How to Spruce Up an Ugly Permanent Bookshelf? -- Good Questions

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Q: My new apartment has this weird bookshelf that is bolted into the ground in a nook in the hallway. My landlady said she can't remove it because it is protecting piping (you can see the pipes on the left side). The bookshelf is also attached to the oblong white shelf above it. What can I do to make this look less awkward and more attractive? I didn't want to just put a curtain over it...Sent by Anna