This week the Skirted Roundtable tackles accessorizing, primarily focusing on how we furnish shelves – do we fill them with books no one reads – and never will – or do we fill them with worn out, well-read books? What do we do when we have a client with lots of empty bookshelves – and no books in the house? Do we fill those with newly bought books just for the job – or do we fill them with decorative items instead? How do you decorate bookcases and mantels, and by the way – what do you think of those cashmere throws all the stylists put over every arm chair? Have those jumped the shark? And while we are asking you all these personal questions, how do you really feel about real flowers versus silk flowers? Listen and hear what Linda, Megan and I have to say about all of the above, and more important – whether we think you should use frosted or clear bulbs in chandeliers. HERE.
An anonymous commenter accused me of not showing my own work to be judged on The Skirted Roundtable – well, here is how I decorated my bookshelves with three different criteria in my own house. Here, in this desk’s bookcase near my foyer – I used only leather antique books and white decorative objects for contrast. As is obvious, these are books that were never read – rather they are used here as accessories.
In my family room shelves, I used a combination of antique books, my collections of globes and iron dogs, paintings, urns, and design books. Some books here were read, others are decorative. I tried to keep to a color scheme of brown, black, green and a touch of gold. This will all be changing soon – I recently won a pallet of antique books on Ebay, so I plan on redoing the shelves with more of those Ebay books and less of the decorative objects.
Where are my “real” books – besides being scattered around the house in stacks here and there? The majority are on the landing/library bookshelf upstairs.
When I filled up the built-in shelves, GJ Styles was kind enough to deliver this on-sale bookshelf by accident. I kept it and quickly filled it up – including the shelves inside the cabinet. The remaining books without a home are waiting on the tarmac in the garage.
Where are your books – on display in your public areas, or tucked away in shelves, like mine? Listen to how we decorate with books on this week’s Skirted Roundtable HERE. And coming up in the next few weeks – we have some popular guests slated to visit us on the SRT! We are so excited – and hope you will be too. As always, Linda, Megan and I sincerely thank you for your continued support – without you, we are nothing!