apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That looks great. Considering the glass doors are inherited I can understand using them, but I think it might look a little less overwhelming if the bottom were closed (non-glass) cabinets. Especially, with the TV, its a little too much visual stimulation (Maybe build doors for the TV, depending on how much you use?). That small criticism aside, the books are arranged amazingly (I would do a few more stacks vertically), and it looks fantastic!

Very Nice!
Only thing that would make it better is if the backs of the bookcases were painted a pale blue or green.

I would paint the back of the cabinets a different color. Also, I would spray the bottom glass drawers to make them opaque. It's too busy for me.

I don't find it too busy, but to back the glass, I wouldn't paint it.. I'd tape fabric or paper behind it.

Grasscloth would be cool.

I love built-ins.

I would paint the backs as well...

This looks fantastic! We have built-ins in our living room and my husband has started talking t.v. upgrade (flat screen of course) and incorporating the t.v in the built-ins. I'm forwarding him a link to this post right now and printing the photo to including in my idea binder.

Some suggestions above are OK but I think the set-up looks great as it is.

Very lovely but how do you dust?

My eyes dazzle. There's something about this that vibrates. While some of the individual shelves have good vignettes, the eye has no place to rest.

Maybe fabric behind the leaded glass doors--nothing artsy-craftsy, but solid.

Hey Sally, thanks for posting my shelves!

It's funny, they really don't look half as busy in person, but after I took photos it helped me to clean up some areas I didn't notice looking at them everyday - like all those crooked mags and the paper folder from Venice. I purged a lot of issues and organized it much more neatly after I saw the shot. I think I'll be using the photo evaluation idea in the future. It's like Cher in Clueless talking Polaroids of her outfits because mirrors lie!

My wish is for doors to cover the TV section. It's a big ugly in the middle of the shelves. I'm saving for a Samsung Plasma, which may help!

As for touching the glass on the doors or covering them up, not for a million bucks - the glass is very old and beautiful, and I love the leaded design on them.

My biggest clutter weakness is books - if it's a novel I'll never read again, I pass it up, but everything in these shelves I flip through often for inspiration.

I'm with others on the bottom shelves needing to be opaque. I seriously don't care for the glass doors and the design on them, but I don't have to live with it!

I think the T.V. isn't much of a problem compared to the overwhelming look of the bottom shelves. Still, great organization and I envy all that built-in storage.

Lori:

I dust my open bookshelves with a bendy feather duster.

Beautiful shelves but too.much.stuff. i think it would help if the bottom doors weren't see through...

p.s. LOVE your little ceramic ram.. where did you get him? too cute.

I'm going through a phase where if I can't say something nice, I won't say anything.....

Becky, glad you aren't touching the glass doors. They are beautiful and timeless. You've done an excellent job!