speaking of books...

I'll admit to having a bookshelf obsession.  Do you?

Obsessions are funny.  They can really take over your mind at times.  One lovely feature I consistently yearn to have in our house here at the beach is lots and lots of book shelves, something I absolutely love in a home.  I do have one set of shelves but they're located upstairs right smack in the middle of all the kids' bedrooms.  So you can imagine who has custody of those shelves.  Yep, lots of Dr. Seuss action happens on those shelves. I could be stingy and take over with our grown-up books, but that would be cruel. 

Let's take a moment and drool over some inspirational bookshelves.  These pics are all reruns, many from Domino.  But some things are worth seeing more than once.  I still miss Domino, by the way.  Although I'm totally excited about this magazine news from M.A. Belle. 

I think bookshelves add so much character to a house.  If treated properly.  By that I mean that there's a certain level of character books in shelves add to a home.  To me, it makes a space seem that much more cozy, that much more "real."  And the types of books one displays on their shelves can say so much about that person.  Or their design attitude.  Do they display antique books?  Just-for-looks books?  Design books?  Self-help books?  We have an interesting mix at our house.  My husband would like to someday go back and get a third degree, this time in Oceanography.  So we have lots of books about underwater life.  As you can imagine, we also have gobs of design books.  And of parenting books, it seems we have hundreds of those.  How I wish they would make parenting books gorgeous on the outside loaded with pretty patterns and colors.  Then it would be a double bang for your buck when you buy them.  You'd be making your house stylish all while learning how to be a better mom or dad.  I could deal.

Back to our topic.

If you're like me and don't have much wall space, you can create a similar look of a bookshelf with creative stacks of books like this, below.  Very mod.  Don't recommend it for anyone with a child under the age of five, though.  Or one who owns a large dog who likes to wag his/her tail a lot.  Potential disaster.

If you need more assurance and structure despite your limited wall space, you can take a single shelf vertical approach as seen here by the preciously mentioned (and ever stylish) M.A. Belle.

 

Erin, of Elements of Style, has a similar shelf in her swanky digs.   

Love this set below.  Shelves wrapped around a window are as delightful to me as a box of chocolates.

Painted shelves can always make a seriously chic statement.  

And here's a formal set complete with a silent butler mirror for any of the decorous divas out there.

So you see, there's always a place in your life for your books.  Even in the least expected places.

[photos courtesy of domino, isuwanee, and elements of style]

Comments

[Paige]

I love walls of books! A friend of mine's parents has bookcases that are floor to ceiling in their foyer. When you enter, you think you are in a library. Love it!

[pam]

love the last one! how creative. i'm dying to have my husband build shelves in the inset in our formal living room to turn it into a library. seeing as we're so not formal, it gets no use. a library would get lots of use. hope you're having a great summer! pam

[doug]

really love the books in the fireplace...fun!

[PJ]

Me likey! I'm a wall of books person. The only one that didn't 'send me' was the fireplace of books. Not my thing. :)

[Kris]

i love bookcases too although every six months or so i (gently) have to remind my book-loving husband we only have xxx amount of space and it's time to prune.

one of my girlfriends actually arranges her books by color! Looks fab.

[pve]

My one word for books is Yes. I always say yes to books, preferably with a hope that they be read and not just sitting pretty on some shelf. Well, of course they do look mighty fine in hands or on a shelf
or in a stack...
pve

[Laura Casey Interiors]

Yes, I love books and am in need of more shelves. Thanks for all these great ideas.

[Debra]

That image of the books in the fireplace got me laughing. I love how resourceful some folks are! I too love book shelves! I have several barrister bookcases that are family pieces- but would love some built-ins sometime {soon}.

[Cecile Desmond]

Perfect timing. I just had a built in cabinet with bookshelves made in our home. I am built overwhelmed as to how I am going to fill the shelves. I do have lots of books. I just want it to look pretty. Husband doesn't quite get the pretty part. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Shandell's]

I cannot image a home with out books. They my friends, love to have them all around.

[Design Esquire]

I love bookshelves too. I want to add built ins into my living room and my master bedroom. I feel like I can never have enough shelf space.

[Matters of Style]

LOVE these pictures! So inspiring!

[Eileen]

Great pics, thanks for sharing. I too have a hard time parting with books. Especially decorating and gardening books. I recently told Mr Man that I was going to sell some books at our garage sale. An hour later I emerged with two old paperbacks for the sale!

[Erin]

Beautiful pictures, Seleta! We are having bookshelves built to flank our fireplace, just love the look and I read at least five books at one time, so we have plenty of books to fill our shelves.

[Blueprint Bliss]

Great images. I love books... I wish I had more space for them!

[LindsB]

Love this collection of photos- reminds me I need to work on making my bookshelves a little more visually appealing :)

[Alice]

Love love love bookshelves too! They're the best backdrop for any room.. I wish I had wall to wall with a sofa in front...ahhh that would be so good, though I probably would never leave the house (not so good!)

[Michelle]

You've inspired me- I'm so redoing my bookshelves tomorrow. I must- they are out of control!!! Thanks for the post!