Now that the bookshelves are finished, it’s time to fill them! Bookshelves don’t just have to be for books, but I always envisioned these cases being pretty stuffed full of them. I had a decent collection, but I soon realized it wasn’t nearly enough for what I had in mind. I put a call out on Instagram for some ideas of places to get books at a decent price, and after a few weeks I’ve managed to assemble a few hundred more books for less than about $50. Not too shabby.
A lot of thrift stores were having book sales after the New Year, and I tried my best to take advantage. ReStore had all books for 5 cents, another store was offering 20 books for $1 and yet another place had 50 cents a book. It’s funny how relative cost is. The 50 cents seemed like a lot to pay after clearing out the first two stores!
My rule in buying books that I don’t plan to read at the moment is as follows: it must be pretty and it must be interesting. The pretty is rather self-explanatory. The interesting can go a few different ways. If it’s a subject that’s of interest to me or one of my family members than it’s a buy: sports, interior design, arts, photography, mystery, suspense, biography, history, travel, humor. Sometimes a title makes me laugh or feels relevant in a funny way, like What a Young Wife Ought to Know or The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet who me? A stuffed bookcase doesn’t have to be stuffy.
Will I ever read the encyclopedias? Likely not, but they are such a great addition, esthetically speaking. The collections give your eyes a place to rest, and I was really happy to find several great sets of encyclopedias and authors’ full bodies of work. There are so many ways to arrange a bookshelf, but I thought I’d share how I put this one together.
I began by placing the collections sporadically on the shelves first. Then I arranged the coffee table books on the bottom shelves and simply began filling in with the rest of the books. I noticed there were mostly black and the brightest pop was usually reds so I tried to space those out evenly throughout the cases. I didn’t pay much attention to sizes – I wanted the shelves to feel very collected over time and not too thought out.
When I started filling the shelves last Saturday the books were spread out on all of the shelves. While I liked the idea of filling in as I went that way some of our original books were mixed in with all the newer books it was hard to tell how many more I needed. So I brought all the books in to fully fill the shelves and now I’m left with both side cases empty. Based on what’s already there I still need about 250 more books. Yikes. I also need to figure out what is going to go above. I love the idea of a collection: some big ginger jars or similar looking large busts, but since I’m not hoarding either of those things in my basement it’s an addition that will have to wait.
I definitely want to add in a few more decorative items and art to make it feel even more personal, but getting the books right first and then taking out a few here and there for objects seems the easiest. I got some negative feedback on Instagram regarding the fact that we built these shelves without having enough books to fill them. It wasn’t the first and it certainly won’t be the last. Putting your life on the internet opens you up to criticism. I understand what people meant, but I’m sorry they think that way. “If you build it, they will come” comes to mind. They’re right, we didn’t have a lot of books, but we’ve never had a lot of space for books. Now that we have the space I’m really excited to have more books because they’re pretty and hopefully someday when things slow down a bit I’ll love reading them.
Even though a few years ago I took a count of my books and they numbered in the 400's, I'm still pretty sure I wouldn't be able to fill the number of bookshelves you have installed in this beautiful room! But having a room like this with an abundance of shelving and such saturation of color is a definite ambition of mine and no lack of books would stand in the way if I could make it happen! Right now I feel slightly guilty when I buy more books, knowing that they're taking over my home… but with all that shelving it would be so exciting to know that each book purchase was adding to my interior design!
I'm at about 600 right now, I think Sarah. 🙂 Thanks so much for commenting, I hope you can find a place to house all of your books together someday!
This looks awesome! You need put an art piece smack dab in the middle of the two end bookcases. I would be happy to commission you some pieces! http://www.abigailkodua.com
I've definitely considered that, and it's definitely an option!
