Jonathan Hutton loves a DIY project. Although he works in product development, he is a prolific DIYer and builder in his spare time. The house he and his wife own was originally built in 1929, and together they have spent the past decade remodeling and modernizing it, room by room. Several years ago, the couple refreshed the living room with basic bookshelves Hutton built from plywood, but they quickly outgrew them because of their love of owning and collecting books. Thus, the couple set out to find a shelving system that fit into the modern aesthetic of their home and could keep up with their expanding book collection.
Can you tell us about the space where you installed your Modern Shelving hardware? What inspired the project?
The living room is the place where we read and listen to music and get cozy in the winter. We have large windows and lots of light, and our vinyl collection lives on the west wall. We knew that the shelves would live on the wall opposite the record shelves, and my goal was to find something modular and custom that could be designed to fit the space. Since I’d already been working in SketchUp on the kitchen design, I built a full model of the living room space and mocked up some shelving ideas to help guide my decision-making.
What made you decide to build your own shelving system instead of purchasing a complete shelving unit?
I knew I wanted custom from the beginning because I’ve graduated from my IKEA furniture days. When you start getting more into interior design, finding components that you can customize to fit your space is the way to go. It requires more advanced planning, but you’ll end up with exactly what you want. I also love designing and building, which made the process a lot of fun once I found the right pieces.
What storage or organization challenges were you hoping to solve with this project?
Our book collection grew to 1,000 titles, and we had maxed out every shelf, which meant that we had stacks and piles throughout the house, which was becoming problematic. We live in a fairly small house, so being really mindful about storage is something we try to do. We’ve been making iterative progress on this over the years, room by room.
How did you first discover Modern Shelving?
I started researching online and found a few different options at various price points. Honestly, a lot of the modular stuff out there seems cheap or is tailored to architects, and thus not available for homeowner types like me without a lot of hassle. I liked the fact that I could order precisely what I wanted and the pricing was clear. I even had a conversation with some friends of mine who work with aluminum components—they were impressed with what Modern Shelving offered, and that pretty much sealed the deal for me.
How was the installation process? How did our hardware work with the shelves you selected?
The installation was super easy! By the time the hardware showed up, I had already cut the shelving pieces from 3/4” plywood, and my wife and I had applied two coats of clear water-based poly. This system works great with cabinet-grade plywood, and I think the edges contrast really nicely with the solid aluminum hardware. It’s an aesthetic I will probably duplicate in the kitchen, which we’re currently remodeling.
How has the finished shelving changed your space?
We can see almost all of our books in one place, which is amazing! It makes it so much easier to find titles and is simply a pleasure to look at. I’ve had work meetings and intentionally had the shelves in the background, and my coworkers were dazzled.
What would you say to someone who's thinking about building a custom shelving system using Modern Shelving hardware?
Do it! My wife and I are already thinking about adding another set of shelves for my office. I hope some of my friends will buy Modern Shelving hardware so I can help install them—they make such good use of space, and you have a lot of flexibility with design, which is precisely what I wanted.
Jonathan Hutton’s project is a great example of how Modern Shelving’s versatile and customizable components can bring a unique vision to life. By combining our aluminum poles and brackets with his own handcrafted plywood shelves, he created a functional and beautiful space that perfectly complements his home and growing book collection. Whether you're planning a DIY project like Jonathan or looking for a complete shelving solution, Modern Shelving offers endless possibilities to fit your space and style. Ready to transform your own space? Book a free design consultation with our expert designers and let us help bring your vision to life!
