Fill it full of books! To me, nothing looks more interesting or inviting. Arrange them by subject or author -- never ever by color. Just my opinion.

I love those bookcases. They are quite adorable

I agree with replacing the louvre do doors. Barker door, an online company makes reasonable replacement doors to your cabinet measurements. I would make those stainable wood like a couple of others suggested to contract with the white cabinet to give it a more midcentury feel . The rooster screens country and throws the whole midcentury style off kilter.

I could see going either way with the louvres, but I'd for sure put pulls on those doors. I like the bookcase, including the random divisions, but the white tone needs to go, and if that's built with cheap melamine shelving, then I'd either rebuild or take it all out and put in some varied shelves that you like -- would be enough to have all even shelving with one cut-out for a plate or vase, rather than so many divisions.

But honestly, I'd never buy books just for styling -- if you don't have stuff you actually want to put here, then consider closing it in so that it can be, say, a butler's pantry or other useful storage. If you're living there, then conservation of form needs to yield to utility for yourselves!!

Meant to attach this as an example of a large amount of shelving with a small amount of variation:

Not a nightmare. Yes to removing and reconfiguring the shelves. Study typical mid-mod shelving designs. Then fill them mostly with books.

I'd like to see a pic of the room the shelves are in. Seeing where they fit in your space could determine what to do with them.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! Seeing through others' eyes sheds a new light on my thoughts!

I have incorporated some teak furnishings , a charcoal leather sofa and turquoise chair similar to one of the photo suggestions so now will put final decisions together for the bookshelf. At this point... I've decided to keep it but will have to check out materials for any updates!

Thank you all again!

I applaud your decision to work with them. They add character and make your house unique. I'm not a fan of cookie cutter, same-same houses and love to see people embrace the odd and imperfect. I hope to see an updated post. Enjoy your journey!

I have always loved how some people paint the back walls of the shelves a contrasting color. Something light and soothing, leaving the rest of the shelving the same as whatever trim color you use. Doing this can really add a focal point to the room they are in. Especially if the color you use is bold and used in pillows, as part of the curtain design or decor pieces used to finish the room. And, with some special art pieces incorporated in the shelving you could really come to love them. Storage is a big plus in any house and I know very few people who don't like built-ins that are a part of a home's original design.

I have attached two photos of the living room where bookshelf is located. Please keep in mind that thieves a work in progress. I have taken art work down and have been purging things from shelves in preparation for painting or remodelling.
There is a teak set in the dining room. A similar built-in buffet is under the window at the end of that room. Photos of that room to follow.
Thanks!!!

Oops! I should have said this is a work in progress!!! Sorry

How about some larger pieces randomly placed and back painting the shelves a darker colour to compliment your colour scheme? A dark colour will make the shelves look deeper and the room larger. Lighting to focus on some unique accent pieces here is a must! Look for under the cabinet LED lighting strips and add some trim to the front of the shelves to act like a valance with the lighting hidden. Now to focus on my own mid-century!!!

Remove SOME of the shelves to create a more contemporary minimalist look. Paint the back wall a different color than the shelves. Don't over stuff the shelves... use one or two accessory items on some, and stack books in different configurations (some upright, some flat). If you have access to an electric source, place a small lamp or two, or add undershelf LED lighting strips.

Seeing the shelves in the room makes me love them even more than I already did from the first post. Nothing more than paint is needed, in my opinion. The wood need not be the finest quality since it is painted. As long as it is structurally sound, there shouldn't be a problem. The shelves don't appear to be bowing, so replacement would be way, way low on my list of priorities. Your fireplace is fabulous also, and I love the furniture pieces you have chosen. Looks like you found a gem! :)

Looks like the louvered doors are in the dining room too. I think they look great and are appropriate for the house. Especially having them in both rooms, it really ties the rooms together and gives it detail that makes your house unique and special.

Your "nightmare" would be a dream come true for me! But clearly you have embraced this creative challenge and I love what you have already decided to do. I will upload a collage of ideas illustrating the following points:

1. use original function of book shelves MOSTLY, incorporating some midcentury books with iconic art of that era such as those by Charlie Harper. (You can buy prints of his art too). In that one skinny lateral shelf You could have a large coffee table size book on "atomic" architecture or ranch style homes.

2. Use tall Blenko glass (or similar) in your beautiful turquoise color, hopefully in that one tall section.

3. You could get some mid-century fabrics (find some turquoise again) and cover panels and make a little mini gallery

4. Echo your teak furniture with some awesome teak midcentury sculptures-- check ebay or thrift stores. It CAN be found!

5. And/or look for some "brutalist" style metal sculpture pieces. Whenever you use an accessory instead of books, go for something if good size that will speak across the room and not get lost or look meager.

