When I set my Home Goals for 2012, one of the things I included was to rework the built-in bookcases in our living room.
So last week, I got to work making some changes – nothing revolutionary mind you, just “finishing” them a bit more.
This is where I started.
Pretty haphazard and boring.
One thing I should say is that these bookcases are meant for books.
It would be fun to style them out, but then where would I go with all of our books? Their main function is book storage.
So I started by removing anything that was not a book and this is what I was left with.
And this is what my living room looked like. Ugh.
I decided, that for the most part, I liked having all the books together in a section and then open sections for decor. The books are roughly grouped by categories. I used a random pattern of where I placed them but left all of the upper sections which have a light without books.
This is where I was partially through the process.
And here is where I ended up. Quite the difference between taking pictures at night and in the day!
Most of the items are vintage treasure finds or sentimental mementos. The print in the back of this section used to hang in my grandfather’s office.
The black and white photograph below is of my husband as a boy at his family’s sugar house and the jars are filled with sea glass we have collected as a family over the years.
The canister in the top is a liquor canister in the shape of the state of New Jersey – and this Jersey Girl loves it!
This is a very old bible that my youngest daughter actually bought at an estate sale.
One of my favorite all time photographs that I took of my kids feet. I have a thing for baby feet.
Overall, I am much happier with how it flows and ties in with the room. I also feel like it is set up now that I could easily change and add new things as new treasures are discovered!
I will be sharing at…
Thanks for stopping by!
Your built in’s look fantastic! Isn’t it amazing what a little tweaking will do. You have some great treasures as well.
I love your bookcases. The mix of books and treasures looks very elegant.
I love what you’ve done. Bookcases tend to unnerve me–you did a great job. I love how there’s a bunch of stuff, but it doesn’t look cluttered at all.
I love all of the vignettes and how you spaced the books. Very nice.
That’s a good evening project! Prettier and more functional- what’s not to love.
I love what you did and thought we were separated at birth how you were doing it and it was dark… I always start projects like that at night and the room looks like a total disaster before it comes back together.
I don’t understand what they are doing with GFC. I am on blogspot so I loose my reader??
You have done a great job, at a daunting task. It is so hard to make random and casual look right,. You kept a nice balance and it looks organized but not stuffy.
rick
I just noticed another thing I like about your bookshelves, the shelves are all lined up from one side to the other. It makes is look more organized. You do have a nice mix of full and open areas with room to add when needed. Very nice.
So glad you posted this! I have been pinning bookcases for the past month as we are having one installed in our living room this week. I have found some great ideas, but it’s so nice to see someone go through their own step-by-step process. Thanks for sharing! The bookcase looks wonderful!
I searched for photos for months too when we built some. I have a Pinterst board with bookshelves if you want to take a look.
http://pinterest.com/gboll/bookshelves/
I have a thing for baby feet too: LOVE them!!!!!!! maybe you could try putting some of the books horizontally to break things up?
Lovely treasures and great storage Laura, everything looks great!
Great job, Betty!!!
Beautiful end result, so nice I pinned it
I also must thank you, you inspired me, and I just spent the last four hours re-organizing and staging my own bookcases. It’s not easy finding the comfortable balance between form and function. You did it well 
I think wall-to-ceiling bookshelves are hard to style! The house I’m in now has a wall unit in our office… which is great, and frustrating. What I love is that there are sections that just seem to come together perfectly.. and other ones I don’t know what happen=) But I’m always moving things around… I guess that’s the beauty in them!!
What type of wood was your bookcase originally? We have a nice bookcase unit that came as a kit by O’Sullivan, purchased from Best Co. years ago, who are no longer in business. It’s probably 15-20 yrs. old. Actually it is 3 pieces that hook together to make one large piece that covers almost an entire well. I don’t think it is real wood but heavy as you know what when you try to move it. It looks and feels like real wood but the finish almost looks fake so that is why I’m thinking it is made from that pressed wood. I’m so tired of dark cherry furniture..but DH would not let me paint the expensive stuff..no way! How do you blend different types of furniture and not make it look like a hodgepodge?
The bookshelves look great. I am a bit surprised you didn’t stack any books though.
We had some shelves built a couple of years ago and I searched for photos to get ideas. After studying those photos and “playing” I am finally pleased with mine. I too have a whiskey decanter in my shelves. Mine is an old car but I do have the state of Ohio because I grew up there. My father-in-law collected the decanters and when he passed away the eight children divided up 150+. I just found your blog through Rhoda’s and love your home. 
Just came over from Pinterest. I love your style! I’ll be back. Thanks for the inspiration. laurie
I love your style! I let out an audible gasp when I saw it at Southern Hospitality. I love the blend of old and new. Just right.
This post was so helpful!! You have some great stuff and a beautiful home..thank you.
I have built ins in my living room as well and it is a real challenge styling them. I need to do what you have done and take everything off and start over. Yours look great, thanks for the inspiration. (I need to paint mine white also)
Those built-ins are TO DIE FOR!! Did you build them yourself or were you lucky enough that they came with the house? Gorgeous, gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
What a simple but great change! It has me looking at the built ins on the wall of my office behind me right now and thinking that I need to tackle them. It really provides a point in the right direction! Thanks for sharing. I am stopping over from Funky Junk’s party in case you are wondering. When I tackle mine, I’ll post back for you –thanks for the inspiration!
I love what you did! I also have bookcases that are primarily for book storage, you inspired to me to get on it and style them up a bit.
Love it. I think you did the right thing by keeping your beautiful books. What a cool house you have too! I enjoyed seeing this room.
Warmly, Michelle
What a lovely way to display your personal treasures. Beautiful!
hi there i stopped by before order tickets to the dc improv as i posted before i luv luv your blog. i really like the rearrangement with the book case. however i was wondering you have no window treatments which gives your home an airy sunny warm feeling. i have window treatments ugh. however i do raise my blinds all around my home on sunny days. my husband hates it. he also hates the fact that i removed all my screens from the windows i just love clear glass windows dont you?
I always enjoy reading your posts, never tire of looking at your house, and love looking at other’s vintage items. What’s not to like ? Also, enjoy your Incourage posts.
That looks awesome! I recently re-did the wall of book shelves in my office/craftroom. I had tons and tons of books from our 12 years of homeschooling and from the three boys college years PLUS all of my own books. I weaned and purged – saving the special ones and knowing that we all mostly read digitally now, I have several empty shelves! It was a process, but well worth it, just as you found too.
I always love to pop in and see what my former NJ’er turned NY’er is up to!
gena
Looks awesome!