A Bethlehem Custom Bookcase Designed for Display and Concealed Storage
The Challenge & The Vision
The homeowners wanted the wall beside the staircase to serve several purposes without making the room look crowded. They needed open space for books, artwork, and collected objects, concealed cabinets for games and household overflow, and lighting that would help the display remain visible throughout the day. The built-in also needed to relate naturally to the surrounding architecture and the other cabinetry planned for the home.
Our response combines six lower cabinet doors, a long painted display surface, and an asymmetrical upper bookcase that concentrates vertical storage where the wall can support it. The open section leaves room for a larger framed artwork beside the shelves, so the composition provides useful storage without covering the full wall. Stacked crown molding and fitted trim connect the cabinetry to the room rather than treating it as freestanding furniture.
This Bethlehem project demonstrates how our custom remodeling and cabinetry work can solve a specific storage problem while respecting the proportions and circulation of an existing room.
Project Specification Summary
• Project location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• Project focus: Built-in bookcase beside a staircase
• Base cabinetry: Fabuwood Galaxy
• Base material: Paint-grade maple
• Base construction: Compact overlay
• Upper bookcase: Laslo-built LCK Signature cabinetry and millwork
• Upper construction: Full overlay
• Finish: Frost paint with a dull sheen
• Display surface: Painted plywood with a solid paint-grade maple edge and eased profile
• Shelving: Adjustable open shelves
• Hardware: Jeffrey Alexander Brands Matte black 445 door hardware
• Lighting: One-zone lighting installed behind the upper stiles with a 120-watt Wav driver
• Concealed storage: Six lower cabinet doors for games and household overflow
• Architectural detail: Stacked large-cove crown with 4½-inch flat stock
• Photography: Lisa Lake Creative
A Hybrid Cabinetry Plan Built Around the Project
Not every part of a built-in needs the same production method. For this project, we paired Fabuwood Galaxy base cabinets with an LCK Signature upper bookcase fabricated by Laslo. The manufactured base cabinetry provides efficient enclosed storage, while our custom fabrication gives the upper structure the proportions, shelf arrangement, lighting integration, and millwork required for this particular wall.
That flexibility is one of the practical advantages of working with Laslo. We can combine stock, semi-custom, and custom cabinetry with our own millwork when the design calls for it. The goal is to apply the project budget where customization matters most while keeping the finished installation visually consistent.
Step Inside the Hidden Space
Adjustable Display Space for a Changing Collection
The upper bookcase includes adjustable shelves that can be repositioned for books, framed artwork, pottery, plants, and collected objects of different heights. This flexibility gives the homeowners more control over the display as their collection changes. The asymmetrical arrangement also creates a clear focal point rather than turning the entire wall into a uniform grid.
The long surface below the bookcase extends the display area and provides breathing room around larger pieces. Its painted plywood construction includes a solid paint-grade maple edge with an eased profile, giving the exposed edge a finished appearance suited to daily use.
Integrated Lighting and Architectural Millwork
Lighting positioned behind the upper stiles brightens the open shelves and draws attention to the displayed pieces. The one-zone system allows the full bookcase to be illuminated together, while the stiles help conceal the light source within the cabinetry. The result is useful display lighting without a visible fixture interrupting the shelves.
At the top, stacked large-cove crown paired with 4½-inch flat stock gives the bookcase an architectural finish. The molding establishes a stronger transition between the cabinetry and wall and helps the vertical section read as part of the room.
Concealed Storage Keeps the Room Organized
Six doors across the base cabinetry provide closed storage for games and household overflow. Keeping those items behind doors reduces visual clutter while leaving them accessible from the main living area. Matte black hardware adds clear contrast against the Frost painted finish and makes each cabinet easy to operate.
The combination of open and closed storage is what makes the built-in useful. Frequently displayed pieces remain visible, while items that do not need to be on view have a dedicated place below.
Pro Tip from Neil Laslo
“When a project includes both straightforward storage and highly specific architectural details, compare stock, semi-custom, and custom options before assigning the full budget. Manufactured cabinetry can handle some functions efficiently, while custom millwork can be reserved for the proportions, lighting, trim, and features that define the design.” — Neil Laslo, Owner, Laslo Custom Kitchens
Planning a Built-In for Your Bethlehem or Lehigh Valley Home
A successful built-in begins with more than the dimensions of an open wall. We consider what will be displayed, what should remain concealed, how shelving may need to change, where lighting belongs, and how the cabinetry meets nearby trim and architectural features. Those decisions determine whether the finished piece works as part of the room.
Laslo Custom Kitchens designs and builds cabinetry for homes throughout Bethlehem, Easton, Allentown, and surrounding Lehigh Valley communities. To compare cabinetry lines, paint finishes, hardware, lighting, and custom millwork options, visit Laslo’s Easton showroom and begin planning a design suited to your home and project investment.
Explore More from Laslo Custom Kitchens
- See Laslo’s custom remodel portfolio
- Explore an Allentown guide to custom bookcases
- View a hard maple bookcase with a hidden door in Center Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a custom bookcase include besides open shelving?
A custom bookcase can combine adjustable shelves, integrated lighting, display surfaces, concealed cabinets, and architectural molding. The right combination depends on what you want to display, what you need to store, and how the built-in should relate to the room.
Why combine Fabuwood cabinets with Laslo-built custom millwork?
Combining manufactured cabinetry with Laslo-built millwork can direct the project budget toward the details that require customization. In this Bethlehem bookcase, Fabuwood base cabinets provide concealed storage while Laslo’s custom upper structure supplies the proportions, adjustable shelving, lighting integration, and architectural trim.
Are the shelves in this Bethlehem bookcase adjustable?
Yes. The open shelves can be repositioned to accommodate books, framed artwork, pottery, plants, and collected objects of different heights. Adjustable shelving also allows the display to change over time without rebuilding the bookcase.
How is lighting incorporated into the bookcase?
The bookcase uses one-zone lighting positioned behind the upper stiles. This placement brightens the shelves and displayed pieces while helping conceal the light source within the cabinetry.
What is stored behind the lower cabinet doors?
The six lower doors provide concealed storage for games and household overflow. This keeps less decorative items nearby and accessible without adding visual clutter to the open shelves and display surface.
What affects the cost of a custom built-in bookcase?
Cost depends on overall size, cabinetry source, materials, finish, construction, lighting, hardware, trim, storage features, installation requirements, and site conditions. Mixing manufactured cabinetry with custom millwork can help allocate the budget according to the features that need the most customization.