Accessorizing a book case...is this a do or a don’t?
How would you improve upon these? They’re located in the dining room area. They were collected from a home decoration store whose owners decided to retire. I loved the owner’s style but now they look to me as if they belong in a store and not a home...because I’m no good at this! I was thinking of painting them grey, to match the walls (they’re quite now) so they look more like built ins and less stark. I originally saw them as holding books, blankets for the nearby deck and have china and glassware stored in decorative leather boxes for the occasional dinner party. Thoughts? Please?!
Comments (39)
jck910
3 years ago
Angel 18432
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Help me accessorize the bookshelves
Comments (5)The bookcases here in our study are constantly getting "uglified" by DH piling things up on them, so I don't have any decent pictures. But, we have a LOT of books and they're not matched sets we've bought for their looks, but books we read and love. I do like to take the dust jackets off of them when I can, though. I also like to intersperse a line of books with a short stack. I tend to try and keep any knicknacks in there large enough to make a visual impact. I think it's important to vary the visual weight from shelf to shelf if you're going to add in a lot of other objects. I also like using good, low wattage small lamps, small framed pictures and paintings on easels or just propped up, pots with or without greenery. I never use real greenery on a bookshelf, though. The chance of water damage to books concerns me too much. We're serious book lovers here! Here's a view of just one of the four in the study here that's semi-decent to show. Please keep in mind that these are bookcases we use for our books, art, photos, music and, in the study, things DH wants to store close to where he works. These are definitely NOT staged for pictures! If you look close enough, you'll see the dust ;^P And here's one small corner of our living room where I was able to squeeze in a bookcase. I keep some of DH's family photos here along with small group of Western paintings. Not as many books here at the moment, but see how I've tried to balance the weight on the second and third shelves? On the second shelf, the weight is on the left with the run of books. On the third shelf, the weight is on the right with the old oak radio, while the first (top) and fourth shelves have a solid weighted look to them across the entire shelves. Here's a small bookcase the houses some of our really old books. Again, I've varied the weight of each shelf from one side to the other. Sorry about the crummy pic, though....See MoreDon't think these sellers worry about trends
Comments (38)I had great-aunts and -uncles who lived in Alden Park when it was relatively new. I also had a great-aunt who lived in CH proper in a house that had something like 25 rooms, and I try out on occasion to find out if it is still residential. Typical of a lot of Philadelphia though, all but the real core of any neighborhood can often be a mixed bag. This isn't a Bad thing, in my mind, but how much crime is in the mix and how good the infrastructure is nearby are factors. A few months ago, I think my mother's actual house was for sale (she only lived there 'til she was 7...) and it was in great condition and it was Cheap. If you went in one direction the street got better and then you were in CH proper (this was GT or one of the Mt Airy's depending on what map you looked at). But drive on the street map a short distance in the other direction and there were abandoned cars. And no convenience stores or grocery stores for quite a ways....See MoreAnyone want to help accessorize my mantel? :) (pics!)
Comments (19)A pretty picture! Love the colors. I would add a tall glass vase with a few tall flowering branches on one side of the picture and group the lanterns on the other side.The reason for the taller element is because right now I am seeing pretty much everything on the mantel having the same height more or less. The tall branches will help stagger that. If you can, play around with placing one of the lanterns on a small stack of books. Not many, maybe two or three to add some height if the branches need some balance. It doesn't have to match the branches in height, just so there is not a huge differewnce. Your eye will know. The owls can probably be included as another height element somewhere near the vase to add some weight to that side since the vase/glass reads as empty. Maybe add some glass marbles in the bottom of the vase to anchor the branches and add some sparkle. Have fun! I've linked to some pictures of mantels. Take a look and see what you like. You could copy most looks! Here is a link that might be useful: mantels...See MoreCan you hire someone to "accessorize" your home?
Comments (17)jmm1837 aren't there two points of view here? -- hire someone if you don't feel able arrange your house yourself or use only things you yourself have chosen. When I wrote my comment I was thinking about my cousin who simply feels overwhelmed by "decorating" and just wants her house to look like a beautiful house for some neutral viewer and she'll like it too. Not to say that she is a total blank slate! What bethdeth needs to do is find all the things in her house that have sentimental meaning. Surely she has something she bought just "because" she couldn't resist. That's what the decorator she hires should work with. For instance, yesterday my neighbour told me about a keepsake that she keeps in a drawer -- it's a baseball scorecard that her grandfather kept in a box because he took his sweetheart -- her future grandmother -- to that game. I suggested she have it framed and insert photos of the couple so she could hang it up and her friends could see it. This is just a thought. But yes, bethdeth -- take some time and buy one picture that you really like. The decorator should be able to bring out your own tastes!...See Moreshirlpp
3 years agoUser
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agothe bookcases are fine, but I think the white isn't that good. is your door / floor trim black? consider painting the bookcases to match. or keep them white and wallpaper the backs a darker color.
the shelves look cramped. remove one from each case and space the rest out evenly. the items are actually too sparse. it needs more items, and for them to be layered. such as framed photos with small objects or smaller photos in front. or display a few favorite books so the cover faces front.
books with spines turned to the wall is impractical. I'm posting this just for layout ideas:
lidianonn
3 years agoAngel 18432
3 years agolidianonn
3 years agoUser
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agodefinitely don't paint them dark brown. painting wood brown to "match" real, stained wood never looks good.
but black could be nice if you think black furniture would work in there (it's hard to tell from the picture). or like I said, try wallpapering the backs first. that would be way easier and you can swap it out / undo whenever!
if you don't love bold patterns, opt for something subtle or textured:
or go for something bolder:
this below:
would turn out a little bit like this, but more subtle:
sushipup1
3 years agoerinsean
3 years ago
Lidia
3 years agomitchell935319
3 years agolidianonn
3 years agoPam Lamping
3 years agoshirlpp
3 years ago
Cheryl Smith
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI think they would work fine with some minor changes. First I’d center the right one in that wall. Then pull the left one closer to the door so that they are both the same distance away from the opening. Most posters need to remove things from their shelving but you need to add a few things. It needs to be things you love and mean something to you. Grandmas China, things you’ve collected from trips you’ve taken. Bring in your personality. Decorator pieces are okay.... if you love them. You could wallpaper or paint just the backs of the shelves.
My Work · More InfoLidia
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chloebud
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Michelle Wright
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Lidia