It was decidedly unsaucy upstairs. Books had always been a problem and Billy Bookcases always look much better at Ikea then they do when you get them home.
It was obvious that there was a lot of wasted space, especially vertical space. Why not build custom bookcases to fit the room? Cover the whole wall solve the "no room for books" problem and solve the "wretchid wall space" problem as well.
I think the bookcases might end up getting painted white, but the wood looked too nice stained to not at least try it like that for a while.