While I do like them, I dont think I would like them over a sofa, perhaps a desk. They look like they belong more in a home office than a family room, IMO.

I like the shelf but agree that it looks like it should be in an office.

Why not turn it into you own version of a Louise Nevelson?

Here is a link that might be useful: Examples of Louise Nevelson's boxes

I think it depends on how big the room is. A box with a bunch of small items over a huge sectional would look odd. I like the box filled with a collection, but you need to be able to really examine the small items, and you're not likely to turn around, kneel on the sofa and look at them.

For my home, I have also thought it would be nice to put something on a wall that's not "framed" and somewhat 3-D.
I love this Bronze Bird wall art from Pottery Barn, but out of my price range right now.

-Laurie

Suero - thanks for the Louise Nevelson link - I was not acquainted with her work - love it!

Suero, that is really cool. Kind of reminds me of this "collage" of printer's blocks. We have a similar plaque that we got at the Portobello flea market in London several years ago but it's only about 8" x 10"!

ideefixe, our LR is on the small size. About 12' x 18' and the sofa is on one of the long walls so when you walk past the sofa (squeezing through between coffee table and fireplace!) you're only about 6' from the wall behind the sofa.

Here is a link that might be useful: art

Sue, what were you thinking of putting in these boxes if you were to get them for over your sofa? And since these cubbys are rough hewn, what does the rest of the room.furnishings look like? Do you have a picture to share?

Hey Sue, someone else had the same idea. If you scroll about a 1/3 down the page on this link you'll see Haskell's Birmingham cottage. She has a similar, but larger shelf over her sofa. Might help you picture what it would look like.

Here is a link that might be useful: cote de texas

justgotabme, we have so many little things around that I could put in those cubbies! I would try to add a lot of color and 'light' since they would be brown shelves over a brown (leather) sofa. I like rough hewn texture of them. I don't have any good pics of the room, but we have dark wood trim, hardwood floors; furniture is a mix of antique (some Mission Oak), Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel; walls are SW Blonde.

Thanks for the link, budge. At least I know I'm not completely nuts.

One concern that is just occurring to me is that DH is very tall and I wonder if I would have to hang the shelves high enough so his head wouldn't butt up against them.... I think in terms of that, I might have to hang something on the wall, like a box!, temporarily to see what it would be like to have something of that depth on the wall.

Oh, just found this old pic of the LR showing the sofa. The accessories have changed but the sofa, lamps, and table are the same now.

And here's the fireplace opposite the sofa.

Ahhhhh, Budge, I should have checked this post first!! That photo is what I had in my mind. Since I searched & saved,here is a copy.

Smiles:)

I like the idea. I think you will need at least 25-30 good things for the 50 cubbies if you do two.

I really like those cubbies. If your DH won't bump his head, then I think it's a good idea!

I like it in that picture...it looks great...I say "go for it!"

Honestly, I think it would be great. I think your DH would have to some contorting to hit his head on it, but I am always advocating for mockups - just to be sure.

I sat on the sofa today and tried to visualize the cubby things on the wall, and I now agree with budge, you'd have to really TRY to hit your head on them. I asked DH and he said, "Yes! I love it! Do it!" (Or words to that effect.) I just think it's a cozier look than another framed picture. And, they'd be easy enough to use elsewhere if I changed my mind later on. I'm ordering them today and will spend the rest of the winter arranging and rearranging objects in the cubbies! Will post pics when done...

Just an update -- received the shelves and hmm, I just don't love the way they look here. I think they'd work better with some sort of cohesiveness to the items placed in the cubbies, and my "stuff" just looked really random in there. (I didn't hang either of them, just propped one up and put some items on the shelves.) However, I think they would be great in our summer cottage, filled with shells and rocks and, uh, lobster claws and other oddities that my kids insist on collecting... so that's where they'll go.

I'm back to the "huge map" idea but so far, haven't found a map that is either the right size or that I really love.

Could you enlarge a map you have found that you like? There are places that will do that for you. Make a few phone calls to see who has a blueprint copier in your area & ask them about it.

Did you try ebay for the map? I've had really good luck getting antique prints, etc. at a good price.