I was in Target and decided to take a look in housewares. The selection of really good looking bowls was impressive and most of them are cheaper than regular house plant pots. I think I'll be getting a few of them, and a diamond encrusted drill bit. I never thought to look at these bowls as potential pots. Thanks for the ideas!

I have that book along with any other Hosta books available. I'm a person that gets inspired by the visual. I look though my books all the time either for an idea for some issue or just allow the book to 'speak' to me. I don't collect a lot of tiny or very small hostas but I do have some. I definitely got some ideas from looking at this book. I realized this year that keeping the mini's in pots is fine but in the long run more tricky for me in my climate. This year I created two more areas where the little ones could be in the ground (pictures attached). The second picture where the Buddha lives also had the little pagoda thing added inspired by a picture in the book. I do agree there could have been more identifying going on. The first picture brings these plants up higher to view as you walk by. It was partially inspired by the raised bed in the book although that one was made of wood and much higher and larger than this. This garden previously had a collection of blues and greens. This is one of the few areas of the garden without overhead watering. The plants here don't get so spotty from hard water. The places where the mini's and smalls are was full of plants similar to the size of Devon Green and Blue Wedgwood. It looks fine but I realized this year that using the contrast of size was pleasing to my eye.

Outside, I enjoy those books too--- my late FIL went to school with Ferrol Sams and we love his novels. I hadn't realized he wrote essays as well. "When attending art shows, I swear off coffee table books but I am weak." We share that weakness, lol. Seems I am "always" never going to buy another huge book... Beagles, that room is fantastic, and I do see your pile of books peeking out from under that chair to the left :-) I'm with you on the kindle, but every now and then I like to hold a real book. Even though I find myself pushing the edge of the page instead of turning it (hanging head). No screen can reproduce the heft and color of those prints in large books, there is something about a good quality art print that is somehow more convincing than an image on a screen. Sloe gin, over the past decade or so I've seen many people putting lovely shelving in their dining rooms to combine functions or simply bring books into a room that doesn't often see them. I love that look, of a literary dining room! And your basket sounds eminently practical, we use our shagreen boxes and ceramic bowls for the same purpose--- the "stuff" has got to be corralled somehow. I have seen that Circus book, Robo, and the Atomic Ranch book also, they are both marvelous! It's clear that our collective enjoyment of these tomes is at least partly for the esthetic quality of the books themselves in addition to the content. I suppose that's what makes them "useful" decor :-) In some cases they might function purely as decor, as the leather books you've used, tinam. Have you seen the book purses that are so popular in some circles? Kate Spade has or had a few, and there's quite a cottage industry on Etsy making real old books into small handbags. They aren't a tenth big enough for me, but I love looking at them!

I thought I sent a reply before but looks like I forgot to hit send before going to sleep yest night! thanks rdsso for sharing pics. Lovely transformation. It looks so warm and cozy. The little rocking chair is adorable! Is that a faux treatment on the brick? Did u by anychance use a product called brick-a-new? if not, could u tell me how you did it. I love what you have done with the bookcase also. I wish mine could be recessed like yours. :-( ideefixe: Revlon makes no color that looks good on swine. LOL! that's so true! It sure is an ugly duckling! As for the bookcases, maybe I will get a couple of qoutes from custom woodmakers..They are just so expensive around here but worth a try! I might have to wait for a long time before DH gets around to it. I was in ikea the other day. I was tempted to buy a couple of their bookcases to plonk them down and be done with it! What do you think? Thanks for your suggestions Vinaya Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea Liatorp