly with the solid lipping.

 

[mouppe]

Johnny,

When I built a library unit for very heavy books, I ran the shelves all the way through from end to end and dadoed the columns into the shelves to act like dividers. The column fronts were then added in line with the dividers running all the way from top to bottom. The shelves were much stronger than traditional shorter shelving because the dividers are carrying much of the weight. Because you know the shelf heights are fixed you can make the unit this way.

I think you would be fine with wax, but I would steer clear of an oil finish.

 

[jonny round boy]

When I built a library unit for very heavy books, I ran the shelves all the way through from end to end and dadoed the columns into the shelves to act like dividers. The column fronts were then added in line with the dividers running all the way from top to bottom. The shelves were much stronger than traditional shorter shelving because the dividers are carrying much of the weight. Because you know the shelf heights are fixed you can make the unit this way.

That won't be feasible in this instance - each 'section' would be a separate carcase so the shelves couldn't run through horizontally.

I think you would be fine with wax, but I would steer clear of an oil finish.

Thanks, that great.

 

[jonny round boy]

OK, I've already changed it!

I've reduced the width of each section by 100mm (making each carcase 700 wide, not 800) and added a reduced depth 4th section for CDs (I forgot about the CDs!):

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

The junction between the main & reduced section is bothering me slightly. With an extra column to the left of the reduced section, against the end panel, that internal corner seems a bit too 'busy':

[attachimg=3]

But not having anything there, and having the shelves run into the end panel seems more wrong somehow. What's everyone's thoughts?

Oh, and one more pic, with contents:

[attachimg=4]

Should fit around 2290 LPs and 630 CDs on there.

 

[Sven]

For the CD partition, could you bring the unit forward to keep it inline with the lp storage? Depth would be the same as the lp storage,  but would have a false-back.

I'm sure you would be losing space, but it would at least provide a consistent, unbroken face.
[unsure]

-S

 

[thumbsmasher]

And what about making the CD storage 1/2 the width, and making two of them?  And put them between each lp cabinet?  Would add some nice symmetry.

 

[mouppe]

Or make the 4th column for LPs too but have two shelves for CDs running across the middle of all 4 units?

 

[bkharman]

Personally for LPs, I would want to have the spaces square. So more dividers across the board.

If the are a modern/contemporary type they will like that. If they aren't, you might have to get a bit fancier on the division points to make it look like a coffered ceiling against a wall. I also think it would be cool to have some sort of plexiglass door every once and a while to slip an LP into for the sake of highlighting it as art.

Just some thoughts.  Great design thus far Johnny!

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[mo siopa]

I like your design.  I think your proportions on the LPs are excellent but sitting next to the LPs, the CD proportions look different. You might try making the cd cabinet a little shorter/narrower and maybe making the facia and crown proportionally smaller as well. 

 

[bkharman]

Another thought here...

Mix the CD shelves with the LP shelves.

 

[jonny round boy]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Had a chat with a friend about it yesterday, who pointed out that the CD section completely unbalances the design. I think I will go back to the original layout of 3x 800 wide units, and from there I have 2 options - mix the CDs with the LPs with a strip of half-height, reduced shelf depths all the way through, or the 2nd option is to leave that all LPs, and have a second CD only unit elsewhere in the room.

 

[Wuffles]

You need to consider mp3 storage too mate.

Like a 10mm x 10mm x 2mm slot shelf for an SD card, perhaps some smaller ones for microSD, I know it's extra work but it's belt and braces.

 

[jonny round boy]

You need to consider mp3 storage too mate.

Like a 10mm x 10mm x 2mm slot shelf for an SD card, perhaps some smaller ones for microSD, I know it's extra work but it's belt and braces.

[ban]

I could just cut a 4mm domino slot into the front edge of one of the shelves. You could fit a few MicroSD's in there...

 

[Wuffles]

What about cloud storage?

 

[Kev]

Late into this - sorry.

I get it that they was a classic library look, but I like more separators so you can take a bunch out and not have them tip sideways. The trick would be to incorporate additional uprights, but keep them slim and set back so they're ~200mm deep and maybe 8mm wide. Boxing it up that way will defeat all sag too.

Anyway ... that'd be my approach.

Kev.

 

[sancho57]

Even later ,

Wouldn't a van dyke brown with a shellac or shellac like finish rubbed out with wax.

Isn't that a trad finish?