by Furnishly | Apr 20, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Rachel and her partner, Jonathan, live in a warm and well-thrifted 900-square-foot bungalow in the United Kingdom with their three children. “We weren’t necessarily looking for a new house,” Rachel says about where she’s lived for the past 18 months with her family. “But when we came across this two-bedroom 1950s-era bungalow with a big garden, we took on the project of turning it into a home.”
Rachel’s design style is heavily inspired by the 1970s, and it’s on display throughout her entire house. “I love warm, earthy tones, the use of pattern, and the quality and design of mid-century pieces,” she says. While every area is uniquely designed, the living room and adjoining dining room are easily Rachel’s favorite spaces. “It’s where we spend our downtime, and with the view of the garden and the woods, it’s really relaxing,” she says. “The space is filled with original pieces collected over the years from all over the country.”
One really unique way that Rachel found to display her favorite items, though, requires almost no wall space at all: She mounted a shelf above the doorway that connects the two rooms. This idea would work regardless of whether there’s an actual door here or not.
“I like anything bamboo, wicker, or rattan, and of course, houseplants,” Rachel says, and she’s got all of the above on display across this space-saving shelf. Some people may hang art above their doorways as to not waste these precious inches, but shelving is an underutilized idea that you can borrow for your own home to make it look and feel unique. Whether you find that you’ve run out of wall — or you just need to keep special pieces out of reach of children or pets — utilizing the space above your doorway for a shelf and storage is a great idea.
Savannah West
Home Assistant Editor
Savannah is Assistant Editor for the Home Team at Apartment Therapy. When she’s not writing about style tips, product launches, or interviewing designers, you can catch her re-watching Gossip Girl or on Facetime with her grandma. Savannah is a proud HBCU graduate and Clark Atlanta University alumna who believes there’s nothing good food can’t fix.
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by Furnishly | Apr 14, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Arielle Tschinkel
Contributor
Arielle Tschinkel is a freelance pop culture and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared on Shape.com, WomansWorld.com, FirstforWomen.com, Insider, HelloGiggles, and more. She loves all things Disney and is making her way to every park around the world, and is a die-hard Britney Spears fan for life. She’s also obsessed with her Bernedoodle, Bruce Wayne.
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by Furnishly | Jan 18, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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If you haven’t taken down your holiday decorations yet, what are you waiting for? Maybe you’re worried that without the tree, your living space will look a bit… empty? If so, allow us to suggest a ladder shelf. These chic, practical pieces are ideal for small homes — or small rooms within larger ones. Whether you’re looking for a spot to store trinkets, plants, books, or more, ladder shelves have you covered. Below, we selected a handful of our favorite small-space-friendly styles to fit any budget.
by Furnishly | Jan 6, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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It’s no secret that actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore is a fan of books — after all, she is an author herself. In 2015, she released her first book “Wildflower,” which quickly became a New York Times best-seller, and her most recent page-turner, “Rebel Homemaker,” would not look out of place on even the chicest of coffee tables.
This week, Barrymore took to Instagram to share a series of clips of how she kicked off the new year — with a rewatch of what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time: “When Harry Met Sally.” While her endearing reenactment of some of the most iconic scenes was a highlight of the post, the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that cover the entire living room are what really made it for me.
An avid reader’s dream, Barrymore’s living room features all-white bookshelves that certainly add a lot of character to the space (no pun intended). The television is framed by a glorious archway of books, and there’s a similar floor-to-ceiling book corner seen in the background. So basically, the living room doubles as a library. It’s certainly one way to get through a never-ending “to be read” list.
If you’re a fan of books just as much as Barrymore, there are plenty of towering bookshelves that will take your space to new heights and allow you to showcase your collection. Take IKEA’s renowned “Billy” bookcase, for example, that has ample space to store all of your favorite books, while the corner version will act as a striking focal point.
You can also fake the built-in look with a DIY shelving trick that will allow you to create a library room that even Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” would be jealous of. Hint: track shelving.
Once you’ve got your shelves, you need to decide on your next read. For January, start with this one.
by Furnishly | Dec 17, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
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If there’s one piece of furniture that has remained on my radar even as time has passed, it’s the Stairway Wall-Mounted Bookcase from CB2. I’m in awe of how gorgeous this ladder-like design looks in a wide variety of spaces — a well-made, versatile piece of furniture is always a winner in my book. Plus, the powder coated aluminum shelving unit holds a lot while appearing ultra sleek, making it an excellent pick for small spaces, too.
A true design chameleon precisely because it’s so minimalist, the Stairway Bookcase comes in two finishes — white and black — and two sizes. One option stands approximately 72 inches tall, while those with ultra-high ceilings may prefer the 96-inch option. CB2’s Stairway collection also extra wide shelves and models with desks and closed storage built-in, too, so you can create a modular unit out of the components that suit your home and lifestyle best. Use just one Stairway, or build out a wall of them. It’s totally up to you!
Just so you can get a sense of what a gem the Stairway truly is, I’ve rounded up six of my favorite spaces on the internet that feature this stunning bookcase, ranging from a dining room to a nursery. While some of the Stairway shelves may be back-ordered until the new year, I think you’ll realize soon that they’re well worth the wait, especially since the smallest sizes start at under $350, and they’re virtually indestructible once built.
In a dining area for dish storage
By no means are bookshelves solely for the office or living room. If you’re in need of extra storage in your dining room and don’t mind displaying your dishes and glassware out in the open (and you don’t have little kids or pets running around to worry about), a Stairway Bookcase might be just what you need. You’ll be able to keep tabs on all of your entertaining essentials and can even incorporate a few cookbooks into the arrangement, too, just as blogger Shelby Vanhoy of Pretty in the Pines did in her space.
Paired up and sitting pretty in a library nook
Need a lot of book storage? No problem! The stairway bookshelves look stunning grouped together and are an excellent alternative for those without built-ins or renters who are looking for a more temporary shelving solution. Instagrammer Hattie Kolp displayed her shelves in her apartment’s library nook to create a lived-in, cozy spot for kicking back with a favorite read.
Across a living room wall for visual interest
Blogger and founder of IDCO Studio, Anastasia Casey also set up a row of Stairway Bookcases in her home, placing hers in the living room where they add major drama and structure to an expansive stretch of wall. She got creative with her book display and opted to display some titles with the spines facing inward for a more neutral, artistic look that can be quite controversial in these parts — but looks really lovely with the room’s color palette.
Of course, bookshelves couldn’t be a more obvious furnishing choice for a home offie. Blogger and designer Chaney Widmer of Mix and Match Design Co. styled her Stairway so that it holds her printer and some file boxes, making the most of its small footprint to best fit her work needs. The great thing about this slim shelf is it fits nicely into corners, nooks, and even beside door openings.
For storage in a kid’s room
Kids need beautiful bookcases, too! This setup by blogger and designer Melissa Barling of Winter Daisy keeps favorite stuffed animals, books, and knickknacks within eyesight and jazzes up an otherwise plain white wall. Placing storage baskets on the lowest shelf will allow kiddos to reach for some items on their own — and put them away once playtime is over.
Lifestyle blogger and designer Michael Wurm of Inspired by Charm also has his Stairway bookcases within his home office area, and they hold a mix of decorative and functional items. They also double as decor; there is no need to hang artwork directly across from the desk when Wurm can gaze at his stunningly styled shelves.
One of the best things about the Stairway is how easy it is to configure — and reconfigure, if you want to — in a space, particularly if you are using multiples. You can space them out evenly as shown above or push them together like Wurm did. You really cannot go wrong with the Stairway, and I’m thinking about how to make one work in my space, too.
