Between the expansive blank wall and the stacks of books in our living room, it’s pretty obvious we need a bookshelf. Now the question is . . . which one? Á la our Rug Runoff, I’ve selected a handful of my favorite bookshelves and I’m hoping you can help me pick the one that will work best for our space!
Things to Keep in Mind
Positioned directly across from the front door, this bookcase will essentially be the first thing guests see when they walk into our home (no pressure). That said, it should blend with the room’s decor but make a statement on its own. Plus, it’s got to comfortably fill out this 70”w x 108”h wall with ample breathing room on the sides and enough height to draw the eye up.
The Contenders
Rockwell Bookcase
Without being matchy-matchy, I love that this crisscross-piece from Jayson Home and Garden has a similar look and feel as our bricklayer’s coffee table. At 36.5”w x 84”h, the reclaimed wood and metal unit is one of the taller and narrower options in this group, leaving a good amount of the wall exposed on the sides (not sure if that’s good or bad but it’s something to consider).
Left Bank Bookcase
This option from Vivaterra is Mike’s favorite for its straightforward-industrial look and for me, the exposed rivets and gray-washed wood shelves have a raw Parisian charm that could win me over.
Naturally Beautiful Bookcase
From Wisteria, this 53” wide casegood would practically fill the whole wall but a bookshelf that feels more like a built-in could be a nice effect. . . . With pretty wood spindles and an X-back, it would play on the updated-traditional elements in the room like the sofa and fireplace.
Scala Bookcase
This white and black metal bookshelf may seem too modern for my home but imagine it with bamboo shelves and a silver frame . . . it could work perfectly. Faktura Design makes this piece in a variety of finishes and materials and can even make the 70”h good taller for a couple hundred. I love that these cantilevered shelves act like bookends in the center and have a look like nothing else on the market.
Which bookcase is your favorite for our home? Please cast your vote in the comments below!
Mike has been collecting antique skis since he was 16 years old–and as adorable as that is, we now have more than 30 seven-foot-long objects collecting dust in a storage unit. As decorative objects, the hardware and wood are actually quite pretty, and the skis offer a hysterical look at the safety standards of the early 20th century. (Can you imagine descending Mammoth on a wood plank with only a strap of leather to keep you in place?) Since they are too great to give away but too large to display together (without turning our home into the Elks club), we had to start figuring out ways to put them to use.
In our early decorating days, I spotted three gorgeous sets of vintage leather suitcases at a yard sale and swooned on the spot. After I saw this picture (above) in the new book by the DIY goddesses of 