I have thought about styling, or re-styling, my living room bookshelves for a while. There were a few obstacles though…like where would I put everything that didn’t make the cut? Storage in my house is running out…very quickly it seems. Anyway, my goal was to get all my white and cream ironstone finally in one place. I love seeing bookshelves styled with a homeowner’s collections. I think it’s a great way to put your mark on a room.
After the initial confusion, it all started to come together.
My living room is a rectangle. One long wall is nothing but window and bookshelves. It was one of the reasons we bought this house. The symmetry of this wall just makes me smile.
When I sit in my corner chair, this is the wall that I see.
I thought I would have plenty of ironstone to fill the shelves. Happily, I did not! I haven’t added to my collection for a while because I didn’t have room to display any more. Now I do…
I tried leaving some of the books on the shelves and just adding the ironstone.
For me it didn’t work. What I would like to do is cover some of the books with ivory paper and then add them. The hodge podge of my book collection was throwing everything off.
I’m working on some new pillow covers to bring in more pops of yellow. I’ve wanted to add some buffalo check for years and finally ordered a swatch from Country Curtains. Hopefully it will be just the right color.
I thought about clearing out the corner cabinets in my dining room and putting the ironstone there. I decided against that because I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. By putting it in the living room, I can not only enjoy the view, I can obsess about adding more!
Happy Wednesday…make it a good one!
Linking to:
Beverly says
Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 7:41 amThis looks gorgeous, Ann.♥
keri @ shaken together says
Friday, January 11, 2013 at 5:06 amLOOOOOVE all the white and that quirky little pig :) Beautiful job!
sharon says
Friday, January 11, 2013 at 12:29 amSymmetry makes me smile, too. I love your ironstone display and I think it’s great that you put it where you can truly enjoy it. I can’t wait to see the buffalo check…..I’ve wanted to incorporate buffalo check in my home for a long time….just haven’t found the right spot yet.
Grace @ sense and simplicity says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:54 pmWell done with the bookshelves. They look great and display your creamware so well. Dd you try turning the books so the spine was facing the wall and all you can see is the pages so there is less colour.
Glenda Childers says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:13 pmBeautiful work.
Fondly,
Glenda
KATHYSUE says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:03 pmWhite ironstone is so perfect for you home and your style. Great job Ann!
Kathysue
Jill Flory says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:54 pmI love ironstone Ann, but I have one small bowl. That’s it. Let’s go ironstone shopping together!!
Melissa-TheHappierHomemaker/SoYouWannaBeaBlogger says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 8:03 pmSo pretty An! I love the styling and all the white!
Virginia @ LiveLoveDIY says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 4:56 pmWOW! So beautiful, Ann! You have me inspired to finally tackle my office bookshelves!! Nice work!
Linda says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 1:49 pmI think your collections looks stunning. It is so serene and tranquil, especially after the holidays.
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:57 amGorgeous, Ann! I would love to get my hands on those dishes…they would look lovely in my dining area ;)
Jacque says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:36 amJust lovely! Your collection has a perfect home now. I love the idea of covering the books in Ivory, I have wanted to do something similar for years!
Cynthia says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 9:24 amI love your ironstone collection, you should display some items.
Cynthia
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 8:11 amAnn, I would put all that lovely ironstone collection on display, too! And how wonderful you’ve “discovered” space to allow your collection to grow. I have been pondering what to put back on some shelves that we have on our big dividers. Hope the buffalo check is just the right color!
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 7:19 amI like it when collections are displayed in one spot rather than scattered throughout the house. Your shelves look great, and I like the Quimper mixed-in with the white ironstone.
I love buffalo checks. I can’t wait to see what you make with it!
xo,
RJ
Suburban Princess says
Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 6:43 amI think I need you to come and do mine – I’ve had a wall of built-ins put in…still empty because I don’t have a clue what to do with them.
bj says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 10:55 pmLooks wonderful…..I love my bookshelves more than anything…:))
Cindy says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 10:25 pmLove your ironstone collection…so pretty! I have book shelves in my living room too and have my white pitchers on the shelves with the books. Not really happy with them all being on the shelves together, but I have no where else to put the books. I love buffalo check and have them in the tan color in my living room and dining room. I purchased the fabric from JoAnn’s and made them…but I’m asked all the time if I got them from Country Curtains.
