UK Bespoke bookcases/cabinet maker

I thought this might be the right place to ask my question! I've just moved into a new house, and for the first time am not a tenant so am able to make modifications.

We have bought a Victorian terrace house, on the ground floor there are two chimney breasts with approximately a 3.2m gap between them. Currently this wall is empty apart from a small radiator.

My idea is straightforward, to have a large bookcase built into the gap, with a cover/guard integrated around the radiator- you know the kind of thing, with a mesh front for the hot air. I'm torn between also putting glass fronted doors on to protect the books from dust - the fires are both usable, and we plan on using them.

Does anyone have any experience with good carpenters/cabinet makers in the south of England (Reading area) who would be able to make a beautiful set of shelves for a large alcove? I've been looking at this company http://www.joat-london.co.uk/bookcases, but would ideally like to employ someone who has been recommended.

Many thanks!

corbain, I can't answer your question, but thanks for the link. I'm almost literally drooling.

Be sure to post pictures once you've got the shelves finished, so we can drool over them as well. :)

Can't help with a personal recommendation, but I would suggest you go for glass doors, if only above the radiator. There will be a rising current of warm air coming out of your radiator cover which will inevitably carry dust with it.

Thought I should update this thread with some pictures of the bookcases as they are now fitted. I found a local carpenter who could make them and I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

When he was finished installing them i was a little disappointed, they looked very pale and had no character, but after 4 solid days of oiling and waxing i love how they look and feel now.

The photos are not the best unfortunately but hopefully they give a sense of how it looks. Due to the location of the bookcase in a small corridoor between rooms, it's only possibly to take pictures at an angle, except for the end unit

Holy Crayola! Those are gorgeous! Lucky you!

*makes grabby hands*

Lovely!

We have one wall that would be perfect for custom bookshelves with a rolling ladder. Maybe someday.....

I finally have the wall, and I've been storing the ladder for decades. Now for the wood and the carpenter...

those bottles should keep you oiled and waxed for four days

What is the intriguing Sherlock Holmes set in photograph 1?

Another question: where is the radiator? All I see is doors.

We decided to have the radiator removed in the end. We were having new floors put down so just before we did that a plumber cut and capped the pipes under the floorboards . It made the bookcase design easier, and to be honest there was no real need for the radiator there anyway.

The Sherlock set is the Annotated Sherlock Holmes 3 volume set, with notes by Leslie Klinger. It's a beautiful set, if a little impractical for reading.

Thanks for all the kind comments, I am very pleased with how the project turned out.

Beautiful - I'm putting that in my fantasy house!

That is gorgeous. I'm also enjoying the idea of settling down with a gin and tonic and a good book