Update: I went to Lowe's and got the monkey hooks. Thanks for the recommendation. They worked really well, but OMG, this project was a huge pain the butt. Now that I got them hung I will have to rearrange the jerseys to get them to lay better in the frames.

We don't close up our camp for the winter, but when we leave we close the blinds and draw the drapes to keep it warmer. Although it is rare there has been instances of break-ins in camps that are closed up for the winter. Keeping the blinds closed would keep eyes from looking in to see what is worth stealing. Also one or two lamps on a timer wouldn't hurt and wouldn't cost that much in electricity.

Thanks everyone for your comments, very helpful (and reassuring). Martha- We will only need about 6 inches of baseboard for the small area that won't be covered by the bookcase. I think we'll be able to get an intact piece of existing baseboardfor that. Lyndee Lee-fortunately lighting won't be an issue. The living room is flooded with light from southern and western exposures with no buildings blocking the light (9th floor). The bedroom will be a little darker, but that will make my husband happy LOL. kats737-crazy old house person here too! Elizabeth-the contractor and plaster specialist are going to discuss/make suggestions about the millwork, whether to remove the section that the bookcase will cover, or adapt the bookcase around it. We're not sure just yet. summersrhythm_z6a-We need space for many more books than a secret door bookcase would give us LOL. My husband is downsizing a library of 10,000 to about 3,000 and I REALLY need this 12-foot run of wall for one of the bookcases we'll have in the apartment.

If you haven't made the decision yet, my post is more thought-provoking for you and less my opinion. -Is the area outside of the doors/windows an area that will be used for entertaining? -What is the outdoor furniture plan; is it affected by the potential window? -Is the patio a covered area? Stand outside looking in and see if the window looks weird/unnecessary next to the SGD under a covered patio like the window doesn't belong or was an architectural afterthought? -If the area outside the potential new window is covered, how much light would you get from the window anyway? (Does the window serve a purpose for you in the basement?) -if the potential window is not under cover of a patio roof and you want more natural light, you could close the bottom 2/3 of the now-door and install one long or three short clerestory windows to add more natural light, that way the window wouldn't interfere with your furniture plans on either side. The three clerestory windows will add $$$ to your project, but could look nice? (...there's structural engineering to consider, so...) -From the exterior and interior, are the SGD and window symmetrical/asymmetrical? (Will the lack of symmetry make your eyes or your brain pupset down the road? I ask because my neighbors added a master suite over a garage to their existing home. The windows above the garage are hodgepodge like an architect had nothing to do with their addition. The garage door is centered on the bottom half of the addition; however, the two windows above are small; they're not lined up --one is a few feet higher than the other -- there's only two of them--it just looks wrong. So, my advice, walk far away and look at the exterior wall to plan the function your window/no window. :)