Most of us have bookshelves in our homes and they're probably all alike in more ways than one. While that's all fine and dandy (because, after all, we have these bookshelves to do one simple job — house and protect our precious books) we can't help but envy those not so average bookshelves.
Through commercials, design shows and even on Apartment Therapy — we've been seeing a lot of diamond shaped bookshelves. They're similar to oversized wine storage but meant to hold books! Paint them black for a traditional look or go bright white and put them in the living room or bedroom for a modern approach.
If you're looking to build your own bookshelves, get as creative as you want! Cover an entire wall in the media room with different size shelves and don't think you have to put the TV console directly in the middle — there's no wrong or right way; simply what works for you. Repurpose old doors or even reclaimed pieces of wood and old barbells. You might be surprised by what you can easily turn into a not so average bookshelf!
Images: 1. Casa E Jardim, 2. Kelly Wearstler, 3. Architonic, 4. Woodbird Design, 5. Gary Hutton
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Love the one by Kelly Wearstler! xxx
http://reallyliteral.blogspot.com/
I love the one with the barbells. Great update to the traditional cinder blocks. It looks so clean the fact that they are barbells escapes your notice at first.
Never in my life have I envied bookshelves, average or not.
The writer of this piece needs a good editor. The text contains numerous punctuation, grammar, and syntax errors.
Not sure I like #2 but I do appreciate the design. The black color and modern style of the bookshelves plays well against the more traditional yellow furniture.
Kathryn: Agreed.
#3 is great, although if that midnight urge to read a book located 2/3 of the way up were to strike, it might not seem so practical.
#1 and #3 I love. #3 would be a bit tough to get up to the top but the look is fantastic. I didn't even read the copy, just went straight to the pictures. Good catches by Kathryn.
I have always dreamed of having floor to ceiling bookshelves..a la a home library. #2 is so awesome! Love the design.
#3 is beautiful! We built a wall of built-in bookshelves of our own last year using some old IKEA shelving. It's one of my favorite projects so far in our remodel.
IsItAHouseYet, your blog is HI-larious! I will definitely be following it.
#1 is beautious. I want to do this in my living room. Great post.
You're a book snob if you could never coordinate your books by color. (By topic and then author - hello!?) But a design snob if you do.
I love #1, but who has that many books?!
I have way more than that many books. I could never arrange them by color. I have them arranged by genre/subject and then by author: all the poetry together, all the American novels together, all the British novels together, all the other novels together, all the history together, all the design books together, all the reference books together, and one or two shelves for miscellaneous.
The only one that makes me weak in the knees is #1. But I'm an all white with bright pops kinda girl.. Love the contrast of the green cabinet.
#4 is not so much but I always appreciate a new way to reuse an old door.
Alyssasteffes, actually look closely, there is really not that much books on that shelf. Quite a few cds, collectibles, frames, a camera and even a speaker. There are various shelves with just a few books stacked in various ways. I have more books than that on one sapien bookshelf.
I think bookshelves looks way more interesting in this way, when you mix up other items and also vary how you arrange your books.
# 5 looks like an accident waiting to happen.
I like the second one...and I swear I just saw it or something just like it in a Lowe's or Home Depot commercial yesterday.
I love #4 i have a corner shelf made form a door already this will be a great addition in the same room...thanks
I love #2 I have some zig-zag book shelves in my dining room, not quite on the same scale though, and the chairs remind me of a much coveted Spirit sofa.
I love them all. #2 is super cool and #5 is a great display creativity and resourcefulness.