When The Books are Stacked in Your Favor

It’s no secret that books are my Number One favorite decorating accessory.  I’m not as shallow as it may seem – I actually READ most of the books I use to decorate my home. 

book tower via flickr When The Books are Stacked in Your Favor

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I love them because they reflect who I am – and that’s what home decorating is all about to me.  So I love bookcases and shelving that make it easy to display my lovely tomes.  Like CB2′s Array bookshelves.  [Read more...]

Can Your Kindle Do THIS???

bookstack side table via dec0r Can Your Kindle Do THIS??? It’s no secret I adore books.  Not just reading them, but using them as decor in my home and the homes of my clients.  They are such a great way to express your interests and your creativity.  Isn’t it ironic that coffee table books can be stacked to make a side table?

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Ever Thought of Hanging Art Here?

Boring bookcases?  Want to add some interest?  Hang a piece of your favorite art on the exterior frame of the bookcase.  Here are some examples:

bookcase art via ellle decor Ever Thought of Hanging Art Here?


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A Yard Sale Story

Great things happen to me at yard sales.  Seemingly small but great things.   There have been countless times I’ve had a thought like “I wish I had a toaster oven,” then two weeks later I stop by a yard sale on the way home from somewhere else and find a perfect toaster oven. 


Here’s my most recent example.  A few weeks ago, this was the vignette on the table in the entry to my house.  I love grouping vintage books by color, and pink is a hard color to come by.  I love the children’s book on top, The Pink Motel.   But it’s obviously a bit worn, torn, and dirty.   I usually don’t display books in this condition – I like to have clean, functional pieces in my collections.  But I really love the pink cover, the title, and the illustrations on the cover. DSC 3325 A Yard Sale Story

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Inspiration from Anthropologie


I love Anthropologie.   I guess it’s the vintage-hip-bohemian vibe that draws me in.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  It’s not like I buy anything there except for the occasional little decor trinket.  The clothes are way too expensive for me, but I get so much decor and fashion inspiration by just perusing that store.  We’ll just focus on the decor inspiration for today, particularly in regards to Christmas styling. anthropologie gift Inspiration from Anthropologie

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Rethinking Bookcases

Let’s think outside the bookcase.   I’ve found some really interesting ideas for bookcases.  There are many ways to display books and create makeshift bookcases. CrissCross Bookcase 300x232 Rethinking Bookcases

You can stack things to make a bookcase, you know.  Crates, boxes, even benches and tables.  Check out this crafty bookcase from Better Homes and Gardens.

Better Homes and Garden Bench Bookcase Rethinking Bookcases

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Tablescapes

Express your inner artist – create tablescapes.  Just grab some things you love or better yet, grab one thing you love and find a few other things to compliment or contrast it.  Clear off a tabletop, mantel, side table, buffet, whatever.  If you’re like me, sometimes creativity needs boundaries or at least a few guidelines to get me going. DSC 3352 300x171 Tablescapes


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Euro Trash Girl – Annie Brahler

OK, I admit it.  I’m kinda obsessed with Annie Brahler.  I’ve been following her for the last couple of years.  I’ve saved every picture from every magazine layout she’s ever had of her home – she’s been featured in two issues of Country Living, two issues of Home Companion (now defunct), and in Romantic Homes.  I’m sure there have been more.   Photos from this post are from those publications.

Annie in Bedroom Euro Trash Girl   Annie Brahler


She lives in the most amazing home I have ever seen.  Annie lives in Jacksonville, Illinois.   Doesn’t sound like a terribly exciting place, but check out this unbelievable Beau Arts home!!!  She lives here with her 3 perfect children, 2 perfect dogs, and presumably, her perfect husband.  She certainly has a perfect lawn care guy.

Annies Beaux Arts Home Euro Trash Girl   Annie Brahler

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Creating a Library


DSC 54422 176x300 Creating a Library I’m always encouraging clients to make their rooms more functional, more beautiful, and more “them.”  This is a great example of taking an underused room and making it highly useful and true to the homeowner’s interests.  These homeowners are true bibliophiles (that means they’re readers icon smile Creating a Library ).  But all their books and bookcases were stuffed into a guest bedroom.  It made perfect sense to bring the books into the place they actually lived – or should I say, now actually live.  This room had little function for them before, except to hold hand-me-down furniture that didn’t reflect their own tastes. 

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Decorating with Books

Ok, I LOVE books.  I love to read.  Books are like friends to me, and I have a hard time getting rid of books that I have read.  So a long time ago, I decided to start decorating with them.  Why not?  They tell people who you are, what you like.  I stack them under lamps and decorative items to give them a lift or add color.  I group them by color to coordinate with certain rooms throughout my home.   I stack them on tables to express who I am and what my interests are.  

DSC 25703 Decorating with Books

I have collected vintage children’s books for many years before I ever had children.  The cover colors and artwork are amazing.  But even new books look better if you take off those glossy covers!  Hardback covers are typically blues, greens, browns, blacks, and reds. – so they are easy to group to make a color statement.  Vintage books have the most beautifully illustrated covers and fonts – and many original vintage bookcovers are amazing as well – they are the only ones I don’t strip off!   Any vignette is improved with the addition of a stack of books. 

DSC 3362 Decorating with Books

 

Here are some thoughts about decorating bookcases:

  • Don’t just use bookcases for books – and don’t put all your books in bookcases. Use books on tables, mantels, etc.
  • Stack books, turn them sideways, use them to elevate other objects.
  • Hang artwork on exterior frame of a bookcase.
  • Paint or wallpaper backs of bookcases, curios, or cabinets.
  • As a rule, larger books and items go at the bottom of a bookcase.
  • Use a zig-zag formation in bookcases.   Then fill in with interesting accessories.
  • Accessories in bookcases can include small pictures, lamps, large shells, art objects, pottery, framed photos, vases, etc.


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Photo Credits:  The Decorologist (formerly StoneBrook Staging).

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