Book Shelf Styling

Good Morning!

I shared my Living Room Tour with you this week.  

You can see it HERE.

I was working on a post about Bookshelf Styling and started taking pictures of the "After" of the Bookshelves when I realized that I had never invited you into that space. 

 I began restyling the shelves because I kept "stealing" things 

 and there were bare spots.

  I wanted to spruce it up for Spring at the same time. 

 Before

Not very inspiring is it? 

 I have to tell you this funny story.

 I designed the bookcase/Fireplace surround when we built the house.

 I was living in California at the time and our home was being built in Kansas.  (Job change for Mr. Beaux)  So here I am, little miss designer, in my heels at the jobsite showing the builder my elevation and specs for the Fireplace.  The trim guys were there too and the sheetrock and fireplace were already in place.  They all look at my drawing (acting interested) and I ask them if they want a copy.  "Nope", they say "We got it".  I'm kinda confused because I can't figure out how they are going to remember it or build it without the measurements and all.  I had to laugh when they started drawing the elevation on the sheetrock.  Those guys knew what they were doing and they were probably laughing at me!  

I do love the way that it came out.  

The only thing that I would change is the depth of the mantle.  

We didn't want it protruding too much into the room to save on space so we kept it narrow.

  Oh Well.

All images from Pinterest

OK, Inspiration Time...  

This bookcase above is what I would call "Themed"  all of the items have the theme of the ocean. 

 A little cluttered for me but very pretty.

 Love the idea of painting the inset a different color.  

Hmmmm...

 I also like the all white with the books.  I didn't have any books in the "before" because I don't own NICE books and I'm too cheap to buy them.  I'm not going to buy books just for decorating.  I want to actually read them.  Do you know that you can buy books with special decorative bindings for you bookcases.

Very Pretty but $99.00 at One Kings Lane.  I think not.

 I love this Bookcase.  I enjoy the symmetry

 and the placement of the items is very balanced.

 I like that my eyes can follow along and stop to look at each treasure individually. 

 Very nice.

 So remember these books from my Guest Room?  Yep, I was busy covering them for the Living Room shelves at the time.  I took books that I already owned, put them on the shelves to see how they looked and then covered them in Dropcloth material. 

 Pretty much FREE! 

And here is the "After". 

 I found the plates at a consignment shop.  I walked by and glanced at the price on the top plates.  I loved the color and the pattern.  $28, I kept walking because I thought it was $28 for each plate.  OK, can I just tell you HOW much my vision has changed in the last year!  I can see fine until I need to READ something!  I put my glasses on and looked again.  It was $28 for a set of 8.  Sheesh!  I quickly carried them up to the counter.

I try to stay away from a lot of clutter, so to you the shelves might look empty. 

But to me they are just perfect.

Funny, that Nell Hill's Mary Carol Garrity just wrote a post about Bookshelf Styling also.  She says to always include your treasured items in your displays.  I agree.  This resin piece is a picture of the Great Wall of China.  A gift along with the Vase from the wonderful friends that we made during our time in China.  

Mr. Beaux and I were in Napa and we found this painting.  It reminded me of the wheat fields here in Kansas and I loved the moody colors.  It gets moved all around the house.

So I think I have achieved what I set out to do. 

 Let's take another Before and After look to make sure.

 Before

After 

Balance, Symmetry, Treasured Items and Oh Yeah... Books!

I pinky swear promise not to raid the bookcases for other decorating projects! 

(for a while)

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy 

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