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After redoing our master bedroom with PAX wardrobes, we are heading back to Atlanta IKEA this week to get a living room shelving system. Initially we like the Billy with glass doors. But the Bonde system seems to have more features available. If we use the Billy, we can add shelving behind the front door because it is narrower. If we use the Bonde we have to start past the swing of the front door. So here are the topics:
is 90" Length of Bonde more functional than 122" of Billy?
Anyone have any favorite Bonde components? anyone use the bar, just curious?
Any additional tips or heads up that I need?
I've installed a lot of both systems, and I think you'll do better with Bonde than Billy.
Both lines come in varying heights and widths, and have glass and solid doors available. If you purchase doors, they will come with simple knobs, but you can buy your own that can customize either line.
Billy is a long-standing (original, even) IKEA line, but isn't too much more than a series of bookcases. It is often shown with the Benno line, which adds a little versatility. With Billy, you can get 15, 24 or 31" (all approx.) widths. Perhaps the biggest drawback with Billy is the depth - while it's listed at 11". the actual "usable" size is 10 1/2", due to the way the back attaches to the pieces.
Bonde is more of an entertainment/display type of unit. It has basic shelving units which can be used for books, divided units for display, and drawer components for hidden storage. In terms of dimensions, the width is either 14 or 28" (again, approx.); the listed depth of 15 3/4" is very close to true.
For my money, the neatest part of the Bonde system are the "boxes" IKEA sells which fit perfectly into the cubby holes in the shelving units - they come in a woven wicker style, or a semi-opaque plastic.
Chuck do you happen to have any pictures of the Bonde or Billy installations? We're looking at doing an entertainment center and I'd love to see some examples.
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Chuck, thanks for your input. it was a hard decision, and ultimately the billy ruled out based on price and the look we were going for. the billy is more "homely feeling" and the bonde more formal. we got the byom glass doors with birch trim. I'll post some photos when done. thanks again! Jed
We're thinking of using Bonde to make a rolling bookcase/door for the 1/2 bath off our den. The way that the bookcase shell is structured, the bottom piece sits on the floor. We would need to raise it up so that it doesn't scrape the floor as it slides on the barn door track and/or so that we can put some casters underneath to help it slide.
Do you think this bookcase can handle the stress & strain of rolling it back and forth every time someone needs to open and close the door? (We're going to keep the "door" closed so that it's a hidden doorway).
Do you think we need to beef up the back to give it more structural integrity?
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Do you think this bookcase can handle the stress & strain of rolling it back and forth every time someone needs to open and close the door? (We're going to keep the "door" closed so that it's a hidden doorway).
Do you think we need to beef up the back to give it more structural integrity?
I'll chime in here because I just had to give some TLC to a couple of older Billy units in my studio.
I would absolutely beef up the back panel somehow if they're the same fiberboard stuff as the Billy. On mine, the panels were all loose and had warped and bowed out so that they were not longer in their channels, which needless to say, was a PITA and a detriment to the stability of the whole unit.
I think the easiest solution would be to add an additional piece of plywood or masonite behind the regular back panel and nail/glue it on.
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