apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really don't like how books piled up in a fireplace look. It would be different if there was some shelving installed in there, but as it is, it looks like a massive book burning is going to take place.

I like the chaos of the books in the fireplace, since everything else is so neat and tidy. If this was a family who had crap everywhere, it would look terrible cluttered and unorganized. It's refreshing in this home where everything else is so buttoned up, not to mention adding some texture to the room.

I decided to NOT let storage be an issue. If it has to be stored, I probably don't need it. I have emptied out half my closet, three dresser drawers, changed a hall closet into an office. I emptied out 2 kitchen cabinets I can't reach without a ladder. "Stuff" stored there wasn't used so why keep it?? Yes, I do store Christmas stuff, but I've gotten rid of two containers of stuff I don't use. Books are not a problem. If my shelves get too full, I donate less favored books to a library. The problem isn't lack of storage, it's having too much stuff.

I agree, the serenity of the entirely blue wall makes the casual stacks of books just marvelous in comparison.

In our non-working fireplace we have a massive dollhouse that didn't fit anywhere else. The hearth raises it up to just the right height for my 3 year old to play in it.

I agree with williamsweyer, the trick is to reduce what you store. I have some Christmas decorations that I store, and some occasionally used cooking supplies that would be cost- prohibitive to replace each occasion of use, and those are stored in places it's hard for me to reach. My big problem is craft supplies. I sew, so I have fabric, batting, thread, a machine, etc. I do paper crafts, so I have bins of assorted papers, adhesives, trims. Mostly I do polymer clay jewelry, so I have A LOT of clay, tools, beads, machinery (we use pasta machines, food processors, ovens), and jewelry equipment for working with metals etc. Since I don't really have time for everything any more, some of it needs to go away, but it's like parting with a huge box of premium chocolates -- I love it all, how do I decide?

Meanwhile, closets, cabinets, armoires, under-bed spaces are full, and it's hard to locate what I need (since moving into our new house, my old storage systems from before don't work, and I haven't worked out adequate new ones yet...) Presumably I'll figure it out pretty soon and have less to store. (I sense a yard sale in my future!)

The fireplace/book thing is interesting to look at but not that practical.

I might consider putting drawers under my stairs a la image 4 though, if I had an idea of what I might store in there. To me, having odd storage pieces you aren't sure what to do with is almost as bad as not having enough storage.

Aside from the drawers in the staircase (which most folks here wouldn't be able to do until they build their own house) I'm surprised that there aren't more imaginative storage solutions considered here:

Toekick drawers:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/shelving-storage/hot-tip-toekick-drawers-020916

Crownmoulding Shelves:
http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/crown-molding-shelf/index.html

End Table Cabinets, storage benches, storage beds, dining tables and coffee tables with drawers, stacked kitchen cabinets, sofa beds with storage in the base, stacking washer/dryers that free up space for storage cabinets where one of the side-by-side machines used to sit: There are so many more useful ideas out there than the books-in-the-fireplace that so many readers here hate.

Blue - love the blue walls - no fair showing gorgeous colors without giving the paint name and brand!!!

That's an anglepoise lamp in the second picture! Want it. Want.

I liked the fireplace books until I saw that, right next to the fireplace, there's that nook that would be perfect for some built-in shelves!

I use my non-working fire place to store my luggage. I'm currently working on building a pretty screen using some sari fabric I got from my mum to hide it. Currently there's a cheap Chinese that I no longer like.

Really like the under-stairs storage. However, the books in the fireplace makes me cringe. It looks messy and - although I know the fireplace isn't used - gives me anxiety!

There is no such thing as dead space. Merely an opportunity for reinvention - or art display.

Um, shelves on a wall? Cabinets? These are not unique solutions. I expected more offbeat ideas, like the books-in-fireplace pic.

Have to say... I tried the books-in-fireplace idea in our last apartment. BAD idea. The fireplace wasn't usable but it still managed to drop black soot and dirt from the roof. Nearly ruined my books.

"If it has to be stored, I probably don't need it." -- wise advice!

I get that the books in the fireplace look striking, but it still seems impractical and above all sacrilegious to me; it seems a terribly damaging & disrespectful way to store books. If they're not books you care about looking after, why hang on to them? Why not send them out into the world, where they may find someone who wants to read them?

books in the fireplace!!! i love it! such a great idea to fill the space in a sealed off fireplace! we used ours for record storage but it didn't look quite right since they weren't tall enough. i love this!