Internationally Trained Interior Designer, enthusiastic traveler, and dog lover shares advice and inspiration to help you create your Beautiful Habitat; a home you love and the ideal place for you to flourish.
My bookcases have a lot of books and those books get heavy. My bookcases also happen to be open on one side, making a bit of an L-shape like this photo.
So I have an ongoing problem with bookends that are not heavy enough to hold several books on the shelves. Afterall, I do want to mix up the look with some books horizontal and some vertical (read the post on how to decorate bookshelves). So how do I keep my vertical books from tumbling down, but still look attractive?
I came up with a DIY project that creates a heavy bookend and still looks good on my shelves. Take one substantial square vase from Pottery Barn and several decorative rocks, or glass beads - put together in any decorative pattern you like and you have a heavy bookend.
Various sizes can be used. Or as an alternative, try a ceramic vase and rocks from your own back yard.
Key tips: Use a shape that allows a flat surface to sit next to the books. This creates more stability than a round shape. Ensure that the vase size and weight is adequate for the book load. You don't want your books to come tumbling down with glass or ceramic in the way.
I have a hard time knowing how to decorate shelves and bookcases. Any suggestions? Monica
It can be difficult to decorate bookshelves, whether they are built in or freestanding. Most people prefer their bookshelves to not only be a storage place for their books but also an area that adds style and personality to the décor. So how do you achieve the right look for you?
The first idea for bookshelves - use books! Novel idea, I know. To make it interesting, you can hold the books in place with stylish bookends. Arranging some books horizontally and others vertically, creates even more interest.
Or you can take another approach and arrange the books by color or size.
Decorate with sculpture, vases, framed artwork or photos, etc. Group items together to make more of an impact, especially if most of your items are smaller. Grouped together, small items will make a bigger statement and be more interesting.
One key tip I use when decorating shelves is to adjust the shelves to varying heights. For instance, create a shelf or two that are big enough so you can fit taller books or artwork. You might have a small space just right for smaller books or figurines on another spot on the bookshelf. Whatever you decide to do, adjusting the shelves is one of the best ways to add some real style to the space.
The key to making it all work is balance. You want to balance larger and smaller pieces by intermingling them. If you have a large vase on the bottom shelf, put books or smaller items on the next shelf up, then maybe a medium item on the next shelf. If you have multiple shelves next to each other, don’t put the same sized items horizontal to each other, but put one higher and one lower to create interest.
If the side of your bookcase is visible when you enter a room, make it more interesting and use it as wall space by hanging artwork or accessories.
I recently stumbled upon this blog post with these lovely pieces made from used water bottles. I love the reuse of the bottles as well as the funky floral motif that results. Brilliant! Unfortunately the link to purchase these room dividers/curtains/hanging sculpture no longer works. However, I thought this could make a great DIY project for anyone inspired by these photos.
Personally, I am not quite crafty enough to know which tools to use to get a nice edge when cutting the bottle.Do you know? Please share your tips with us. And if you do decide to try this DIY, please send us photos of your results.
Yes, Mother's Day is only one month away. Have you thought about how you will honor the woman that brought you into this world? If your mother is like the many I know, she has plenty of "stuff", but she doesn't have a lot of time. She has to prioritize her life and often keeping up with home improvements falls low on the list. Help her tackle those home project by bringing in expert help.
Interior Design and Decorating make a great gift. I have gift cards available and we can customize to meet your specific needs and budget. You can gift a consultation, a redesign, declutter and organizing, color selection, window treatments, real estate staging or any design or decoration project, from 1 hour up to several hours of time. See the Beautiful Habitat website or contact me for more information.
I have been gifted for Mother's Days past it is is truly an appreciated gift by the busy mom's with whom I have worked.
I love interesting pieces that pop in a room. Shine Home is definitely on the leading edge of creating amazing pieces that simply say WOW. Want to make a statement, try one of these deliciously detailed buffets, or any other pieces from the Shine Home Collection. Amazing detail and colors available. Enjoy!
Spring is in the air! I love the change in seasons and find myself attracted to light and airy rooms. Here are a few of my favorites.I hope they inspire you to refresh your home for Spring!
This may just be my favorite dining room of all time. Designed by Jane Cotter of Slifer Designs and featured in Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine.
Another favorite - this light and airy kitchen is by Designer Tom Scheerer and featured in House Beautiful Magazine.
A very fun take on dining, by Designer Leslie Klotz, House Beautiful Magazine.
A light, airy and cheerful bedroom. I could wake up to this room in the spring! By Designer Jacqueline Derrey Segura and featured in House Beautiful.
Spring is in the air! The Denver area had a blizzard a week ago today and now we are looking at nearly 80 degree temperatures. These first balmy days of Spring always make me yearn for a great place to sit outdoors. I've found some beautiful seating from Charleston Gardens to answer that call!
Charleston Gardens Bench
Travertine Table and Clingencourt Chairs
Harwick Bench
French Bistro Set
Camelback Bench
Regency Bench
I feel inspired to start sprucing up my outdoor spaces, how about you?
Bradley Hughes provides an exclusive product line of furnishings fashioned from exceptional materials such as acid mirror, colored glass, hand-forged iron, exotic wood and stones and hand-finished concrete. All products are proudly manufactured in the USA. Here is a selection of their light fixtures that are sure to add drama and beauty to any room.
This is the 100th Blog Post for Beautiful Habitat! Thank you for joining me with each post! I hope you've been informed and inspired to create your own Beautiful Habitat.
I've been thinking about this post for days, wondering how to best mark the occasion. Ironically, March is already a significant month for me. This month I celebrate a birthday, another year of marriage to a wonderful husband, and a 3rd year of business in Colorado.I feel so incredibly grateful for each of these fabulous occasions.
To share that gratitude, I am offering $100 off of design fees on any project for the first five blog readers to schedule a design consultation. All you need to do is be one of the first 5 people to contact me and agree to have your project featured on the Beautiful Habitat blog. If you are in the Denver/Boulder area, I can meet up with you in person. If you reside in another area, I can consult through emailed photographs, with some measuring on your part. Email me today to schedule your consultation today!
Happy St. Patricks' Day. In honor of the holiday, below are several rooms featuring the color green. Green is a very versitle color which can be high impact or calming and everything in between. Use it for a pop of color in a room or as a whole theme. Below are ideas to get your started on your own green room.
This soothing green bedroom was designed by Alessandra Branca and featured in the October 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
This tiny kitchen makes a huge statement in a bold green lacquer. Even the roller window shade and refrigerator are green. Design by Miles Redd. Featured in July 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
If a green theme is just too much for you, try a pop of green on a large piece like a sofa. This room, by Jonathan Adler was featured in the May 2009 House Beautiful.
What better color than green for an out door room? Greystone estate show house, Veranda Magazine.
Veranda also featured a great round up of green fabrics and wall coverings for spring. More information on each fabric can be found on the Veranda website.
