Bookcases

I have had bookcases on my mind for a few months now. I pulled a few pictures out of my file to help me design an installation for a new client and found them as inspirational as ever. I also attended a party in my neighborhood at the home of a client whose bookcases I designed several years ago. What struck me immediately was how well she utilized them to set the mood of her entire home. Bookcases are not just for books, they are for artful display of collections, storage of pictures and for creating beautiful vignettes that tell a story about who lives there. They also can be used to solve problems. Here, we created a space  behind the bookcases against the adobe block wall to house pocket doors that were desperately needed to close the bright enclosed porch off from the living room.

Adjustable shelves allow for creative use of varying sizes to show prints, small paintings, sculpture and books. 

In the adjoining room, shelves painted a deep, muddy brown display Mexican pottery. Following simple rules of composition you can create a beautiful display using  heirlooms, family art pieces and books of all shapes and sizes-along with the occasional princess. So drag that stuff out of the cabinets and the garage and have a little fun. Here's a bit more inspiration:

Where once there was and awkward stair landing,thoughtfully designed bookcases make a cozy reading room. From Elle Decor, 2006

In this case, the bookcases become the stairwell. From Provence Interiors, Taschen, Lisa Lovett -Smith. (Thanks, Christian, this is my favorite book) 

From Elle Decor, a modernists dream.

From Steven Salny's Frances Elkins: Interior Design. The bookcases are constructed as though they are a small stage. 

From Domino magazine (sniff sniff) May 2006.  These bookcases create a divider. The consistent size of fixed shelves add unity to the room.

Create a little soul and tell a story about yourself and your family: add a bookcase.