Beaux R'eves: bookcase styling

Showing posts with label bookcase styling. Show all posts

Friday, March 30, 2012

Covering Books with Drop Cloth Fabric and Giveaway Winner

Yesterday I shared my Before and After

of my Living Room Bookcases

and gave you some tips on styling your bookcase.

You can see that post HERE.

I wanted to show you a short tutorial on covering the books. A few people asked me about how I covered them and to be honest, I tried a few methods and ended up with my own.

I figured I would share my experience with you and if it makes your life easier then that makes my day!

Actually, a lot of thought went into the covering of the books. I thought maybe white paper would be a good look

but I didn't have any and it was raining outside.

I'm kinda lazy and impatient and want immediate results... Oh and did I mention CHEAP!

I remembered seeing beautiful fabric covered books

at Nell Hills.

Sigh, see the exquisite Tartan covered books?

I would LOVE to do that but I'm too cheap.

So I looked to see what fabric I might have on hand and happened to be in the middle of slip-covering my chair.

See Here.

I had a TON of dropcloth and I liked the color.

Perfect!

The easiest way to measure around the book is to use

the Book Jacket, if it has one.

Just spread it ALL the way out

and cut one inch around the top and bottom

and to the ends of the book jacket.

Fold the top and bottom under the one inch and place the book on top to check your measurements. Fold the sides over to create a pocket that you will slip the book into. Again, check your measurements by putting the book on top and folding around to see if it is big enough.

You should make it a scosh too small

because the fabric stretches.

Glue under the pocket with a hot glue gun.

Just a dab will do it.

Make sure it is UNDER the pocket

so you can still slip the book inside.

And that's it.

Slip your book inside and you are good to go!

I like the way they look loose and wrinkled. It gives it some texture and makes it look less formal.

Side note and funny family story: Yesterday when I posted my bookcase styling tutorial my Sister posted on my Facebook wall asking me where I "got the idea to wrap up books". I had to laugh because I knew that she was referring to when my little sister used to wrap up old Readers Digest books and give them proudly to us as gifts! We all had a good laugh when everyone in my family weighed in on Facebook!

Love you guys!

I hope this helps you. Ask me if you still have questions!

The winner of the MyMemories giveaway is

#2 Barbe @ Beez Rental Designs

Congrats! I will email you to give you the download info!

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Newbie Party at Debbie Doo’s Blogging & Blabbing
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for the Winter Blues Party

The Brambleberry Cottage
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays

From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Evolution of Style

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Book Shelf Styling

Good Morning!

I shared my Living Room Tour with you this week.

You can see it HERE.

I was working on a post about Bookshelf Styling and started taking pictures of the "After" of the Bookshelves when I realized that I had never invited you into that space.

I began restyling the shelves because I kept "stealing" things

and there were bare spots.

I wanted to spruce it up for Spring at the same time.

Before

Not very inspiring is it?

I have to tell you this funny story.

I designed the bookcase/Fireplace surround when we built the house.

I was living in California at the time and our home was being built in Kansas. (Job change for Mr. Beaux) So here I am, little miss designer, in my heels at the jobsite showing the builder my elevation and specs for the Fireplace. The trim guys were there too and the sheetrock and fireplace were already in place. They all look at my drawing (acting interested) and I ask them if they want a copy. "Nope", they say "We got it". I'm kinda confused because I can't figure out how they are going to remember it or build it without the measurements and all. I had to laugh when they started drawing the elevation on the sheetrock. Those guys knew what they were doing and they were probably laughing at me!

I do love the way that it came out.

The only thing that I would change is the depth of the mantle.

We didn't want it protruding too much into the room to save on space so we kept it narrow.

Oh Well.

All images from Pinterest

OK, Inspiration Time...

This bookcase above is what I would call "Themed" all of the items have the theme of the ocean.

A little cluttered for me but very pretty.

Love the idea of painting the inset a different color.

Hmmmm...

I also like the all white with the books. I didn't have any books in the "before" because I don't own NICE books and I'm too cheap to buy them. I'm not going to buy books just for decorating. I want to actually read them. Do you know that you can buy books with special decorative bindings for you bookcases.

Very Pretty but $99.00 at One Kings Lane. I think not.

I love this Bookcase. I enjoy the symmetry

and the placement of the items is very balanced.

I like that my eyes can follow along and stop to look at each treasure individually.

Very nice.

So remember these books from my Guest Room? Yep, I was busy covering them for the Living Room shelves at the time. I took books that I already owned, put them on the shelves to see how they looked and then covered them in Dropcloth material.

Pretty much FREE!

