Bookcase Display

Today's post is a continuation of Cara's questions.  She also sent photos of these bookshelves and asked:

Do you like the arrangement of frames, books, and nicknacks on the media stand?  If not, what do you suggest?

Cara,

Let me say that I have seen much worse in display jobs.  I can tell that you did try to make it more of a display area rather than just a book storage- which I appreciate.  Let me try to explain to you where you can improve.

I would say that your biggest mistake here is that you have two things, something on the right, and something on the left, something on the right and something on the left on EVERY SHELF.  Yes- that is where you went wrong.

You only have three shelves on each side.  Make it so on one side you have two items, one item three items, and then do it differently on the other side, with, say, one item, three items, two items.  Remember that your shelves are most likely adjustable.  You don't have to have them all symmetrical. 

I also didn't notice a color theme in there.  Sometimes this is a good way to pull it together.  Notice the repetition of gold in the photo above?  It brings the look into the room decor in a stronger way.

See the plants in the look above?  I would have at least two plants in your area.  Plants make a display work on so many levels.  I love bringing in a natural element, and nothing has great texture like a plant.  They also bring life to an area.  Even if they are just a good, fake succulent.  Also notice the great variety above- I would say that you have too many photo frames.

A different way altogether to do it, that I think would be very easy for someone that doesn't consider themselves a great decorator, yet looks very professional- is to throw out everything I've said so far and just do a bunch a cream vases, like in the photo above.  I also love the idea of pulling them out to set a beautiful table from time to time.  The repetition with variation is a terrific look.  (With just a pop of color in this example.)

Same thing above-  Repetition with variation.  I can picture this with a bunch of green glassware, or wedgewood plates, or copper containers, or vintage gameboards, or gold pottery, or wood boxes.  repetition in theme, yet all different items. 

Displaying an area, whether it be a bookcase, curio, hutch, etc. can really be challenging if you don't have a natural sense of scale and balance.  If you put yourself in this category- invite a friend over who is a photographer, or or graphic designer, or someone that you think might have that natural sense.  I also like to draw out what I want on paper- and then look for things that fit into it- (sometimes requires shopping)  instead of having a bunch of items and trying to fit them all in... does that make sense?  (Or hire an interior designer for an hour or two!)

Good luck, and, like I said, I have seem much worse- check out some worse ones here.  ;-)

There is a lot you can learn from one good photo...

I told Kim a few weeks ago that she didn't have enough book storage to really pull off a cool design look using books.  (see this post)

I came across this photo today- (designer Jason Oliver Nixon) and thought- now here is an example where there is a large enough quantity to have the books look great.  I also love the incorporation of decorative elements sprinkled throughout.  Notice too the area above the bookcase.  This is sometimes an area where people tend to struggle.

I also liked the cluster of wall decor.  The variety is terrific- with common elements of sepia tones and red. 

The third thing I would like you to notice in the photo below is the wall color.  Dark brown works great here.  Dark brown, in my opinion rarely works great.  But I like it here.

Storage Meets Style

Hi Christine,

I just recently moved into an apartment, from a home. I have an open living/dining area that is not large to begin with, and I want to add a computer desk that can fit two monitors as well as dining and living room furniture. What do you think? I like a more modern look. Can you make it look less like an cookie cutter apartment and more like a cool NYC apartment? BTW- my husband likes black leather...

Thanks,

Shelly

Hi Shelly,

I made some plans for you.

1. Window treatments. Add drapes. They will do tons to make your place look finished. The panels above are on clearance from West Elm for only $15 each.
2. Area Rug. Don't think that just because you have carpet- you don't need a rug. A rug adds texture, style, pattern, and helps to separate areas in an open floorplan.
3. Use a bookcase for a sofa table. You can use it for books, or put baskets on it with any type of storage. It's like adding another wall to your room. Also add some wall shelves in the dining area. Lowe's sells some great ones- 36 inches wide- only $27.
4. In small spaces- nothing works so nicely as mirrors to open up space, reflect light and honestly make a room feel larger. The mirror above (uttermost) is 30 x 60- I would use two- and hang them horizontally on top of one another.
5. The console table above would make a great computer desk. It is 87 inches in width- giving you some good elbow room- but only 20 inches deep. Not to mention that it is the latest washed finish.
6. Use stools at the computer desk. They tuck away nicely- but can also double as extra dining seating.
7. Watch your scale on your furniture- don't go too deep- 4 inches really does make a difference in your room.
8. I would get a dining table that starts pretty small- but will open up larger. Then use a chair out of a clear translucent material. I found this cool one that comes in translucent black or clear. I think I'd use black.
9. No- I have not forgotten about your husband- let's make your chair in the corner a nice black leather one. ;)

I can see the place in my mind and it looks fabulous! I am sure it will be the best looking apartment in the complex! Don't forget lighting. Add some wall mounted swing arm lights at the desk- an uplight on a timer behind the plant- and a pharmacy floor lamp by the chair, and a cabinet light on the top wall shelf. If you have a hanging light in the dining area- consider replacing it with a cooler one than came with the apartment.

As a side note- my sister Jackie is a fabulous cook- and has started a blog sharing her amazing recipes- check it out! She also has sprinkled in some fun stories from when we were kids.

Furnished is NOT the same as Cluttered.

