Bookshelves
THE CORNERS OF OUR HOMES THAT MEAN THE MOST. THIS MONTH: ON THE BOOKSHELF
“When we moved a few years ago, it seemed very natural to turn the extra room in our new house into a home library.
We filled up six bookcases and two walls instantly, than hired a local carpenter to build four more shelves to cover the last free wall. Those bookcases are all full now, mostly with vintage Penguins. I generally collect British editions from 1935 to 1970. These typically weren’t available originally in the US, so it’s a fun challenge to find them over here. This room is the most popular in the house. Not only do I spend a lot of time reading here (sitting on the orange beanbag with a cup of tea), but my three kids, husband, and five cats all hang out here, too. I love having a library ladder. It’s both functional and has been such fun for our cats who love playing on it, climbing up and down.”
“Our bookshelves are as much decorative as they are storage. We’ve interspersed the books with keepsakes and photographs to break up the functional wall of units.”
Lottie Storey*, Bristol @lottie_storey
*We made My Place editor Lottie include her own bookshelves as they were too nice not to!
“Before installing an actual bookcase, we had what I called my ‘invisible bookcase’ - a stack of books at the top of the stairs. They were shoved together on a whim but ended up being one of the most-loved areas of our house! Hanging plants from an old curtain pole has transformed the space, too.”
Vic Au-Yeung, Kingstone, Herefordshire @our_home_in_kingstone
“I love the 1960s design of the shelves and they get a lot of attention from guests.
There isn’t much order, nor are they very tidy. We’ve arranged by book size, due to the shelves being different depths. but generally, it’s wherever the book fits!”
Robynne Morris, Liverpool @thisoldpub
“As a child, I dreamt of having a Beauty and the Beast library. My dad made that dream come true by building this. I never get used to it and still stare at it and imagine I’m in a fairytale. It’s endlessly magical to me!”
Violet Short, Indianapolis, US @fairytaleparades
“This bookshelf brings me so much joy because it reminds me of my father who built it for me and his unwavering support.
I usually read in this part of my home in the morning with a big pot of tea and a cat (or two) sleeping nearby.”
Heather Ellis, London, Ontario, Canada @theliteraturearchive
“I had a few shelves in here but, during lockdown, I decided to turn this room fully into a library.
I ditched some furniture and expanded my shelves – as well as my book and plant collection – to make it a space of relaxation for me and my family.”
Ova Incekaraoglu, Cambridge @excusemyreading