apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I totally agree with Janel's suggestions, and want to add that it's also a great spot for artwork, especially since you have the track lights that you can angle to spotlight a piece.

I'd put up shelving throughout, but we have a TON of books. Actually, if it run the length of the apartment, you can do that in one section and still have plenty of free space. I also like Janel's idea for the space near the front door.

I don't have enough storage space for shoes, so if it were my place I'd go for a built-in bench in the front section with shoe storage below (so the entry hall still feels open), and then book shelves in the back section. Wallpaper above the bench would be great too!

I'd love to see lots of artwork on the walls; different frames, different sizes, photographs, cool art. Then you can line the bottom shelf with candle votives for when you entertain.

I immediatly thought that a beautiful persian or turkish or african tribal rug hung horizontally would fill the space with color and texture. You can find them very inexpensively on ebay if you don't require silk or other connoisseur details. For a dimensional and useful accent, I'd run a couple of 10" deep shelves at about 7' high along the top for books -- framing the rug. I'd leave the bottom shelf empty.

I'd do floor to ceiling shelves and make it a pass-thru library. It's screaming "built in me". :)

I'm always looking for more places to house books, so I'd turn it into a bookcase as well. The Billy from IKEA is almost 12 inches deep, which would work perfectly for you. And for that built-in floor-to-ceiling look, you can add the height extender, which brings it in at almost 80 inches tall. Billy comes in a couple of widths, so I bet it's be easy to find a configuration that pretty much fills up your available width.

If you want to include artwork in the look, you could install the Billy and leave off the back piece. By also strategically leaving out shelves, you'd open up places for hanging art and placing sculpture.

And if you wanted to go still one step further, you could paint or wallpaper the wall behind the shelves.

I strongly agree on the Billy bookcase!!! A great place to display your books and special items.

I'm a sucker for puppies. That one is adorable!

Cute dog! Check out the shelves on the link below. I like the bright, soft color in the background and the way the books/magazines are stacked in an uncluttered way, mixed in with some vases and art objects. Seems like it keeps the clean/bright look you have in that hallway.
http://www.shopgive.com/downloads/desk.jpg

A gallery for art... large framed pieces leaning against the wall towards the bottom; floating shelves and creative lighting to showcase pottery, artifacts and textiles from your world travels. The possibilities are endless!

I'm a book freak so if I had a space like that it would be all about bookshelves!

I would have to say if I had that space, I would do what many other posters would do--books!

How about the shelving system from The Conatiner Store? They are easy to hang and you have your choice of colors for shelves and brackets. You could also have the option of staggering the shelves or having each row at the same level.

or

If you can find them and they aren't too expensive...some barrister bookcases. I have some and love them.

Good Luck and keep us updated!

Thank you all so much for the suggestions and puppy compliments!

I love the idea of books/built-ins. The books currently on the shelf are only four boxes unpacked and we have a ton still packed up, so that was our initial thought as well. I am glad to know that the Billy Bookcases will fit, as I had seen them but knew that the Expedit, for instance, was just over 15 inches. That is a great idea to make it seem built in... would it be appropriate to keep it white or do the dark wood?

I also love the wallpaper idea for the entryway. You cannot see in the photo, but the first beam actually separates another shelving area in the entryway that it about six feet long; wallpaper and hooks would be perfect there.

I also love the art gallery idea as I am a painter and I want to do a new series, so that area would be perfect for trying it out. I like the idea of leaning larger pieces against the wall... wonder how our puppy would react? :)

The second beam separates the hallway from the living room/dining room/kitchen. Our television is now precariously perched on a plastic container with a wrap skirt over it for decoration-- kinda bootleg, if you know what I mean. It is not big enough to wall mount, but it is flat screen. Any suggestions on a 15 in or less tv console?

We have the same amount of space on the first wall as the second and are thinking of doing low bookcases there (to the side of the tv, which, now that I think about it, we could just put atop a low bookcase) and actually following one other person's comment: hanging a Nigerian tapestry above. My husband is from Nigera, so we have tons lying around and they are all quite large.

Again, thanks to everyone for the comments! This is just what I need to make a weekend project!

Ah, yes about the low bookcases-- I saw some on craigslist recently, but they were snapped up quickly. Any pointers on those glossy white ones with two shelves I see in photos from time to time? Thanks again, this is great!

megan, i would get thee to ikea - pronto! they have shallow tv stands, they have cool bookcases, they even have tons of hooks, racks, frames, boxes, etc etc etc.

one trip to ikea and you'd be set :)

nice dilemma to have!

I see a combination of all of the above plus a little sitting area. I'd run a shelf the length of it at a low level with support legs along it, maybe even 2 levels, keep all your books in it (so a low level, long library). Down by the door find a few square cushions to make it a sit down pull on/off your shoes area, hang some hooks above for coats, and maybe a basket or 2 for scarves, gloves, leashes and other hallway clutter in the shelf below to keep it out of sight. Essentially, make that end a mini mud room. You could put a closed shoe storage next to it (like this january jumpstart: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/jan-jumpstart-2008-southwest/southwest-3-kate3s-shoe-cabinet-landing-strip--041162) to section off the area, and then make the rest of it Art, or photos or decorative, or library, whatever fits your taste.

I really like the idea of floor to ceiling shelving in this area. Would really reccomend that you look at the possibility of built ins instead of just putting stock units up on the ledge. Definitely a DIY-able project, or have some carpenters in for quotes. I think you'd get the money you put in back when you sell the place (vs being stuck with a pile of particle board bookshelves).

If it were mine, I'd also look to install a rolling library ladder to enable access to the high shelves.

sometimes i really love the look of built-ins but since this unusual space runs the length of the unit and the ceiling height is quite tall, i'd run a single thick piece of wood across each nook as a floating shelf (it may need supports depending on the weight of the wood and the wall) at a comfortable near counter height level. on this you could line up books, perch art, etc. Right underneath i would install a few hooks (spaced out or bunched together) so that you can quickly hang-up shorter coats, scarves, purses, etc. it's almost an instant visitors closet.

this could extend to the living area and the tv can then be put on it.

it might even look really great to wallpaper above or below the floating shelf.


otherwise I'd be into the large massive pieces of artwork. this is a perfect gallery space.

I don't know what your storage situation is like but I see major potential for storage. I'd do built-in cabinets that go from the platform all the way to the ceiling or just halfway up. If you go halfway up, you'll still have wall space for art, etc. If you go all the way up, you can leave room in the middle (between cabinets) to keep part of the wall exposed for hanging art.

I wouldn't do shelving in a hallway though because it would look cluttered, there must be doors! I would not hang hooks (yuck)! If you do want a place for hooks, let them be behind the cabinet doors.

P.S. You can also do part bookcases and part cabinets, all of course built-in.

Book wall!

I also opt for designating a part of it for your "gallery", and having the rest of it professionally shelved for books, etc.

low book shelves going all the way down the hall, then arrange some vases, objects on top of shelves and use the top to hang artwork.

Perhaps some of the low book shelves can have doors, that way one could choose to hide shoes there too.

The best of all worlds.

What about lining the nook with shallow ikea pax wardrobe units (14.5" deep) with white lacquer effect Lomen doors to create additional enclosed storage. It would be much less expensive than customizing.

I had a similar set-up in my apartment and wound up getting two of the Ikea Expedit bookcases in dark brown and painting the wall behind with a avocado-y green accent color. I arranged my books to nice, alternating each shelf with vertical books and then a few horizontal with a pottery piece on top. I get compliments all the time!
I'd recommend the white for you, though. It will look built in with those "risers" underneath.
Although I do like the idea of artwork on the walls with votives underneath.