And here is the "After".

I found the plates at a consignment shop. I walked by and glanced at the price on the top plates. I loved the color and the pattern. $28, I kept walking because I thought it was $28 for each plate. OK, can I just tell you HOW much my vision has changed in the last year! I can see fine until I need to READ something! I put my glasses on and looked again. It was $28 for a set of 8. Sheesh! I quickly carried them up to the counter.

I try to stay away from a lot of clutter, so to you the shelves might look empty.

But to me they are just perfect.

Funny, that Nell Hill's Mary Carol Garrity just wrote a post about Bookshelf Styling also. She says to always include your treasured items in your displays. I agree. This resin piece is a picture of the Great Wall of China. A gift along with the Vase from the wonderful friends that we made during our time in China.

Mr. Beaux and I were in Napa and we found this painting. It reminded me of the wheat fields here in Kansas and I loved the moody colors. It gets moved all around the house.

So I think I have achieved what I set out to do.

Let's take another Before and After look to make sure.

Before

After

Balance, Symmetry, Treasured Items and Oh Yeah... Books!

I pinky swear promise not to raid the bookcases for other decorating projects!

(for a while)

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

Newbie Party at Debbie Doo’s Blogging & Blabbing
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

The Brambleberry Cottage
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Welcome to my Living Room

OK, so I started to do a post about re-styling

my display shelves in my Living Room

and it occurred to me that I have never

invited you in to see this room.

So, as my kids would say

I'm "removing the velvet ropes"

to let you come in for a visit.

This is the view from my Entry Way.

The floors in the Entry, Dining Room and Living Room are

all travertine laid in a brick pattern.

I had the travertine sealed and enhanced

to show off the beautiful colors.

You can see the Hearth Room and Kitchen to the right

and to the left is the entry hall to the Master Bedroom.

When we built the house in 2002 we wanted

an open floor plan and considered

not having a "Formal" living room at all.

But, we do entertain and I love having a pretty room that stays nice all the time. Just walking by this room a million times a day makes me happy.

The ceilings are coffered and painted Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue and the walls

are Benjamin Moore Quincy Tan.

This is a straight on view into the room.

You can see my Screened In Porch behind the Living Room.

The columns are Faux finished to mimic stone and the base of the columns were hand painted by the same artists.

I love all the trim moldings in this room and I have never been able to bring myself to put draperies up.

It's hard for the camera to pick up all the exquisite colors in this rug. The pattern repeats the coffered ceiling pattern. Did you know that wool rugs are the only furniture that increases or at least retains their value as the years go on.

This is the bookcase that started this post. I'll post about it later this week. The fireplace goes thru to the Kitchen/Hearth room and is surrounded by smaller tiles of the Travertine. Glitzy sconces flank our family picture.

On the walls are paintings we bought in Venice on our Anniversary trip to Italy. I had them framed here in town and inadvertently picked out the same framing for the family picture at the photographer's studio.

A happy accident.

I have to tell you about this painting. On our trip to Italy we took a lot of photos, of course. Well, we had one photo that we just loved. Mr. Beaux was working in China at the time and a gentleman that he worked with painted as a hobby. He took our photo and painted this awesome painting.

This is the photo.

And here they are side by side.

The chairs are by Fremarc and the Silk sofa is made by Kravet. Both were at my local design center about seven years ago. Wow, doesn't seem that long ago.

My dog loves to hide treats in the corners of the sofa.

When I started shooting these pictures she proudly pulled out a prized rawhide bone!

I love chairs like this with a decorative back.

I change the pillows to suit my moods and the seasons. There is my sweet little bargain garden stool from Homegoods.

I've owned this wine cabinet for quite some time. It's a reproduction but I still love it.

I can close the doors to make more room and it still looks pretty!

I ordered this wonderful crown from Wuslu and the other crowns in the room are from Ballard. I was in a crown phase for a while.

I love tray tables! Lots of treasures on this one. Scrolls from China, a large clam shell bowl from Homegoods, Teacups and a moss nest under a cloche. This delicate china set was given to me by a lovely staging client I recently worked with.

I meet the nicest people!

On the end table near the sofa is a picture of my Nana and Pop-Pop. Look at that handsome couple!

Did you see my post about the Teacup candles?

Here is one that I made in a pale chartreuse.

If you missed it you can view it HERE .

Another crown with some handmade paper and a paperweight under another cloche.

Thanks for coming over to visit. I love having company in the "front room". Reminds me to mind my manners and sit up straight!

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Newbie Party at Debbie Doo’s Blogging & Blabbing
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

The Brambleberry Cottage
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays