I missed the thread, but that looks great!

I love your sofa too.

Oh, WOW, that looks great! The gorgeous painting really pops in the presence of those bookcases. I don't think you need to paint the backs--I love all the red.

Sofa looks great too. What a beautiful and comfortable living space you have created, Amy!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I love it.

Amy, they are practically perfect in every way!

I think you chose the right color for the bookcases, especially with your new sofa. It all looks so, I don't know...fun! The darker wood wouldn't have done the job. I don't think you have to paint the backs of them, either.

I share your enthusiasm for having a place to showcase your loves, travel, cooking, etc. Everytime I pick out a piece of casegoods, DH counters with "but they look like bookcases", and he's right, but, I love them and what they represent. Still kicking myself that we didn't have our builder drywall to the left and right of our fireplace instead of putting two more unneeded windows there. It would have been the perfect space for even more of them.

I spied a really cool copper pot of yours by the right bookcase. Nice.

With your contemporary sofa and pillows (which I love) I'd like to see a different throw. Something combining old and new, with more color. French maybe? It's such a special area now. I can just see you and your pooch, snuggling up there.

BTW, what ever happened to your MIL's vase?

That looks awesome!! Such a happy and cozy place at the same time.

I don't think you need to paint the backs, but if you really feel you need/want to, how about a wallpaper.

I think they look great, and really set off your DH's artwork. I agree about the throw--it looks too old-lady, and I wonder if solid pillows, echoing the colors in the art, wouldn't be better. I'd also stain the legs of the couch (Shoe polish works great) to match the color of the couch, as the blond wood draws the eye down.

And while I know this is a home, and not a display, because the bookcases are so prominent, I'd really groom the books. Being rigorous about height and placement turns the books into a graphic element.

The bookcases look great with your painting. My only other suggestion would be to incorporate some red into the pillows to help transition the eye from one bookcase to the other. Darkening the legs of the sofa as someone suggested is a great idea. I also wouldn't do anything to the backs of the bookcases. The throw on the sofa might also better be replaced with something with a bit of red in it. But overall, quite a success.

Just an added idea - in addition to pillows with some red in them how about completing the look by a small area rug in front of the sofa that has quite a bit of red in it or even a solid red? It would warm up the look of the seating area and make it look more cozy - your doggie might like sitting there at your feet sometimes; my Yorkie will often do that.

The painting makes them work beautifully -- congratulations! While the throughcomposition idea (dark brown) would have been nice and calm, these definitely work too, because of your DH's wonderful work :)

Points I agree with:
1) you don't need paint. They're obviously not built-ins -- let them be what they are.

2) Staining the legs of the sofa would eliminate one tiny little jarring note and would make it look less Ikeaish, iykwim.

The pillow/throw choices could stand to be reconsidered...they're all very interesting pieces, but I'm not sure 1) they all need to be together and 2) they're the right pieces for that space. If you feel like it, just mess around with some other pillows that maybe are a bit calmer and connected...just an idea. There's a lot of busy-ness around there anyway and the throw/pillows would be the easiest factor to change.

*love* the little guy's prance-in-motion :)

I'm not going to say "I told you so" (but I did) and I am right every now and then. LOVE THEM.

Hi all. Thanks for the feedback.

I agree that the throw is kind of out of place. I should have pulled it for the photo. But it was gift and we just received it on Saturday, made by friends in NC who are carrying on the art of jacquard weaving in this country. They are buying up old looms from mills that are closing and trying to keep the tradition alive in a new way. I am proud of them and we're enjoying the throw, even if it isn't an ideal choice with my pillows.

I tried red striped pillows...two versions...on the sofa and they were just too much. The upholstered dining chairs have the pale blue and green in them, as does some of the other art in the room, which kind of ties in to the current pillows. For now, they are "good enough" as I don't really want to start a hunt with so much more to do (read: spend) in the house. What I really need is red on the other side of the room, for balance. More red on the bookcase wall just adds to the imbalance, IMO.

