I Didn’t Think This Vintage Piece Would Work in This Tiny Space — Now I’m Obsessed

Any and all things made from antique wood or glass catch my eye, and the barrister bookcase is one that’s particularly near and dear to my heart. (I actually wrote a brief history of the iconic piece a while back!) Barrister bookcases are iconic vintage furniture pieces that are beloved by collectors but were originally used by attorneys (aka barristers) as a way to both protect and display their very expensive law books. 

My grandparents had a few in their home, and as a child I always loved peering inside the glass to look at the beautiful treasures they collected over the years. But years later, I’d find myself in need of one for another (far more unexpected) purpose: to serve as storage in my entryway.

I’m not an attorney, but I am a collector of all things vintage — and I especially love furniture with history. I was looking for an entryway console to add some storage and personality to my empty-looking entryway. Genius struck when I was perusing Facebook Marketplace and came across the familiar frame of a barrister bookcase.

Another fun fact about barrister bookcases — they come apart. It’s brilliant, really: Think about how heavy books are. Each shelf of the bookcase is stacked on top of the other, allowing you to just carry one at a time for easier transportation. (And you better believe barristers brought their legal books with them on their travels pre-smart-phone days!)

The seller had two of the shelves, which I knew would fit perfectly in my little open-concept entryway. The two pieces stacked leave enough space on the top for essentials and decor — including a little vintage dish to hold sunscreen and sunglasses, a candle (on a protective coaster, of course), a plant, and a little glass box filled with pretty rocks from a trip to Iceland.

For the inside storage, I’ve opted to start a collection of little gems from my travels over the years. There’s a hefty piece of coral from the ocean, a giant pine cone from a siblings’ trip to Lake Tahoe, a vintage Big Ben bell made of sturdy brass, and a hand-painted ceramic bull from Peru that nods to their Toritos de Pucará tradition, among other items. For now, I’ve filled it out with some books, but there’s so much more room for future finds. 

I love how my little half-barrister bookcase makes me think back to my grandparents’ collection of treasures, and that it greets me when I come home and sends me off when I leave. It really is the perfect entryway console — even if it’s a little nontraditional.