BH | Studio Bayeux Arched Bookcase

The round arch is one of the oldest ways of framing something precious. Norman builders raised it over doorways and along the great arcades of Bayeux Cathedral, and later French and English houses set round-headed niches into their walls to hold busts, china and books. A tall arch still makes whatever stands inside it look considered.

This freestanding bookcase brings the niche to any wall. A tall, round-topped case with a surround in Jet, Willow, Loden or Sand frames four open tiers lined in a warm wood-grain laminate, so the interior glows against the dark outline. The tiers are evenly spaced, and the shelves can be moved up or down to suit tall vases or short stacks of paperbacks. Each shelf is rated to hold 99 lbs, and because every tier is open, the things you reach for stay close at hand. Some assembly is required.

Stand it in a dining room as open shelving for serving platters, cake stands, glassware and the bottles for a home bar, or in a home office to hold files and favourite books. It makes a handsome display in a hallway, and in a living room it gives books, pottery and framed photographs a proper gallery. The frame draws a crisp silhouette against a light wall and makes pale ceramics stand out; a pair either side of a doorway looks especially architectural.