I think what I do want to do is put a red rug under the dining table to protect the cherry floor from the chairs. I have a kilim with red in it, but it started to get buckled and I think that, combined with the fringe and curling edges, would be a nightmare in this high-traffic zone. So, I will look for something very flat and slightly smaller with no fringe. There is a 6x9 Safavieh indoor/outdoor that might work but I'm not sure about the size. It's probably a tad too small. But, I like the idea of a good quality polypro for the dining room. It is also the path the dog takes to and from the yard, so whatever I get will have to be tough.

Ikea does sell replacement legs and I figured I'd just get them next time I am there. (DH nixed them while we were there and he was being a really good sport about the whole process, so I just let it drop.) The shoe polish idea is interesting, but for $30, I might elect not to muck around with it.

I'm so so glad you guys don't think I should have painted the backs. I didn't give it much thought since I was quite certain I did not want to deal with the fumes. Now, I can let it go and not worry about it later as I thought I might.

Parma, that Turkish copper tub is just a thing I found at Homegoods. It's usually full of magazines. Perfect size to hold two stacks. Fly...you noticed the furboy! I was trying to not use the flash for the sake of the color. He's hiding the wires under the sofa! :-)

Oh, last but not least...the idea from idee about arranging the books. I did that when we sold our FL house in the Spring. Everything was pretty pretty. I can't go back there, at least not yet. I like to have all the orchid books together, all the ethnic cookbooks organized by nationality, all the color books snuggled in together, etc. I will make nice with the big art books and coffee table books in the ever-so-slightly-more-formal LR when I find shelving for that room. Sadly, this collection will remain a...

amy, re that throw: I really meant what I said about all the pieces being interesting -- I didn't go more into it at the time, since the arrangement was the point, but the throw *really* struck me. It looks somehow from the 30s, European-even bauhaus-influenced, wrt colors and design. I love that period. I knew it had to be something special, and friends should always trump some abstract concept of looks, IMO :)

hey, quick question, since you've recently bought these: did you ever consider buying the Bestas? If so, why did you get Billy rather than Besta? I'm trying to decide for a particular area in our family room and haven't compared specs, but if you have any thoughts on the comparison between the two, they'd be much appreciated...

I love the idea of your having a carpet with red under the dining table. You definitely want to make sure it's large enough so chairs can be pulled out comfortably. (you probably are aware of that already) Anyway, I first saw your bookcases this morning and really liked them but now, viewing them again in the evening, I like them even more! Even the blue pillows now seem fine, especially with your idea of putting red on the other side of the room and under the table for balance. What really brings it all together, though, is the wonderful painting. It gives you that dramatic focal point that provides the reason for having red book cases in the first place. I think as time goes on and you tweak this room a little bit it's going to be one of the most exciting areas in your home. I'm really happy for you.

Ingrid

Wow! Love the couch and that painting is incredible! I think the throw looks great--it echoes the flower shapes on table in painting and looks like it should be where it is on the back of the couch. You have created a wonderful, exciting space. If your DH is the artist you are so lucky!

Amy, the "Billies" look just awesome in your space! I love, love, love the red and think it was the perfect choice. Very nice, eclectic, fun, colorful room you've got goin' on there!

Amy, those look awesome!! I knew you could pull off the red:) I love the throw your friend made for you - you have to use that...my mil has a loom, too. Red will be very easy to spread around the room. Since you have the books organized....have you thought of the *trendy* thing of putting the bind of the book on the inside of the shelf & letting the pages face out?

There are so many crafts that are gonna be no longer by our generation...I think of my granny home smocking, sewing, doing needlepoint, knitting etc & I know how to do NONE - totally regretting now in my more wiser years ;) that I didn't let her ever teach me her craft. Heck, I am proud I learned how to make my dad's fudge this year!!

Happy New Year!!
Smiles:)

Cool about your friends, the weavers. Do they have a website?

But about the books, while I'm not so far gone as to suggest the Apartment Therapy idea of arranging by color, I'd still sort by height within subject matter, and line them up at a uniform distance from the edge. Makes a huge diff.

scooby, do people really do that--face the pages out?! How are you ever supposed to have easy access to them? Mindboggling.

