Hi , Most ID ( iternet direct )companies provide you with a 30 day in home listening option. You can return them without any questions asked. Most require you to pay the return shipping . I found my way to the AV123 site, they are one of the more popular ID companies . I went with the 850 Rockets, and the matching center channel. They are built like a piece a furniture and hey they sound great also. Sign up for their forum and ask your question there. You will not find a nice bunch of audio guys willing to help you. Also atke a look at Aperion speaker and Axiom speaker, both popular ID companies. Regardless of where you post, you'll need to provide some more info. Actual room size and cieling height, what type of reciever will you power the speakers with etc.. It sounds like your room might do better with a pair of tower speakers, bookshelves might get lost in your room ( sound wise ) Let me know if you have any more questions. Mike By all means stay far away from BOSE !

Boxerpups, I needed those images. Thanks so much! Isn't it amazing how a simple image can clarify so many things? Am reminded about the architect Sarah Susanka's comment that bookshelves are like wonderful wallpaper. I hope that my cookbook collection and the other items I need to store on shelves will function in that way. Was on a road trip to a wedding recently and had lots of time to make sketches. I have a better idea of my bookcase options now, but hadn't been able to picture the moldings and such. These images are very helpful. The red-painted shelf units with the curved trim are so intriguing. Wonder how they suspend those long shelves? Or did they make a vow to only store lightweight stuff? The images of various same-width multiple shelf units are extremely helpful; You're a painted cabinetry gal, aren't you? I am trying to imagine them in oak instead of paint. These regular soldier-like niches are likely what we'll end up doing. The over-the-door shelf is something I had considered but DH vetoed. Now that he's sat with me looking at your images, it's back in consideration again. I am supposedly working on the denoument of this project's planning but am still dithering about cabinet glass for my kitchen so I went to a local glass company to talk. They said they make lots of glass doors for labs, businesses, etc. I think that they would help me with sliding glass doors for bookshelf if I want them. They are in the custom glass etching business so they can even temper and etch decorative (textured) glass, which would allow me to get a strong, textured, opaque effect for lower shelves that may accumulate junky stuff. It would be expensive, but extremely distinctive. (This added to my dithering and got me off track, again.) [Confession time: Problem is further compounded by seeing an antique piece that would work in that space also. Unfortunately, when he was working on wallboard phase, DH refused to wallboard the back side of the bookcase space when it would have been easiest to do it, claiming that it would be redundant work. So there are literally a number of holes into the inside of the wall on the back of the bookcase niche to contend with if I win the piece at auction. Am in another quandry. Best solution: stay out of auctions and antique shops and estate sales.] ___ Leel: would love to learn more about the steel shelves you have used. Sources?

I'm glad you liked my suggestions. Another thing is you could use some color. Is there a accent color in your room? If not, maybe a candy apple red. Spray paint a few things with that color, not too many. Possibly the tall wood candle sticks and the white rectangular box on the left (I can't tell what it is) Also, turn the mirror the other way so it's taller, maybe have it off center a bit, put the clock or brown jug in place of the light colored vase on mantle. Maybe paint the candle sticks a blue and mirror frame red. Things look better in grouping of three, of varying heights. To get more height add some old books or even blocks of wood painted under items, like the three candles on the right. Don't be afraid of a little open space when making groupings. You can spray paint just about anything. Look around your home for things you like the shape of but not right color. Go to a thrift store and get old books for using to make things taller. (but inspect books carefully for bed bug, I heard they are sometimes avenues for carrying them into your home)

@erinsean Those are not built in's though it looks like it. That is the decor of the previous owners and it's no longer there. And yes, that is the loft. I have kept my desk where the cube storage was. Where the piano was, we have kept our 2nd tv. We actually never watch tv there and I was asking my husband if we can get rid of it. I should be able to place the china cabinet at the place where the piano is. Or if we are keeping the tv, move the desk to a guest bedroom. Edited to add: also no room beyond the bar area. The width is half of the china cabinet.