I hope you let that criticism go in one ear and out the other! I don't love or understand the motivation behind everything that every home/design/diy blogger does, but one thing I always remember is, I don't have to! If it makes them happy, well, isn't that the point? I love that you show me new ways to think about design and crafting a meaningful and beautiful space, and whether I want to incorporate every last idea or not is irrelevant. And I love that you included a KC Royals book in the collection! (I grew up in Lawrence, now living in MA)
Were you speaking of me? I wasn't trying to criticize at all. I was just giving some ideas as to help with styling the end cases that hadn't been filled yet. I've seen some designers add art pieces in an already filled bookcase for a dramatic look. Gwen, I sincerely was just trying to give some input and I really am a fan!
Pretty sure she was referring to the "negative feedback on Instagram" mentioned above. Your comment wasn't critical.
The Indigo & Co. Inc, I think she was referring to people on my Instagram page, not you. Thanks for the thoughts and Anne, so glad you can take something away – I definitely share in hopes of inspiring others to do something in their own homes!
It looks beautiful and British! Inspirational as always.
Thanks, lady!
WOW. That was FAST! It looks so good, like a very proper, formal bookcase. Right off the PBS screen 😉
These look amazing! I'm so inspired and loved that you filled them up with books and not props! We just moved into a house that is SCREAMING for some built in book cases around a window in otherwise dead space.
How do you find estate sales? I have wanted to go to some, but I don't even know where to find them!
Hey Amy! estatesales.net has a decent listing. I think it's through that site that I found a few different companies and then got on their email lists to be notified of more. Hope that helps!
Love it, they look fantastic!
Really, really, nice! You, John and Micah make a great team!
You are buying books you're not planning to read? Is that the case with encyclopedia? Did I get you right?
You're buying books you are not planning to read? Just as decoration. Is that the case with encyclopedias? Did I get you right?
Dude, I would build one of these bookshelves just to have an EXCUSE to go buy that many books. I read mostly on my Kindle now — for convenience and space issues — but would die to have this in my house. Seriously, it looks amazing. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Kim! I understand, I do a lot of my reading on screens too!
I love the look you achieved. Books are a piece of history- whether you are reading them or not. Some people have old vinyl record collections. Some may play the music and some may not. That's fine with me on both accounts. With the way technology is going today, the printed word is unfortunately becoming a thing of the past. I have Bible apps and devotional apps, but my favorite way to read the Bible is my worn and much-used Bible, where I have had to tape the torn pages. So yay to you for buying and displaying this wonderful collection of books. And the wine color you chose is perfection!!
Thanks, Sherri!
It's looking so good, and I vote busts once you start collecting!
wow im totally in love with the bookcases and also really love your design process. I always look forward to reading your blog!
Thanks for reading, Tali!
hot damn! this looks incredible. And great tip on finding lots of books for cheap! I too think encyclopedia collections are amazing.
It's interesting – the criticism. For me, being a lover of books – and not in kindle form – I just can't help feeling relieved and thankful that you are rescuing all these beautiful, forgotten books and giving them such a stylish new home. You've built a very gorgeous book orphanage 🙂 Love it.
Love this sentiment, thanks Rachael!
So beautiful. It strikes me that just a month or so ago, this whole scene was just a vision in your mind. And now, look! (I know, I know, after lots of hard work by you and others, but still!) Inspires me to get moving on some projects – thank you! And, nice handling of the criticism, classy lady. 🙂 Can't please everyone!
The books look lovely!
I'm lucky that my parents had a love for books. I grew up with a small library at home and now as an adult, I have my own. I recommend that you buy some books for your children and include them in your collection. I'm sure your kiddos have their own books but I remember that my parents bought me an Children's Encyclopedia that talked about insects, dinosaurs and even about body parts (eeek!)I STILL have some of those books and flip through them from time to time to look at my "notes" that I jotted on the pages. It will be lovely to collect these memories!
@klevergirl
Could I just say, I have no imagination! When you first started this project, I could not imagine someone putting colors like this in a house. But now that its done, you are a genius. I absolutely adore this room. This color is so much more interesting than the blues I have seen in similar rooms. Its just plain gorgeous and I will probably keep opening this picture just to look at it again every few days! Love
You're sweet, glad I changed your mind, Linda! 😉
So beautiful! I love all the hardbacks in here! That's what I was hoping you were looking for. This room is spectacular.