OK, I'm casually reading away here....but the book pages facing out trendy thing brought my eyes to a screeching halt. Seriously? Some decorator came up with that idea & called it a good thing? & [koffkoff] it's actually TRENDY?

I need to go mess something up.

Oh wait. I have enough messes already.

Someone show me an uber-neat pages-out bookshelf somewhere, so I can go "tweak" that lol!

LOL! Yeah, uh, that's trendy? More like, "somebody couldn't be bothered to put the book back rightside up", I'd say. ;-D

Oops! I got so discombobulated by the books that I forgot to say - Fabulous choice in the Red Billys, amy! I think you've created to perfect frame for your DH's wonderful painting, & I look forward to seeing the next step.

& I agree with those who like the pillows & throw you have - I think they bring out other aspects of the painting very nicely, especially when you've added more red with the rug. Very fun, very nice :)

I had a moment of thinking that you could have fun with colors on the couch legs, but then I regained my sanity, & I think that making them blend in would work better.

Here's a quickie, just for fun. Thinking of you, Idee! And still pondering the books...

Fly, we are considering Besta for the LR. I haven't gotten my head around the components yet. It all look so simple in the store. Then I come home and my eyes roll up in my head.

Ingrid, I appreciate your evolving observations. You seem to be getting where I am going. I hope you'll be around to help me consider rugs.

Again, thanks to everyone!

Wow, I just love it all and the painting is wonderful. Love the picture of the two rooms, very nicely done. You will enjoy this.

FlowerLady

I cross-posted with all the book conversation! :-)

I have seen books put in the "wrong" way, but I think it was either in a magazine or maybe for staging. Way wacky IMO.

The one thing I have seen that I really thought made sense is wrapping the books with a sheer vellum or similar, such that titles show through, but everything has a uniform "frosted" look. That would entail making a dust jacket (cutting and fitting) for all the books we own. Ain't gonna happen! It would cost a fortune, too.

LOL, Amy! I think if the day ever comes when I have the time (or patience or desire) to make book jackets to give my shelves a uniform look, I'm just gonna go uh, (well, I was going to say "drink myself into oblivion", but perhaps I'd better say: "crochet a toilet paper holder" instead).

;-D

When I was a kid, working in a library, I must had made a gazillion dust jackets (more or less).

Very boring work.

Wow, I never would have thought of red, but it does look great with the painting.

You guys are actually giving me bookcase cravings...I so want some built-ins behind my bed.

Omigod I LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it and am coming over to your house tout de suite. You can just tell really fun, warm and kind people live there. LOVE it!

I love the throw on the back of your sofa and I love the pillows -- I love the way they both mimic your dining chairs as well as pull out some of the similar shades of things you have in your bookcases.

That red is a beautiful red, and it's astonishing how perfectly it works with your husband's spectacular painting, don't you think? Red is such a happy color and a great neutral, a neutral with life. (nothing against greige but ...)

I didn't carefully read others responses but when I saw your third photo (of the books arranged by color) I did stop to read that. While I love looking at it in real life I suspect it would drive me (more) bonkers trying to find the book I wanted. I'm a sort-by-type kind o' gal ... although I did envision wrapping all the books in our den in shiny chartreuse or (more likely) orange paper and then calligraphing the titles / authors on the spine. But I don't think that'll happen any time soon. Okay, ever. Plus I really enjoy some of the pictures / colors / graphics of the covers / spines!

You did super-great with the red. Enjoy! (I certainly am enjoying your red!)

Amy--I really love your book cases. It looks great w/ your painting.

I shamefully admit that I do wrap all my books in paper jackets (match w/ room's scheme) & wrote the tittle on the spine w/ calligraphy pen :-) It really gives the books a more uniformed look & played up whatever sculpture /art/photographs you have on the book case.

LOL, Aunt Jen. I agree with you. Love the idea of crocheting a TP holder or maybe a whole cover for the back of the tank. I always said I was going to this, that or the other when I got older and the children were gone. Oh, well, I'm there and I do good to clean the house, muchless pore over silly ways to spend what little time I have here on this earth by color coordinating book jackets. Whatever happened to the old Dewey decimal system?