Steve and I are in the finishing stages of a project. It's now time to fill the shelves with beautiful things, so I am flipping through all of my images of bookshelves to get some inspiration. I noticed that most of the pictures in my files have one thing in common.. Books. Books always bring a warmth to a room and make it feel populated even when no one is around. Don't you agree?
This is one of my favorite images. Nobody knows how to give a room character better than Rose Tarlow. Rose displayed more decorative books on the top shelves, leaving room on the bottom shelves for everyday books.
image via Veranda
Phoebe Howard uses books on her well ordered shelves.
Phoebe Howard's very symmetrical displays have a soothing effect....
Suzanne Kasler's use of books that are all the same color creates a similar calm.
Elizabeth Dinkel's orderly arrangement adds a refined feel to this beautiful wood paneled library.
Vintage toy trucks add some whimsy to this color blocked book display by the very talented Joe Nye
Image via Santa Barbara Magazine.
India Hicks used neutral color blocked books as a backdrop to a beautiful pond yacht.
Image via Domino
Tom Callaway creates a more relaxed feel by arranging the books in a less orderly fashion.
Steve and I both liked this haphazard display of books at Mark Sage's antique shop, Love Train.
In the Bobo showroom in Atlanta, Mark Sage uses deep red and burgundy leather books behind vintage paintings.
I love displays that use light neutral colored books mixed with other vintage treasures. The randomness of the stacked books has a romantic quality to it.
image via French Country Living.
In my next home, I will do a dining room that's a library as well. I think we would use it much more often!
image via The Peak of Chic
Gallery owner Macie Sears uses books to frame this piece of art.
Annie Brahler just hung the painting right on the shelf.
Image via Charm Hill Interiors.
Steve and I saw this same idea used in this home in the Garden District of New Orleans.
Framing doorways with books works for me too!
Rose Villa Location
I thought this was a brilliant design by Jay Jeffers
Image via Katiedid
Books don't have to just live on the shelves.
Annie Brahler via Charm Hill Interiors
Stacks of books on a table entices everyone who walks by to flip through a few pages.
image via By the Light of the Sea.
I have a soft spot for well worn books.
They have so much character.
Image via By the Light of the Sea
When we were in Atlanta, I wanted all of Linda Horsley's tattered books.
But she is a smart woman, and none of these beauties were for sale.
Admit it! You want them too :)
I did find some tattered beauties that made their way back to Los Angeles with me.
I wanted to buy all of these books that we saw at Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta.
My friend, Leslie must have noticed my book obsession. She just sent me several sets of these book boxes from her brother's catalogue company, the gorgeous Wisteria.
Thank you, Leslie!
As you can tell from this picture of Steve's office at our home in Channel Islands Harbor, Steve loves old leather books.
So we were really excited when we found a great source for leather books. We've started using them in our client's homes and selling in the store.
They also carry these antiqued style vellum books that we are using in some of the displays at the store.
Do you love books as much as I do?
Do you like more well ordered book displays or more random arrangements?
I love getting your comments!
xo
Brooke
