I’d start by sketching a grid that feels like a blueprint but also leaves room for surprise. Pick a sturdy frame material—old oak or reclaimed plywood—so every joint can be a tiny narrative spot. Instead of smooth cuts, leave a faint groove or a slightly uneven edge where the hand has worked; that makes the shelf feel lived in. For the modularity, use a peg‑hole system that’s hidden inside the joints; the pegs can be hand‑engraved with tiny symbols or dates that change when you rearrange the modules. When you glue the panels, press the edges with a hand‑rolled rag instead of a clamp—this gives a subtle unevenness that looks intentional. Add a splash of color by hand‑staining each board a different shade, then let the stain drip or bleed in places where the wood was cut slightly thicker. The key is to build the structure first, then layer the personality. Keep a small notebook of “imperfection ideas” and revisit it when a part feels too perfect—sometimes the best stories come from those little, unscheduled quirks.