S is for Shelves! See the best ideas

S is for Shelves!

Back again on shelves. I have covered this in part with other articles, but I wanted to do a whole piece highlighting some of the beautiful custom and made to order shelves we have made and could make for you. Below I describe some different styles and sample pieces, along with some photos of each to show you what can be done.

I’ve often said, making use of vertical space in a boat is key to making the best of the room in your boat. Shelves, cost-effective and attractive, are ideal to do this. Whether it’s angled walls, where our Ellie Shelf and Fixed Angle Shelf rule supreme, or bulkheads where the straight vertical space can be used for any type of shelving. Under gunwale too, shallow but handy, and can be easily fitted out with our Bespoke Under Gunwale Shelving
When I think shelves, I think books.

We have built libraries for houses and boats. With these Ash and Oak libraries, we had plenty of space to play with and a budget to use some high quality hardwoods which are both beautiful and durable. Adjustable shelving makes them versatile as well.

With this sapele library, we had the opportunity to a wealth of shelving in this boat library. There’s a combination of large and small shelving so that the client could house their extensive collection of books and graphic novels. We used space on bulkheads and under the gunwales to really pack in the storage. For something roomy but a little simpler, this ply shelving has a very modern feel to it and offer lots of room.

Shelves work well doubled up with other storage. Cupboards beneath are a classic alcove storage solution.

These were solid oak and then hand veneered (cold pressed) slab doors to make this beautiful cupboard shelf combo.

I really love this bulkhead shelving, where we combined adjustable shelving above with wicker storage baskets below. You can hide away lots of stuff in the baskets and display your treasured belongings above.

S is for Shelves

For something a little more unique, I am a huge fan of live edge timber. You can read a bit more about live edge timber and why it’s so special in my “What Wood – Live Edge” article, but the tiger oak shelves we made are a wonderful example. There is just so much character to them. It’s not just the undulations of the edge, but the rich colours and patterns of the grain.

Another favourite of mine is the London plane desk and shelf. This was a piece of timber I acquired speculatively at a timber yard while buying some other bits, and it sat for several years waiting to find a home.

I have also included another desk/shelf combo, but this one in solid oak. The scalloped edges are all hand carved and are inspired by work I did on a vardo, which had this style of decoration on a lot of the surfaces. The decoration adds a lightness, while the thickness of the oak gives it a robust and solid feel.

Whatever you need, we can make it. Get in touch, and we would love to design something with you.

S Is for Shelves is part of the A to Z of Narrowboats series.