So, I have the same lust for this sort of thing as you do. However, I would never pay big money for something like this. (Industrial chic is lovely, but the clock is ticking on its staying power. Heck, I don't pay big money for anything decor-related, because in five years it's going to be "so last year," and I want to be able to replace it!)

Check out the bookshelves lower down on this page - not the ironworker shelves, but the ones with pipe legs:

http://shop.retro.net/?page_id=579

If you go to Home Depot or Lowes or another big hardware store, they sell pipe (black or gray-silver) at different lengths, PLUS the little flange thingies that you can screw easily into wood, and which the pipes screw into. If you have a drill and a screwdriver, you can build one of these fairly easily and cheaply - AND fit it exactly to your space.

You can use plain old lumber and stain it to make it look faux-old, or you can go to an architectural salvage place and buy old floor boards or barn boards for the shelves. Online, you can find casters to fit inside the pipe you buy.

That's what I would do, if I wanted to build a bookcase or console like this.

This isn't as large, but it has a similar look:

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Industry_Bookshelf/910/

This one's really big and industrial looking:

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Industrial_Mansard_Double_Book_Shelf/210/

try these:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11095205

http://www.wisteria.com/French-Shopkeepers-Shelves/productinfo/W3527/

I love this bookcase from overstock.
It's slightly over $400, but sometimes you can find coupons to bring it down a bit.

Global Industrial sells real industrial shelves. They also sell the lab stools featured in recent posts: http://www.globalindustrial.com

There's a smaller shelf from Urban Outfitters that has a similar style:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=20365805&parentid=A_FURN_FURNITURE&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=10&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=A_FURN_FURNITURE&popId=APARTMENT&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

Mary BC, love the idea of building your own! Maybe I'll try it...

i literally just saw this last night at the home goods in woodbridge, nj. i know it might be a trek for you, but there's one there.

How about going to Sears and getting some REAL industrial shelves?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914903000P?srccode=cii_28503622&cpncode=00-26666613-2&i_cntr=1310485922293&sid=IDx20080509x00003n

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914902000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

Thanks for all of your ideas! I have never tried to build something as ambitious as shelves, but I might try!

Have you considered an industrial supply store? This looks like something you would see in a commercial kitchen.

PS It's easy to paint metal. Benjamin Moore has products to prep the metal, and then sells metallic paint. It's necessary to stir the paint while using it to keep the metal flakes in circulation. I used the black on some ordinary iron and aluminum pieces, and they both looked like wrought iron when they were finished.

I second A Little Paint. Look at the Renate Bookshelf from overstock.

Cost Plus World Market has a whole line of furniture like this - metal with wood shelves.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40103727

I know it's a little different, but $15...very industrial and you couldn't make it for less.