Tuesday, May 1

Our Bookshelves

Per request from Sonia, of Leaves of Grass (in my blogroll), I present my bookshelves:

"Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome." ~William Ewart Gladstone

The main bookshelves, sprinkled liberally with family treasures and photos.


We had these shelves built when we moved into the house. Otherwise, we'd have had no place to put our books. Unthinkable!

"An ordinary man can... surround himself with two thousand books... and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy." ~Augustine Birrell

A bedroom shelf. These are all unread (except for the large puzzle books on the bottom shelf). Both of the embroideries were made by my daughters, when they were fairly young. The sepia photos on the wall are me, before my first birthday.


The Master bedroom shelf. The 2 hatboxes on the top right are antiques I found in my mom's attic, and the 2 on the left date from the 80's.

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." ~Paul Sweeney




Miss kenju's bedroom shelf, full of law books and fashion magazines. How's that for an odd juxtaposition?



A few of my wedding books and magazines, kept at the ready in my office. Okay, Sonia, what do you think?




36 comments:

Cris said...

You did such a great job, Sonia will be thrilled! I love the quotes you added. Have a great week Judy!

David Edward said...

have you ever logged on to bookins, where you trade your old books for new ones?
-------------m
i posted some good stuff lately

ProducerClaire said...

Mmmm....a house with that many books is truly a home!

Anonymous said...

i love this post. puts me to shame how i search for ages to look for materials when yrs is so well laid out. will have to think of shelving or something. i notice when books are well laid out my kid will read.if he doesnt see it, he doesnt read it.thx for dropping by. hope u dont mind if i link u. i love to come back n read and linking will make it easier for me :)

Anonymous said...

As I have just had my flat painted and newly carpetted, my books were all packed and I am in the process of putting them back on shelves! A lot of work.:(
Your bookshelves look good, Judy! Thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

ooh-aah! I love the coved bookshelves you had built. Books are funny possessions-I'm always very attached to mine. Moving to Chicago required cutting it by half and we still paid a fortune since they cost by the pound to move.

I like the shelf of mostly unread books (esp. the frog)- those look like vacation-type reads. Do you need another vacation?

Eddie said...

It is great to have books. It is dreadful to finish a book off. That is probably why I put off reading the last few pages of a book for weeks - I don't want us to be torn apart.

Pat said...

Those hat boxes are DIVINE! And I love the screen of photos - excellent!
I have a great guilt feeling about books at present. I used to be a total book-worm but since blogging I'm doing less and less and I positively shrink when someone tells me of must read. Problems problems!

Jennie said...

I LOVE your built in shelves Judy!!! Every house should have beautiful built-in bookshelves.

Kristi said...

Wow. I love those shelves in your living room. They look like built-ins. My house is full of books as well (and not enough bookshelves to hold them all!). For Christmas two years ago, my husband made me two beautiful bookshelves for my home office. They're my favorite gift from him.

Bobkat said...

A person with many books keeps good company!

utenzi said...

I've read a bunch of the books on that first bedroom bookshelf, Judy. I couldn't read the titles on the other bookshelf. I love the way buildin bookshelves look. I really should build some in my house. I only have stand alone ones now.

Thumper said...

Oh man, I would totally love having built-ins like yours (well, if we owned this house...) We have six bookcases, most of them 6-feet or taller, and they're stuffed. It was a sad, sad time when we had to give away almost half of our books for lack of space to keep them =sob=

Anonymous said...

WOW! And I thought I had a lot of books! Your bookshelves are so beautiful!

Crimson said...

I love your house. I can imagine visiting and enjoying every minute!

Unknown said...

Great photos. I think I got some ideas from the first ones for the ones I'm finishing up in the basement. THANK YOU!

rosemary said...

"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." Erasmus

Judy!!!! We are sisters in pics, books and stuff!...and grey hair abnd blogging too!

Duke_of_Earle said...

Wow. Got me to thinking about how many pics I'd have to post to show the various (full) bookshelves in THIS house. Quite a few, but prob'ly not as many as you! Good shots, and a lovely house!

John

brendalove@gmail.com said...

I've seen these shelves before. They're still beautiful as ever.

Stew Magoo said...

Hey nice digs Judy!

Anonymous said...

I mean to do this via Sonia's website myself, but like you, I have bookcases in every room in the house. Thanks for sharing.

srp said...

One can never have too many books or diamonds. Although one is usually more likely to be able to afford the books.

Badabing said...

I'm jealous Judy...my books are strewn all about the house. I've been meaning to organize them...for about two years now. I'm going to use your pics for inspiration :-)

Anonymous said...

I hope this isn't a meme casue I don't want to show my messy bookshelves...some in every room! Yours are nice...so much space!

bluemountainmama said...

wow, judy..... you have quite the collection of books! i love that first quote and agree.

there's just something about a bookshelf filled with books.....you can go on so many adventures from the comfort of your easy chair! :)

sonia a. mascaro said...

Wow! Thank you Judy, for your participation, you did an amazing job! I think your post about books is just great! Love all your bookshelf! Great quotes, too!
I will add your link on my post right now!

Jamie Dawn said...

Books, books, and MORE books.

I think you may have managed to get photos of your kids and grandkids on here by way of those bookshelves. ALAS! Your children will be madder than a bee in a jelly jar if they find out!! :)

sonia a. mascaro said...

I am here again Judy, to see more details of your books and arrangements. Love the screen (biombo, in Portuguese) full of photos of all family! Love also the main bookshelves sprinkled with family treasures and photos. This arrangment looks like my mother-in-law's bookshelf. So beautiful and creative! Love all quotes, but my preferred is Paul Sweeney's quote. Thanks for sharing!

Beverly said...

I love all your bookshelves!! Thanks for inquiring about me.

MaR said...

My bookshelves are very disorganized...and cluttered, but I kind of find what I am looking for, at least most of the time! Yours look very organized, particularly the last picture of your basket.
I have a whole set of dictionaries. Need them to blog too! online dictionaries are not as fun :)

sage said...

I found myself trying to read titles! Nice post.

Shephard said...

Ok, I saw the arched shelves and just had to comment... but... when I see them... I have this urge to take everything out of them, and paint the back of the shelves a color of green like your couch, only 2 shades lighter. Can you picture it? Would really make them pop, and frame the couch. :)
~S

Shephard said...

I believe it! It just seems a natural choice. Tho sage is a bit dead. How about buttercream, apple green, rose or tiffany? :) Sorry, I'm obsessed with color accents today. lol
~S

Shephard said...

The colors sound great! Rule of thumb for decorating with color is repetitions of 3. If you add a color, add it three times, even if in small ways (flowers, vases, paintings, etc). All those colors you mentioned would go nicely with Apple green. :)
~S

Anonymous said...

I love the pictures of your books and family.

Dewey said...

I think I found it! But I can't see any of the pictures. :(