…I’m going to indulge my design slut for a moment here.

I heard about an artist who can take your hardback books and turn them into shelving. It’s stuff like this I adore. I had a friend who modified a bicycle tire and turned it into a chandelier for the dining room. I read about a designer who created living room furniture that embodied the way certain string concertos sounded to him.

It’s not just the elegance or functionality of the resulting design that appeals to me, but the conversion of use and the blending of aesthetics.

Back to the book-to-shelf artist, whose name is Jim Rosenau. Fittingly, his website is titled “This Into That.” You can tell this stuff fascinated me, no?

Here are some of his answers to questions that he regularly receives about converting hardback books into furniture:

1.Yes, they are really books. I remove some of the paper and replace it with a sturdy armature of salvaged lumber.

2. The idea evolved from (mis)reading Nicholson Baker. His essays, Lumber, and, Books as Furniture, triggered me to figure out what I might build if I could turn books into lumber.

3. The books come mostly from donations, recycling centers and library discards. I research all apparently valuable books and try to place them with dealers but rarely succeed.

4. I am interested in older hardback books that look better than they read. I prefer books with strong type on the cover and spine. Older encyclopedias with gilt type on the spines and embossed covers are always great. I will pay shipping to get certain books by arrangement.

5. Weight is not a problem; the shelves are sturdy enough to support typical loads. However, their surfaces may be damaged by abrasion and moisture. They must be kept out of direct sunlight.


Jen also blogs at Transcending Gender and A Life Less Convenient. Her book is available here.