~Cindy
Donnamae says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:52 pmYou’ve got quite a collection there…and what a nice surprise…room for more! Gotta love it. I’ve been cleaning closets, and discovered things I haven’t seen in a few years….it was like shopping…without the cash outlay! Anxious to see the buffalo check! ;)
Babs says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:50 pmYour bookshelves look sooo good. I like your mix of ironstone and pictures. I know what you mean about covering books in white to make the look work. I need to do that, because my bookcases look like a hodge podge of things. You did a beautiful job! I’m off to watch the last part of the first episode of Downton Abbey. I recorded it and just finally settling down to watch it.
Babs
Linda @ it all started with paint says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:43 pmJust beautiful — and perfect timing! I’ve been trying to figure out how to style my dining room hutch and, seriously, have another window open with a google image search! Love the little animal touches …
:) Linda
Dawn says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:30 pmLove what you have done, and I think it is a brilliant idea to cover all the books with the same ivory paper.
Sue Davidson says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:23 pmI am always fascinated how people “style” their bookshelves. I really like the way you fashioned yours shelves to look clean, and simple but elegant. Your eye rests upon each piece without feeling overwhelmed. Great job Ann!
Mandy Loescher says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:17 pmI love the ironstone. I just started my own collection, and I want to display them just like you, all together!
Kelly says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 6:18 pmI love white dishes displayed together. Yours looks great! I completely understand your new obsession. You’ll have fun adding to your collection now.
Olive Cooper says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 6:02 pmTheses book shelves filled with white and ironstone are lovely. I have a huge wall of shelves and windows filled with books and it is a big ole mess.
Anita says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:59 pmIt looks fabulous Ann! Great job.
Nana Diana says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:51 pmAnn- It looks so nice. I’ll bet you were just thrilled once you got it done. GREAT job! xo Diana
Anne Boykin says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:49 pmHi Ann, I’ve been wanting some of the Country Curtains buffalo check in black. I hope you like the yellow – it looks fabulous in the catalog. Your shelves look wonderful!
Pat@BPM says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:22 pmBeautiful styling, Ann!
elaine says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:19 pmpretty pics ann! funny we both had posts about new shelving and displaying today!!
Vanessa says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 4:12 pmThey look beautiful Ann! So crisp and light and now I’m thinking I need to go do some restyling of my bookshelves! :-)
Vanessa
Ginger Zuck says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 3:10 pmLooks great Ann, love the white, it’s so clean and fresh sight to enjoy.
Mary Alice Patterson says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 2:59 pmNice change to your bookshelves. It’s often a challenge to get shelves looking just right. Very nicely done!
Mary Alice
Cindy says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 2:34 pmSounds like you are loving checks too! I have purchased a small checked grey Ikea comforter for the end of my bed. The colour of it keeps it from looking too country and I’m going to go from there with a makeover in there. And Ikea has a lovely red and white check, larger but not buffalo check that I want to use in my kitchen. I think I’ll make new window treatments in there.
I love your bookshelves with the white ironstone, it’s very beautiful and I appreciate the symmetry that you’ve achieved with what you have on it.
Love and hugs, Cindy
Martina says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 1:30 pmYour bookshelves look fabulous Ann!! I love how you layered the pictures and I love your Quimper plates on the other side!
Shelia says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 12:58 pmHi Ann, I love your shelves and your white pieces look lovely! I spy some Quimper too, don’t I?
Happy New Year and be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Stacey says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 12:39 pmYour shelves do look just perfect. Love all the white and the artwork propped in the back. The colors are soft and pretty.
Buffalo checks are on my list too. :)
Pamela Gordon says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 12:09 pmAnn, I love your bookshelves and your ironstone collection. You have a good start on it with some really pretty pieces. Have fun!
Kathy says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:31 amLove what you have in them now…..love your pottery plates….are they Polish?
Rondell says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:17 amLove the ironstone on the shelves, I don’t blame you for wanting them where you can see them. I wrapped books with some linen fabric and love them need to do more though, I do have white wrapping paper left over from Christmas, maybe that will be my “to do” thing for this week:)
Have a wonderful day!
Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Flea Market Makeovers says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:06 amYour shelves look wonderful Ann! How fun that you can now go hunt for more. I used to have Country Curtains yellow buffalo checked curtains in a home I had two homes ago and loved them.
Keeping It Cozy says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 10:32 amOh Ann, it looks so beautiful! I agree, it’s far better to have room for more pieces… how fun! The layered art also looks great. For me anyway, styling shelves is one of the hardest things to do, and yours look fabulous with your ironstone collection!
Katie @ Wildwood Creek says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 9:53 amThe collection makes a great impact displayed all together!
Anne @ DesignDreamsbyAnne says
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 9:48 amIsn’t it funny how you innately know how you want it to look but it takes a bit to get it to look like your vision? Happens to me all the time!
Lovely display! I adore the Dutch plates!