Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Couldn't Take My Eyes Off...

When I first saw this room of the late Mimi Weddell I couldn't take my eyes off of it. You could make the argument this it is both living with, and decorating with, books. And, her eye for color is amazing. (image from Casa Vogue 2005, photography by Tim Walker via Identical Eye here.)
It reminded me that I received a wonderful book for Christmas, Decorating with Books. While the rooms featured aren't as riotous as Mimi's, they're inspiring and interesting and, more importantly, most were images I hadn't seen.


Have you ever seen a mantel like this before?

18 comments:

1 Funky Woman said...

Ha sometimes I find my living room looking quite similar to the first pic and I love it!

Megan

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

I really meant to buy this book. Its a nice coincidence that my post today is on my mantel dilemma so maybe I'll play with books today.

Unknown said...

Love those stacks on the mantel! So creative. Looks like a beautiful book. I love living with books too, all over the place.

Lauren said...

oohh i want that book now!

happy new year and my card just might get to you before valentine's day! ha!
xoxo,
lauren

Unknown said...

Nothing like some good books!

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Nothing makes a room more beautiful and filled with character than a stack of books. Now more than ever this is important.
Beautiful post, Michele.
Teresa
xoxo

FairyFiligree said...

We all love books in my family and we've got heaps of them. So books were always a staple in our home. Can't understand that there are some families who don't have a single bookcase in the house.

Fly Away Home said...

All of the photos were amazing. I adore the mantle arrangement. How creative!

Magnaverde said...

My living room looks like Mimi Weddells's all too often. Actually, most of my rooms look like that, so it's no wonder I'm drawn to that first photo. Then again, I like all these shots except the last one, where the arrangement of books is too self-conscious & stagy, like it's the home of someone who doesn't really read--at least not these particular books. Which is probably for the best, anyway: mixing old leather books & pale upholstery is just asking for it.

Suzanne said...

Hi,

Thank you for the book recommendation, and your great book post, I find books are not only interesting but they are absolutely decorative, you are so right. They do bring history into a room, I love books.

decogirlmontreal

Karena said...

Oooh Love the yellow room!! The book looks wonderful Michele!

xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

Sarah Sedwick Studio said...

Love the blue interior of that bookcase in the first photo. Gorgeous blog, my first visit!

Beverly said...

Hi Michelle! I'm pretty sure the last mantel is Jan Roden's of And George.

Unknown said...

I have never seen a mantle like that one - but truly love decorating with books. It's fun to move them around, peruse them and then stack them up and top with a fun object.

xo Elizabeth

Connie in Hartwood said...

That last photo bothers me. I see a mantel stacked with books, but gobs of space on the actual bookshelves. I know it was a conscious choice ... but it still bothers me.

Michelle said...

Oh deary me. Every one of these is stu stu stu stunning. I think by the time I make a home the way I want it to look, and collect all those books, I will be too old to read. sad.

Rida said...

Executive look inside. We can only hope some of the white rooms will slowly start adding pops of color and texture! I look forward to more creatively bold design choices this year!makeup artist world

Rida said...

Nothing makes a room more beautiful and filled with character than a stack of books. Now more than ever this is important.
Beautiful post, Michele.online makeup course

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