I have a love-hate relationship with bookshelves.
I love their storage capability but find them difficult to decorate.
Then there is the age old issue: are they to be functional or decorative or both?
ugh...
For me, filling them is NO problem, but making them look good is a different story.
I've gone through different phases...sometimes I like them monochromatic...sometimes whatever goes...sometimes sparse or jammed packed.
double ugh...
Then there is the book issue...facing front, facing back. Sort by color, size, topic...wrap them, bookjackets on, off...
My head just spins.
What's a girl to do?
Look for inspiration online.
Houzz is a great start.
That's where these images are from.
You can read the entire article here.
Then I found this picture on Nell Hill's Facebook page:
Mary Carol Garrity wrote:
"Bookshelves are made for more than books and that’s where I stage our family’s narrative. The narrative describes the people who live in the house and it is the charm of the home. I try to tell the story of the family by showing our taste, passions, experiences, preferences and outlook in the objects we love."
After I read her words, I knew what I was going to do:
love.my.bookshelves.
Next post...My Lovely Bookshelves.
ok...Show me YOURS and I'll show you MINE...:))
ReplyDeleteI so agree that bookshelves are so hard. I just added beadboard to the backs of mine and just finished redoing all the contents. I have looked through tons of books and on line for inspiration. I can't wait to see how yours look. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you and I too have been googling book shelf images for the last couple of weeks-thanks for giving me some more inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Natasha.
PS Hope the school year has started well for you.
Natasha.
I absolutely love that quote about the bookshelves. She's right! I was thinking when I read it that I DO read a narrative about the family when I look at the bookshelves in their homes. I had never thought about it before, but I do.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to your next post! In the meantime, I will take a critical look at my own bookshelves.
oh how i wish i had a library in my house! With the tall, rolling ladders, and maybe even a window seat for snuggling into with a good book!!! But, there's not enough room here, in our Florida home...Right now, I've used one of my windowsills for some of my favorite books!
ReplyDeleteThe one bookshelf that I have here, is in need of a paint job, and I just "re-inherited" it from my daughter's room when she moved out, it's now my craft projects shelf!!! I need to get out my paint, and paint some of my wooden TS items, since they're taking up a large amount of space on my bookshelf! And then paint my shelf, and maybe actually use it for books!!!
PS thanx for sharing your comment on my blog! And I look forward to seeing more of yours!~~I love your seashell boxes and that little cabinet with the grillwork! What great TS finds!!! And your needlework blog was great!!! I'm gonna have to do a post about needlework!!!
I've done the same thing. Taken the books out and tried to make it look decorative. Before long, I get tired of dusting the "decorative" and go back to stuffing my books in because I run out of room!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I'm having a new one time linky party...come see!
ReplyDeletehttp://chickncharge.blogspot.com/2010/08/soul-of-south.html
Hi Sharlotte,
ReplyDeleteYour post is so timely for me as I just got my 2 large bookcases built and now, its time to decorate them.. I can hardly wait to see your beautiful new bookcases, just know in advance I may be copycating you... I know for sure I'm gonna need some serious help..
I love all the samples you posted:)
Sonny