stocubo | Library Vibes at Home

A room comes alive through its details, but sometimes it simply calls for true grandeur. High-ceilinged rooms often lack furniture that is not only practical but also enhances the room’s architecture while providing space for a large collection.

This was exactly the challenge that creator Antonia faced when planning her new shelving unit. She wanted a wall-mounted shelf that would not only hold countless books and favorite items but would also look like a custom-made design element in its own right.

In this interview, she explains how she went from an empty room to her dream floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, and why safety was a crucial consideration at a height of 2.50 meters.

At a height of 2.50 meters, everything obviously needs to be secure – especially when children or pets are around. To ensure this, Antonia used a clever solution: the stocubo anti-tip bracket. The white steel bracket is screwed onto the top module and attached to the wall so that it’s completely hidden from view.

Tip: For shelves three modules wide or more, we recommend using a set of two brackets. This ensures the shelf is completely stable and won’t tip over, yet it’s completely unnoticeable!

Thinking on a grand scale: When did you realize that standard furniture just wouldn't cut it for your wall – that you needed a real stocubo statement piece?

“I think that with ceilings this high, furniture should be more than just storage space. For us, that meant we wanted a beautiful bookshelf with plenty of storage space that also serves as a design element in our apartment. And stocubo was perfect for that!”

Tetris in the configurator: 2.50 m tall and packed with details like drawers and compartments. Are you more of a “prototype ready in 5 minutes” kind of person, or did you spend days moving cubes around until you got the perfect asymmetry?

“We actually moved the cubes back and forth several times in the configurator, thinking about where it made sense to have drawers and doors and what kind of dividers we wanted. The most important thing was probably: How can we fit everything in while still having room for our books? And: It had to be cat-proof.”

Did the shelf stay in place on the first try, or did you realize while putting it together that a drawer placed lower down or a compartment flipped horizontally would be even more practical?

“While setting it up, we briefly considered whether to set it up differently than planned, but in the end we stuck with our original plan. It was simply the best. So the time we spent on the configurator was well worth it.”

Detailed at the bottom, maximum freedom at the top: How do you make the most of the different zones? Do you tuck away your everyday items in the lower section and let your favorite pieces take center stage at the top?

“In the lower section, we store our work-from-home items, which would otherwise make the room feel cluttered. We both love to read – and read a lot –and we’re now thrilled to be able to give our favorite books a nice spot alongside our camera and favorite decorative items.”

The before-and-after effect: A bookshelf this tall changes the entire dynamic. How does the finished piece of furniture affect the feel and atmosphere of your home?

“Everything looks tidier, more spacious, and just plain beautiful.”

“The most important thing was probably: How can we fit everything in while still having room for our books? And: It had to be cat-proof.”

Thanks to the modular system, a 2.50-meter shelf isn’t permanently fixed to this wall. Which thought is more reassuring: enjoying the shelf exactly as it is, or knowing that, if necessary, you could turn it into two smaller ones?

“While putting it together, I thought several times about how beautiful the shelf looks when it resembles a sideboard. But the taller it got, the more excited I became. My husband, who helped assemble it, was happy that, despite its size, the shelf is really easy to take apart and reassemble if we ever move. For now, we’re really happy with the height – but if we get the urge to change up our interior design, we’ll just reconfigure it.”

When you think about your own custom configuration, the design, and the look of this floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, what are the first three words that come to mind?

“Design, simplicity, and joy.”