...but for now, they are a big consideration.
Most lovers of these items don't hide away their collections - they often choose to celebrate them and show them off on open shelves - today, we did a search for photos from some of our favorite magazines to create a bit of an inspiration gallery of media collections done right. Enjoy!
Shown above, top row, left to right:
1. Dwell
2. Living Etc.
3. Metropolitan Home
4. Dwell
5. Elle Decor
Bottom row, left to right:
6.Living Etc.
7. Metropolitan Home
8. Dwell
9. Living Etc.
10. House Beautiful
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I've got a great shelving unit for sale in Los Angeles for just this!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/fuo/1356106660.html
how come shelves full of books make me drool?
I could see myself growing old in the first one. It's great.
We have a ton books. 95% of them are in storage because we haven't gotten bookcases yet. When we do, all the books will come back home! We are avid readers and just the sight of books make me happy!
BTW - I agree with Aster, I can see my husband and I doing exactly what that older couple in the 1st pic is doing. That's the life!
http://www.donkeehouse.com
Bitdot, "that's the life" was the exact phrase that crossed my mind.
I have been considering doing a combination library/dining room for years, but always thought it was an odd combination. This has given me all sorts of inspiration. Thanks AT.
I love to display my books, and just got shelves that blend in with the walls so the books are most prominent :)
Emily
Very nice - I love the colorful built-in shelf.
We have a dining room library combo at my house. Its just the two of us most nights, so we tucked the table off to one side of the room and lined the other 3 sides with book shelves. A big rug ties the spaces together. The table has hidden wheels, so we roll it into the center when we have guests, and bring in extra chairs from the kitchen. Works like a charm.
As an aside, the picture above with the red wall and the hearth really bothers me. Way too much clutter and tchotchkes on the shelves, which means you cant get the books off, which means you don't really use them.