
Here is the custom built bookcase for my studio. It came about because I posted a question last month on an open thread at Apartment Therapy:
"Anyone have any experience with the Expedit bookcase from Ikea? Quality? Appearance? It's awfully inexpensive so I'm a bit worried. There is a similar one (white - I want white) at West Elm and a big one at DWR. Anyone know any other sources for something similar? I've looked at furniture stores and nobody has it."
The responses were very helpful. I didn't realize that the Expedit bookcase was virtually a household name. I learned that it looks good but is a notorious pain to put together and will break apart if moved. I really didn't want to buy something almost guaranteed to end up in a landfill.

Expedit from Ikea - $179 plus shipping.

The Collins room divider from Pottery Barn for an astonishing $1200 plus $150 for shipping. There are two bookshelves featured side by side.
I spoke to Anna and she thought the Expedit style would be great for organizing all my art supplies, magazines and books, and that we should wallpaper the back. My thoughts exactly! I decided to ask Jimmy and Mark (my handymen) if they could build me one. They were ECSTATIC. Nothing like a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and they were itching to build something instead of lay hardwood floors. I gave them the measurements, told them how many compartments, and showed them the other bookcases featured above. I wanted it to be moveable, sturdy, and the back to be separate so I could wallpaper it (to see confused handymen tell them you want to wallpaper your bookshelf.) Nevertheless, they built it, added three coats of glossy white paint, and a week later it was mine. All for $325. In the words of Jimmy, "You ain't gonna buy nothin' this sturdy unless it has a gas tank."

There is also this bookcase from West Elm that is $549 plus shipping. It is smaller than I wanted and has casters. I could just imagine my three year old wheeling it down the stairs.
You don't have to live in an apartment to benefit from AT's great advice. Even someone like me who isn't keen on the mid-century modern aesthetic still gets a lot out of their posts. So, thanks Apartment Therapy and readers; I couldn't have done it without you (and I know you secretly love the pink room!)

One last view because I'm just so darned happy with it.