Ana Hincapie is a bookworm through and through. For her, her library is her autobiography. Each book represents a chapter of love and loss, the places she’s been, and the journey that lies ahead. Naturally, Ana wanted a way to prominently display her book collection in her home.
Ana resides in a 19th century home in Ohio, with brick accent walls that give the home its character. While the brick walls are eye catching, they make installing shelving a challenge. After some online searching, Ana discovered Modern Shelving and felt that it was the perfect match for her unique wall.
Here, Ana shares some of the challenges she encountered searching for a shelving unit for her brick wall and the way Modern Shelving was able to help keep her wall intact while satisfying her shelving needs.
What were you in the market for when you were first looking for shelves?
When I first started looking for shelves, my main goal was to find something open and airy that could hold a large collection of books without overwhelming the space. I live in a building from 1899 with a beautiful exposed brick wall, and I didn’t want to hide that character behind solid furniture.
I also wanted shelves that could draw the eye upward and take advantage of the 11-foot ceilings, making the room feel both grand and inviting. Ultimately, I was seeking a balance of function and design — shelves that could showcase my books while highlighting the history and architecture of the space.
How did you discover with Modern Shelving?
I discovered Modern Shelving while surfing the internet, looking for a system that could handle the weight of a book collection. The pole system immediately caught my attention — it felt both sturdy and sleek, exactly the kind of structure I needed. I wanted shelves that weren’t just beautiful, but also strong enough to support the weight of hundreds of books.
What really attracted me to Modern Shelving was the flexibility — the ability to go beyond standard heights and truly use the scale of my space. I loved that I could customize not only the size but also the details, like the pole colors and the shelves themselves. It felt like the system could adapt to my home.
Did you go with custom or stock shelves?
I went with custom shelves. It was important to me to have something tailored to the height of my space and the scale of my book collection. The beauty of the system is that it doesn’t lock me in — I still have the option to expand if I need to, which makes it feel both personal and flexible.
What were some of the challenges you encountered when searching for shelves for your brick wall? What solution did you come up with alongside Modern Shelving?
I wasn’t sure at first how difficult it would be to mount shelves on a brick wall that’s over 100 years old, so I had an installer take care of it. The biggest challenge was that some of the bricks near the bottom are very brittle and would have crumbled if drilled directly. What made Modern Shelving such a great solution is that the system only requires drilling at the top and bottom, not for every shelf, so most of the brick wall remained intact.
Another big advantage was the flexibility at the base. The supports can be customized to different heights, which was especially helpful because of the nuances in the wall. That adaptability turned what could have been a real challenge into a seamless installation that preserved the character of the wall.
How did your ordering process go?
The ordering process was very smooth. Everything felt clear and straightforward, from customizing the design to finalizing the details. I appreciated how easy it was to communicate what I needed, and the whole process gave me confidence that the shelves would turn out exactly as I envisioned.
Did you do the install yourself or hire an installer?
I hired an installer, which was definitely the right choice for me. The installation itself went very smoothly — really, it just comes down to having the right tools and knowing how to work with the wall. Once that was handled, everything came together beautifully.
Where in your home are your shelves?
The shelves are in my home library, a space that feels like the heart of my home. Books have always been my constant companions, and I wanted them to have a place where they could be seen and lived with, not hidden away. Creating this library was about more than storage — it was about surrounding myself with stories, ideas, and memories, and giving them a home that feels just as full of character as the books themselves.
What do you house on your shelves?
Mostly, my shelves are filled with books — a library in three languages that carries pieces of different cultures into my home. Living in Ohio, it isn’t always easy to find Spanish and French titles, so my collection has become a small cultural anchor for me and for the people I welcome in.
I love inviting guests to browse, start a conversation, and even borrow a book. In that way, the library becomes more than storage — it’s a space for sharing ideas and stories across languages. A few storage boxes hold board games and papers, keeping things practical, but the heart of the shelves will always be the books and the connections they spark.
Are you happy with how your shelves turned out?
I’m really happy with how the shelves turned out — they’ve completely transformed the space and given my books the kind of home I imagined. I love how open they feel, letting the brick wall show through. At this point, the only thing I’m still thinking about is how to add lighting.
Ana Hincapie’s Modern Shelving® system proves that even the trickiest spaces — like a century-old brick wall — can be transformed with the right design. Her custom installation preserved the beauty of her historic home while giving her books the spotlight they deserve. The shelves don’t just provide storage; they create a timeless library space filled with character and warmth. With flexibility built into the system, Ana has room to expand her collection without ever compromising her style. The result is a library that feels both deeply personal and effortlessly modern. Her story is a reminder that Modern Shelving® adapts to your vision, no matter the challenge. Why settle for “good enough” storage when you can create something that feels custom, lasting, and uniquely yours?
Don’t wait to bring your dream space to life — book a free consultation with one of our designers today and start building your own Modern Shelving® system:
👉 https://www.modernshelving.com/pages/book-a-free-design-consultation
