Cath, I keep my gardening books on a Target bookshelf in the hallway outside my bedroom so they are close to me. I haven't room in my bedroom, which is where I have a discarded wooden table for a desk and the upper part of a castaway hutch for a small bookshelf on one end. The gardening books are organized by how I stuffed them onto the shelves. This is unhandy if I am in a hurry to find something. But most of the time I enjoy perusing the shelves to look at the titles as I am in no hurry usually to find whatever-it-is. I never mind buying books or feel guilty as 1) I buy them used for pennies plus postage most of the time and 2) reading and gardening are my main sources of entertainment so I look at buying books as just investing in my own education and interests. Some people love shoes or red wine; I buy books. A lot of us are like this, Cath. The gardening books I'm currently reading, the drawing books, laptop, pencils, oddly shaped cream colored baby pumpkin, stapler, music cd's, a paper six-pack container for Blue Moon Pale Ale turned into a home for my colored pencils, and a sturdy pencil sharpener all jockey for room on my desk. When I'm finished the books go back onto the bookshelf in whatever spot is open. I'd class my garden, gardening books and all the rest of our library of books and music in the same category as my favorite sweaters and MacKissic chipper shredder. Sentimental value: a little perhaps to my children who have their own interests and burgeoning libraries to deal with. Monetary value: little to none. I worked in estate settlement for a bank for awhile and spent time cleaning out the homes of people who had died and left the bank as their trustee. So many things people had that they treasured but were of no value to their families. It gave me a good perspective on what people leave behind and how little in importance any of it really is. Since I buy books for my own amusement and education, I don't expect anyone else to really think what I enjoyed during my life is of importance. But if the Antique Rose Forum is still around when I get ready to meet my Creator, I might start giving them away here. I hope new rosies continue to show up here and this place continues. Or I guess I could donate them to my library's used book sales, but giving them away here might be more fun.

Glad to hear your girls like fairy tale characters. The book was rather difficult with a jillion characters to keep track of but maybe someday they will tackle that also. As far as a pic of the room, it doesn't exist except in my mind. Right now it is filled to the ceiling almost with stuff moved out of our kitchen which has been demolished and any furniture now in the room such as a loveseat and coffee table,etc. will be given/donated away. I'm even not absolutely sure of the arrangement in my diagram but so far I'm tending in that direction. May have to close the wall a bit between living room and dining room because I think a little less openness there might add some coziness and also give me room to put a corner cabinet in the dining room that will kind of be hidden but still useful for storage which is what this house has least of. Obviously, I don't have this all together but I do best one step at a time so if I could make up my mind about the bookcases, I think it would help me move on to the next step of deciding the rest of the furniture/room. Even the fireplace is unfinished and covered with cement backer board ready for marble (which we haven't picked out yet) but I think the bookcases because they will be first thing one sees when they enter the room should be decided first. Thoughts? The house though small is quite nice even if I do say so myself - especially once we get the kitchen remodel finished. (Though we also have a big job ahead of us doing the hardwood floors plus other tasks by contractors - this is not diy). The house is 75 years old but as I continue on this journey of remodeling, it seems my tastes have definitely moved from vintage/eclectic to modern/eclectic. Hence the reason for my indecision. I think the builtin bookcases will definitely bring me back from my modern direction. And I've heard it mentioned here that some think builtin bookcases give a room character. We are very fortunate that our house has so much character that it is not a major concern to add more. Though guess it never hurts. (sorry I'm rambling, it is late , will stop here...)

Annieb...I love your stuff! Your memory mosaic's are a wonderful idea. I totally agree that most people you know think they are helping you out by commissioning something from you, and freak when you charge them what it's worth. I'v heard this comment.." You made that, it didn't cost you that much" Like my time is free, because I know them, or they are family! I felt like saying, your husband builds houses....I'll buy the stuff, have him build me one! My hubby gets that from family all the time...he's expected to put carpet in all their homes for free, everytime they move. Because it's what he does and it doesn't cost him that much to do it. Well it cost him to loose paying jobs to do it. So we fixed that! We moved away!hahaa Hazie

Joann: Thank you for the design and all of the example pics. You and your DH are really very talented. Did either or you ever do this work professionally or is it a hobby? Thank you for highlighting all of the architectural details. That is exactly what I need to see. DH and I were debating about this glass as the side panels are quite narrow so your pics are very helpful to visualize the whole effect. I should mention here that this is not a fully custom shop. We basically get to pick different door/cabinet styles, wood species/stain/hardware, height/width, drawers and component configuration so I may not be able to order some of the lovely design details you incorporated, though I will bring in the pics and inquire about it on Sat. I did notice the bottom doors on the console are not full overly which it looks like you designed for the sides. I'm going to guess my top option will not be full overlay so we'll see. Also, my hinges are not the euro style on bottom and stick out the sides. Wouldn't they need to match? As the TV is 50" wide, I was thinking of having the center opening be 51". Then in the vertical direction with the TV height at 31" I was thinking we should add a bit of beathing room--say about 3" extra on top so the TV box would then be 51"W x 34"H. I think I'll check the TV specs to see any ventillation requirements, though I know DH wants some holes in the back for cables, etc. I notice hoosiergirl's TV is very tightly set into the built-in. I'll let you know what they come up with when we go in over the weekend.