On 9/30/2013 9:34 AM, Ivan Vegvary wrote:
Daughter wants to put 3 to 4 'peninsulas' into the attic/apartment to break up the 50 foot length. These would be built perpendicular to the wall,

stick out 3.5 feet and be about 28-30 inches high.
I would like to build a box out of 2x10 lumber and screw it to the floor joists and adjacent wall for stability. The final look should be white melamine or equivalent. Top will get a 2x12x1/2" board. Everything will need to end up white.

What's the easiest way to go from a "2x10" box to a decent looking bookcase. A shelf midway up from the bottom would also be nice. The back can be 1/4" melamine panel. What's next? False horizontal member to get the books 3-5 inches off the floor? Build a face frame? Line all the 2-by material with 1/4" melamine?
Help !!

Thanks, Ivan Vegvary

First think in terms of the individual book cases. I thing that for a
bookcase that is 40" long and 30 inches high, a 2X10's would be over kill.

If I were making it I would make it similar to the one in Popular Mechanics.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...orking/1273111

I would also may make two bookcases for each peninsula, and fasten them
back to back. This would do two things. One it would give more storage
space, and make it such the the unit could be moved as your daughter
changes her decorating ideas. You may consider putting doors on one of
the two bookcase so she would have spaces to hid stuff.

The idea of a melamine is good, but I would build the book cases with a
top frame, and then go down to Lowes, Home Depot or similar store and
have tops made like they use for kitchen cabinets. Maybe with rounded
corners and edges, in the color of your choice.