Seriously Gwen they look amazing. I know you're going to have the best time adding to your book collection now that you have all this glorious space for them. Fantastic job lady.
The bookshelves are stunning! I love your bold color choice and especially enjoyed the post that documented the building of the unit. In scanning your book titles, I spied "Inside Today's Home", which was the textbook for an interior design course I took in college in the late 1970s! You have lots of treasures on your shelves. Unlike one reader, I think it is great that you have some empty space – room for future acquisitions!
So beautiful!!! Just a thought- if you put the cream couch back in front of the bookshelves you could ignore the lower shelves for now and grow into them as your book collect grows over time and right now you'd need less books!
It's a good thought, Kimberly!
I start hyperventilating if I get close to the end of a book and don't have one waiting to start… so…. your bookcase feels like home to me. Beautiful.
Thanks, Cindy!
Oh, how I love your bookcases. The sconces are perfect. What color did you paint them?
I came over from Thistlekeeping. Going to check out some more of your blog.
Thanks so much, Joanne! It's HGTV Home at Lowe's Radicchio Leaf. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll stick around. 🙂
love!! 🙂
Simply gorgeous!
Looks amazing! Last spring I was able to rescue a set of encyclopedias out of the trash. I asked permission first, but I just couldn't imagine throwing something like that away! My kids spent the afternoon looking thru all of the pages, and when my shelves are done, I will display them proudly, whether I read them or not. Keep up the good work, do what you love!!
you are so TALENTED! LOVE the collection of books, the shade of pink and the scones. you NAILED it. xx
Gorgeous!! I actually have the companion to one of your books- I have "What a Young Husband Ought to Know" priceless!!
Oh please … if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all or at least don't put it in writing on social media!" Yay for you putting in bookshelves to fill with books as your family grows. Just the presence of those books and bookcases encourages reading. Who knows? One of those pretty books may turn out to be a favorite!!
Agreed! Thanks for the kind words!
The book "A Day in the Life of America" is so cool. My parents had it when I was young and it's amazing – a huge number of photogs took pics all over the country on the same. It shows the huge diversity of our country by highlighting individual people. I bet your kids would love looking through it!
Do you know about Books by the Foot?! Best thing ever….you can order by the foot and in certain colors, etc.
I have heard of it but just popped over to take a look and how fun! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Sorry to hear about the criticism. Like you said it goes with the territory but it's still never a pleasant experience. And I just have to commend you again on your color choice. I LOVE that you're doing something DIFFERENT! xo
They are shaping up beautifully! There are a few pictures here where (what I imagine is) the real color of the paint shows up and it's stunning. I wonder sometimes if you aren't my long lost daughter.
I can’t believe anyone would negatively comment on building more shelves than you have books to fill, unless it was in the house of a 120 year old with a firm policy not to accrue any more! You have young children, and even if you didn’t many years ahead! They should see my house, with the full bookcases and stacks of books in the living room… I think they’d take it back.
I find it more amusing that you’re purposefully going out and buying heaps of books, since I feel like they quietly breed in the night! I thought getting a Kindle would cause me to save space, but it hasn’t been quite as effective as I’d hoped at that… Buying up pretty (and interesting of course) books will mean your kids should have a fantastic selection though — and make it wonderfully easy to get into the magical world of reading.
I like Kimberly’s idea of arranging furniture, or Indigo & Co of displaying some your art there for now so you’ll have room to grow. Then again, maybe not everyone has as hard a time sorting through books to give away as me… 🙂
LOVE the colour, and finding out that you watch British tv to get palette ideas!
Thanks for your thoughts and kind words, Alison! I really love how it’s turned out and am excited to see how this will positively effect our family. Hope you’ve had a great weekend!