Hi shee,

I know your little guy will just be one in July but here is what I use for my Grand who is 2 1/2.
I just got it off CL, it is about 34 inches high and 36 inches wide. Nice thing is she can reach in and get whatever she wants and put back things sometimes.
I have some dollar stores containers in there also.
I would not spend alot for now because this type of thing
will change with the years. As you are seeing , the time goes by so quickly.
Mine also has another one in her room which is mostly books.

With your present entertainment stand and your lovely traditional style I would do a dark wood piece but if you think your future built-ins will be painted instead of stained and the new bookcase is for the long haul than I would paint and trim it out to match how you invision your future built-ins. As your son grows up the shelves can house books and board games so I do think you can get a lot years out of a nicely made bookcase.

Before you go custom, have you checked out unfinished furniture stores in your areas? The ones near me have a lot of bookshelf styles, and they special-order ones from catalogs, too. You might be able to hit on just the right size for the space. (They also do finishing.)

I wish I knew 'when' we were doing the built ins. The bookcase can always go in the office later. Here's an inspiration photo I have saved that I really like and was considering basing the future built ins off of.
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Let's plan this bookcase finish based off the current entertainment stand that I have. (Yeah, I don't know why I bothered to talk about built ins. . I suppose because I know everyone here is creative and comes up with things I never did so I like to give ALL info.)

Lyban - We've been using the pack n play in this spot as a giant toy box ever since he's been born (he never liked being in the pnp) but he needs to be able to get to his toys himself. I was at the dollar store recently and saw lots of different bins. I thought they looked practical for different toys. We plan on having more kids so the bookcase would get use for a long time and I may keep it in the room later for books.

Roarah - If I went with paint, would you paint the entire thing or just the outside?

Pammyfay - Unfortunately I haven't found anything around here that works. A relative agreed to build this and I know it'll be better made and cost less than if we went with someone else. He does nice work so I'm quite excited about this! :)

Anyone have any thoughts as to the mock up size? I thought perhaps it was a tad too tall. Should it be closer to the lightswitch's height? I just want it to look proportionate in the room. DS doesn't have to reach every shelf. Oh, and we will be attaching it to the wall.

I should take a close up shot of the entertainment stand finish. It doesn't show well in these photos but it's heavily distressed in some areas. It's also very solid and I think looks nicer IRL.

Here are a few shots of the entertainment stand. The color’s accurate on my monitor.
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(The ends are separate and it I see we need pushed together better!)
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Here’s another bookcase that I like the design and there are only four shelves. It think it's too tall and not wide enough for my space though. I like the white but think it would look out of place in my room.
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I think the size that you have taped to the wall looks good.
Not too big and not too small.

I like the fluted vertical trim on the 3rd example you posted, but not the proportion (trim makes the bookcase look too tall or not wide enough). Also don't care for the bun feet but expect you would use crown and base trim like your entertainment piece. The mockup looks right to me.

I'll have the size built off the mock up. Thanks for the feedback.

Java - I was thinking fluted trim and agree in that photo it looks too wide. I also think maybe it looks wonky because the shelves of the bookcase are so thin. I believe I'll do a crown and base like the e.stand.

What type of wood should it be made out of? Anyone think the backing should be different.

If I go with the fluted trim, from a box store, is that only in poplar? I think I'd like to stain the piece but am concerned about the wood/trim pieces all matching.

If I were to paint the outside, any thoughts on a color?

Since this is going to be built for you, I would commit to a type of bin and make sure it fits on the shelves nicely, buy as many as you'll need so you have a uniform look, since this is in your living room.