For any new readers out there- when you see a second color- like today it is green- that is me- interrupting. ;)

Christine,
A friend of mine discovered your blog several months ago. After talking several times about my living room, we decided to see what advice you could give to us. I hope that is okay.
I have a fairly awkward front room that is half two story and half one story that I just don't know what to do with. We are hopefully looking to get new furniture for this room sometime soon (although I have a sentimental attachment to our 70s couch), I am not a big fan of the fabric- but the style has a retro charm in an Anthropologie kind of way. I could totally see re-upholstering it- but that would be if you want to commit to a fun retro look- which is inconsistent with your wall decor altogether- you decide. but I would really love some guidance on how to arrange it. I would like to get a sofa, love seat, and a chair or two so that if we ever move, I won't have an awkward furniture set. I am not going to support the sofa love seat option- check out this post for an explanation. I have wondered about getting some tables, too, but they scare me a little. I really like space, and I am afraid of cluttering it up. Trust me. If you have the room well designed- yes- it will include tables and more furniture- but that is a good thing... you will like it. It is not going to be cluttered up- it is going to be furnished. Big difference. Sometimes I think people get used to their homes being half furnished and they think that finishing the job is somehow going to make their house look smaller- or their kids will have no place to play- and it is all totally crazy. It will look better. And kids really should play outside anyway. There is nothing scary about tables. Black widows- snakes- they are scary. Tables- not scary. The room was originally designed to be a living/dining room, but I want it to be a living room that also has our piano in it. There is also a plant shelf that you can kind of see from the living room that is currently empty. I could really use some help!
The dimensions of the room are roughly 13'X21'. The wall with the large picture on it is about 7'. The space between the windows is about 6'.
Thank you for your help! Let me know if you have any questions.
Jen

I used your dimensions to draw out a couple of options. Option one is below- Four chairs with the sofa against the wall. This room, in addition to being a living room, is also apparently a hallway- so notice that room is left for passage- but not so much that it is too awkward. I put a large square ottoman in the center- and kept your piano with two chairs where they were.

Option #2 is actually my favorite. You have a large wall on the left. I always like to break up large walls with tall furniture. I would use a couple of large display bookcases. Keep in mind that we are facing all of the furniture to the space between the two windows. (Add some drapery panels to those windows while you are at it.) This little space is now your focal point. Get a cool piece of furniture, a TV, or maybe one of those fireplaces that you can just add to your room. The art that you have there currently is hung way too high, by the way. Relationship with the furniture it is above- just a few inches over- that is my rule.

Here are a couple of Anthropologie pieces. If you want to go with this fun look- find a cool fabric to re-upholster and then be consistent throughout the room- otherwise I suggest a new sofa.

I picture a cool bookcase like the one in this post. Those round circles with lines next to the bookcases in the floorplan I drew are sconces BTW- we need more sconces in this world.

Thanks for writing in! I hope I wasn't too harsh ;) But your friend is reminding me of my husband who thinks I clutter up the house with furniture. The attitude drives me a little crazy.

XOXO

Christine

Betsy in Maine Part II

Today's post is a continuation of yesterday's on Betsy from Maine's beautiful old home. Yesterday I went over furniture arrangement. Today I wanted to go over some specifics.

1. Ottoman. Add an ottoman in front of the sofa. This room – because of its shape makes it hard to have a conversational furniture arrangement. Essentially- the sofa is by itself- and the two chairs and desk area a separate element. The sofa with an ottoman is a more pleasing combination than the sofa with a coffee table- because it is by itself. Does that make any sense? The ottoman above is from Wisteria.
2. Drapes. I would say audios to all of your window treatments. Radiators are so annoying. If you just had a shorter one- you could do full length panels in the living room…. But- assuming that you don’t want the expense of changing that- I would put in woven wood roller shades and patterned Roman shades- layered. You could also reverse that and have a sheer roller shade underneath- with woven Roman shades on top… Or- you could have wood shutters- try to keep them consistent with the style of the home- not looking all vinyl. Use the same material to add drapes in the dining room. Have them drawn to the side, the one on the left to the left, and the one on the right to the right. Keep the roller shades in these windows.
3. Empty your display area. Then re-introduce items very deliberately. This is not a library- it is your living room. Notice that I referred to it as a display area- not a bookcase. Fly me to Maine and I will re-do it for you. My ancestors are from Maine- I would love to visit again.
4. If you leave the area in front of your radiator blank- it throws the room a little off balance. There is only about two feet that you can use without cutting off your traffic flow from the dining room. You also want to keep air flow around the radiator pretty open. I added a desk. (again from Wisteria) I would put a little stool under it- you could use it for many different things- from a lap top to letter writing- to game playing.
5. Your rug. I really like your rug- it is beautiful- and the current size looks good- what doesn’t work is having a rug that has a pattern that tells people where the center is. The focal point of the room is the fireplace. The visual center of the room should be the fireplace. Your fireplace, however, is not centered- so the center of the rug lines up with the right side of the fireplace. It makes the room feel off balance. Get a rug without a center pattern. This could be any rug with an overall pattern- or a rug void of a traditional pattern- like a sisal rug- shown in the pictures above.

I hope you can get an idea of the look I have in mind for your place. With such a pretty home to start with- I am sure it will turn out wonderfully. Especially if you do absolutely everything I told you. ;)

Thanks, XOXO

Christine

Room photos crom Country Living