We sci fi/fantasy readers NEVER give back books, but collect them and love them, returning to them when nothing new has come our way. I rarely get anything new here in Israel, so I rely on the one, maybe two used shops in Haifa, where the pickin's are slim and new stuff is a luxury and very expensive. My partner wails and moans over the state of my two bookshelves (messy, crammed, etc.) but I know exactly what is where. Years ago, my beloved books, which I laboriously brought with me overseas, was stored at an acquaitance's home while I relocated. There was a family fight, and her brother in a pique threw every book into the garbage, and I only found two survivors to tell the tale. Woodchip first edition of Our Bodies Ourselves, other jewels of sci fi fantasy from the seventies, you name it, GONE. Since then I've never let anybody have power over my library. I would curl up and fade away without my books, like without my garden. WHat I can't explain is my refusal to throw out a huge amount of old magazines, like The Whole Earth Review (I have them from when it was the Coevolution Quarterly); Mothering; the Sun, etc. Why do they mean so much? NO answer. Oh well, if this were only my wierdest quirk........

A forest will choke out a thicket, I often recomend that fruit and nut trees be planted on purpose, so that we lock up carbon and produce food for ourselves, and chocke out the brush plants that are unpleasent to walk through. When you go on a hike along a tail it seems that you are always either bordered by clearing/lawn or by a thicket, but once you break through that thicket you can useually travle quite quickly and easily and have plenty of space to move about. The main reasonfor removing trees and brush historicly wasn't to make things more pleasent, it was to open up land for agricultural use. with a field we can grow staple cerial grains, or legumes, or use it as pasture for animals, while some trees may provide seasonal food for some critters it takes alot of work to survive off of them year round (and trust me when I say thing, willow does not taste that good) . Our modenr day lawns were not contrived from thin air, you need to look at were they came from to understand how they fit in. Lawns are popular mainly in the south (sure, lots of people like them, but in the south they are sick for them) the south had a large portion of its caucasian inhabitants come from scotland (the southern drawl is very closely related to the scots accent) in schotland they have huge green field that are kept down to a few inches all summer long, this is because there is alot of rain and people raise sheep. Now, in the south there isn't as much water in the summer, and there aren't as many sheep, but people still liked the look of home so a lawn with mowers and irrigation is what they came up with.

Hi, mshutterbug. I like your concept. It's essentially a "rotating" gallery wall and I think it will be interesting and fun. I'd go with shelves in a similar finish as that of the built-in top. In consideration of the shorties in the family, I'd add a light weight but sturdy step stool. (It's a drag sometimes, but working for what we want tends to build character!) It'll also serve as nice perch for a smaller person. Since you're thinking about ditching the framed cork board, consider some art in its place. As I'm sure you're aware, art is something that enriches and educates young and old alike. I think a lamp would be good, too. A table top terrarium would be educational and likely enjoyed by everyone in the family. You can make it and care for it together. They're really fun! I added an abacus, because it could be a learning opportunity for everyone in the house. They also have an orderly, sculptural quality I find appealing. Your aesthetic may differ. Here's a mock-up to illustrate my ideas. I hope it helps! (The rug placement/size can be addressed when and if you choose.)

Start by removing everything, including what's behind the doors, giving the cabinet a good cleaning and inspection to see if it needs to be painted or repaired. Consider changing the hardware for a lighter, beachy look. Think about using luan or foam core to cut inserts for the back of the openings, so you can paint or paper them and change the vibe at will. Sort photos, decor and books into labeled boxes or categorized piles/stacks. Then reduce the items in the categories again, separating the sentimental items from the generic ones. Next, go to the sentimental categories and work through them. What is important about this item, was it a gift that means something, what is it that attaches you to the item, does it really need to be displayed or is it just a special keepsake? The items that you must keep, but don't need to look at or display daily, can be kept behind the doors. Work through the generic items in a similar way. For me, I would first decide how hard it is to keep the item clean. In my case, the topiary, the basket and the birdcage would have to go because they're intricate and are hard to clean dust-catchers. This may be a good time to analyze items in the rest of the home. Some may need to be used in this cabinet (or not.) Anyway, spring cleaning is good for the soul. When you put the cabinet back together use 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor and 1/3 open space. Don't line up items like soldiers, but layer them. Photos can be used but should be in different sizes so you can layer them for interest; trios of a large one behind two smaller ones is good. Don't put photo groupings on the same level of shelf, but mix them up, still keeping them low enough to be seen, and limit them to two or three groupings. Books can stand, lean or stack to support other decor items. You can wrap books in other paper to change their look. Decor should be large enough to be identified from the seating without having to approach the cabinet. Small photos will be better if put on tables in the room for closer inspection. Keep the top clear until you've staged the rest. One large item might be sufficient. You can also light the shelves with LEDs it you think that helps draw the eye to the shelves instead of the top.