Douve Wooden Book Display - Natural

Douve is a low book display in natural paulownia: a long open box divided into three compartments and raised on four round pine legs. It is 91cm long, 35cm wide and 50cm tall. Books stand upright in it with their spines facing up, easy to read and easy to flick through, rather than packed tight on a shelf. Paulownia is one of the lightest timbers there is, which helps keep the whole piece to 5.3KG, light enough to lift and move whenever you rearrange a room.

At 50cm tall it sits low against a wall, under a window or beneath a group of framed prints. It makes a home for the books you actually reach for: the novel on the go, cookery books, magazines and the larger art books you like to leave out. The three compartments let you sort as you go, with paperbacks in one, magazines in another and notebooks or sketchbooks in the third. It suits a living room, a hallway, the foot of a bed or a study, and in a playroom it keeps picture books and toys in view and in order.

The box is paulownia and the legs are natural pine. The wood is left without a surface finish, so the grain shows plainly, and interlocking finger joints are visible at each corner of the box. The legs fix to the box with screws, and the maker's assembly instructions come as a PDF download. Care is simple: wipe it clean with a moist cloth. For styling, keep the tallest books in the middle compartment and stand a small vase or a framed print at one end to break up the line of spines; the styling props shown are not included.

Assembly instructions (PDF)

What is the Douve book display made of?

The box is made of 100% paulownia and the four round legs are natural pine. The wood has no surface finish, so its grain stays plainly visible.

How big is the book display?

It is 91cm long, 35cm wide and 50cm tall, a low piece that sits comfortably against a wall, under a window or at the foot of a bed.

How many compartments does it have?

Three open compartments run along its length, so you can sort paperbacks, magazines and larger books into separate sections and see them all at a glance.

How do I clean it?

The maker's care advice is to wipe it clean with a moist cloth. The wood is left without a surface finish, so keep to that simple routine.

Does it need assembling?

The legs fix to the box with screws, and the maker's assembly instructions come as a PDF download, so you can read them through in advance.

How heavy is it?

It weighs 5.3KG. Paulownia is one of the lightest timbers, so the display is easy to lift and move between rooms when you rearrange.