Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

bookshelves beauty...

I've always loved the idea of having bookshelves in the bedroom so I'm planning to incorporate bookshelves in the room that I'm decorating.

I absolutely love this photo below. A plain white bed surrounded by leather books. 

Image from here
Even the windows have been kept simple with no curtains and just a simple iron rod so that it does not steal the limelight of those lovely books.

All those books reminds me of that scene of one of my favourite films of all time - Disney's Beauty and the Beast.


I digress.

Anyway...if you have a great collection of books, I would highly recommend you make them the focal point of your rooms. Keep your bedlinens simple so that the books become the main feature.

Martha Stewart Living

The room below has a whole wall dedicated to books...

image from here

Love this room made of brown and turquoises...

from here
This one is purple...

from Desire to Inspire

I like how they hung framed pictures on the bookshelves for some visual interest.

Image from here
Here's another example, using smaller framed pictures.

Image from here
One thing that I've learnt is that you can stack the books on your shelves horizontally and vertically to add visual interest. Also, a few pretty knick knacks here and there would break a sea of books with some of your personal style.


Images taken from here


The room I am decorating will not have enough space to dedicate a whole wall to bookshelves, so it would probably be just a few shelves on brackets. I do hope I can share the finished project with you all soon.

Have a great Tuesday!

Monday, 5 March 2012

reading nooks

I had written a post last week about breakfast nooks, which inspired me to write about reading nooks!

I love having a little space to sit down in quiet (which is rare) and flip through favourite magazines and books for inspiration. 

Design*Sponge
I love the green used in this room. The leaning book shelf is also pretty - not your regular book case, which caught my eye. 

Eclectic Revisited
Having a single arm chair or a wingback chair against a bookshelf totally says, "leave me alone as I read in peace" without actually saying it out loud. :-) I love how they have creatively leaned artwork against the wall on the bookshelf, too.

Nicespace
You may not require a bookshelf to have a reading nook. Just a spot next to the window and a stack of your favourite books on the window sill would do. Isn't that pretty and inviting? 

Traditional Home
A window seat surround by books. Aaah, lovely!

Have a great Monday!

Friday, 2 March 2012

awesome study

Have you ever dreamed of having an awesome study room that's not too neat, decorated with cool industrial stuff, casually simple and beautiful, a little messy, but organised at the same time?

That's what my study room would look like... some day.

Pinterest
This room is a piece of artwork.

Have an awesome Friday!!

Thursday, 1 March 2012

window seats

I've always loved window seats. To me, they denote comfort, coziness and a perfect retreat for a busy day.

I would love to have a window seat in my house someday. A window seat next to a bookshelf would be just perfect. Like this one.

Traditional Home
What makes the perfect window seat?

An awesome view.

Freshome
Freshome
Freshome

Upholstered seating.

Decorpad
Decorpad
Decorpad

And plenty of pillows to cuddle up to!

Freshome
Image from here

Elle Decor
How would you dress up your window seat?

Freshome
Have a great day!

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Book indulgence!

Before I begin, let me just say that I'm trying to update my blog with an 11-month-old squirming on my lap. So this update is going to be short and simple.

I've always been rather frugal in my spending, but when it comes to books on decorating, I am a sucker.

What's great about working in KLCC is that Kinokuniya is nearby, and you can find design books that you would not find anywhere else in the country.

Just in case you don't know where KLCC is. It's the best place to work. So they say. Source unknown.

Two weeks ago, I had been scouring the shelves of Kinokuniya for a book titled The Business of Design by Keith Granet, a book that was recommended by my favourite blogger, Brooke Giannetti,  in her blog Velvet & Linen. 

As I was searching, I literally gasped when my sight fell on Patina Style! The book that I had sought and thought would never reach our shores! The book written by Brooke Giannetti and her equally-talented husband, Steve Giannetti!

Note: People who know me well would know that it is not easy to get me excited over anything.

I grabbed the book over to the counter and asked them to open the plastic cover for me. They told me there was only one copy in the store, and I believe the only... one... copy... in the entire NATION. And it would take a few weeks to replenish if this one was sold out.



With no cash in hand, I walked out, and several days later, I made a beeline to the store again and bought not one, not two, but three different books.

My bedtime books.

Patina Style, The Business of Design and Design Sponge at Home. Okay, the third book was on a 30% discount with another purchase. And who knew when I would be buying a book again, right?

Design Sponge at Home is also a spin-off from the Design Sponge blog which is a hit, too.

I literally devoured Patina Style in just one night. It is truly a feast for the eyes. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. I love the cover.

Finished in one night!

I am not sure if non-readers of the Velvet & Linen blog would enjoy it as much, but it makes a great coffee-table book with generously large, beautiful pictures and simple text. There are a few tips here and there for those who would like to emulate their design aesthetic of decorating with aged and antique pieces.


One of my favourite pictures in the book.
The authors also talk about decorating your bathroom as you would any other room in the house. Like this one for example. You would never know it was a bathroom from this shot.

What I also love about it is that they celebrate the beauty of imperfections - linens that look better over time, unfinished wood revealing a facade of its history. It's a wonderful liberation from being fussy over scratches and dents and faded fabrics.

So now I'm a quarter through The Business of Design. And I've not started Design Sponge at Home yet. I'll tell you if they're good with a review in my future post. Promise!

Salam Maal Hijrah and happy holidays!

Sunday, 13 November 2011

Dining with books

Having a young child at home affects your decorating style. My husband and I had to forgo the idea of having a coffee table - our little one needs the space to crawl on our carpet. Our end table decoration is nothing more than 2 wedding favours and a lamp pushed to the furthest corner of the table so that the baby can't get his curious fingers on it.

Recently I kept my books and magazines on one of the end table, but if you take a look at this photo below, you'll see the reason why I have had to move my stuff to a new location - the dining table.

What is it with children that they like to play anything other than their own toys?

I've seen photos of books stacked prettily on dining tables, thus this inspired me to do the same. Below are photos of lovely examples.

Source unknown
I love the chipped painted table and how the decoration is laid out in the photo above. The table adds a bit of rustic to the room that has a modern edge.

Source House Beautiful
My focus is on the black dining table stacked with books. Love the globe taking centre stage. Charming.

Source is also House Beautiful
Bright coloured flowers among the darker hues of the books stacked around it.

Source unknown
The table is full of neatly stacked books and lovely vases and knick-knacks.

Source HGTV
So simple, yet so pretty. Books of the same size and colours are stacked in twos and threes.

Source unknown
Books, candle, flowers and fruit. The basics of lovely decorating.

So here are some of my books and magazines moved to their new location - the dining table! 


Have a wonderful week ahead!
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