6. Not pictured but you could look for some beautiful wood African masks. African art was a huge influence on mid-century design, with their simple bold shapes and sophisticated design, like what the Yoruba did.

7. Use record album cover art like a gallery piece-- such as Sinatra or Keelie Smith, etc. Put that next to your iPod player. :)

I'm so please you decided to go with it and have fun! Please upload pictures as you go along!

Rebuilding it could be a nightmare, though. It certainly was a nightmare in Photoshop.

I'd leave the shelf configuration as is, paint the shelves and wall 2 shades darker than other woodwork -- including that white vertical strip in the corner -- and put one or two pieces on the shelves that are that marvelous teal and the green. Then consider adding an area rug under the coffee table to pull it all together. And add some fun hardware to the louvered doors.

I don't think the shelves are that bad. I am always needing more space for photos and groupings of art or knick knacks. And the lower cabinets are great for storage space. The longer you live there, the more space you will need! You could jazz them up with paint, and/or by adding a wallpaper backing with a pop of color, or even mirrors. You could add books that are covered in papers that have a pop of color with patterns that fit your style. You could add lots of standing frames with family photos or even make the individual sections hold hanging wall frames or art. OR take out the individual smaller sections and just add more uniform shelving. Sooo many possibilities! Have fun with it and try some simpler/more cost effective things before you start ripping it apart and get into a hard to fix/expensive situation. You can always redo the simple ideas if you are not happy with them.

I love the colors you are working with -- looks very fresh. I would paint the back wall of the bookcases that bright lime green (and then fill it with books).

Wow, I remember when this was NEW. I have a '50s decorating book with something very similar on the cover. I love built ins and I'd keep these, display more books if you have them, or other meaningful items. Painting the back surfaces would be nice, maybe a more subtle shade of turquoise.

I think this is a great way to liven up old built-ins. you can always play with paint color and even textured wallpaper.

Groveraxle that looks awesome!! A subtle change but what a difference! Lots to consider on this decorating journey!!!!

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I'm off to the thrift store!

All you need to do is style it with your favorite things! Here are some ideas from a Mid Century library makeover we designed...and the best part is many of the objects are from Target! Shop the roomhere.

Need more ideas? Our design team is here to help. Ask afree question here and we'll send you a design board + clickable shopping list. Have fun!

I would paint the wall behind some of the cubbies, like an accent color. Not all of the wall, but a few, scattered. Then maybe use the space for a few good books, candles, and pictures.

These bookshelves are great and the louvred doors are mid century. The problem isn't the shelves, it's what you have on them - everything is too little and spread out. There is nothing that anchors this corner and grabs the eye - it needs some purnch/color. Paint the white side of the shelf so it doesn't stand out so much. Put the like vases together - use the tall shelf for a large vase/jug in a color that matches your interior. Get some metal objects in their for patina/shine as well as some textured items. Not all books have to be displayed vertically, put some horizontal with perhaps some accessories on top. Get some vintage decorating books and see how it was originally done.

Love the shelves and your choice of color in your furniture! I really like the idea of the mirrors in the back or the accent of either the green or blue of your furniture. Looking forward to the final look!

consider painting the back wall with a complimentary color as an accent. remove the doors and add glass shelves with Suttle lighting. led track lighting with remotes are very popular now.

Bookshelves are for BOOKS! Built-in bookshelves are a rare treasure. I never have enough bookshelves.

The bookshelves already look great. If we had a broad photo of the room, we might offer more ideas to you and see why the shelves are a problem for you. Maybe, for example, the mid-century look of the shelves doesn't really go with the traditional brick fireplace?

This cabinetry is original. You are luck to have it. I would try to figure out a low upholstered one seater bench or a MCM 3 legged low stool to help anchor it Don't treat it like the wall, treat it like the rest of the wood trim which you have painted white. Paint the shelves and base with the louvers white. Then pick a subtle geometric wallpaper for the rear wall of the bookcase which will read as a different plane from the plaster walls. Go to the second hand bookstore and buy MCM art books for the shelves. That book shelf looks like it belongs to someone who doesn't read anything. Do you know how pleasant it is to have books a guest can leaf through while killing a little time?

The shelves are awesome! It may just be how you are choosing to arrange your stuff on them. If you feel it looks cluttered maybe find or create art on a large canvas, add hinges, and use it to cover an area of shelving.

I would paint a wall over a brick with darker color and make more accent on it. Shelves I would paint white. You can try to put books backs to the wall, if you like.

I think your main problem is just how you have it styled. Take a look at groveraxel's suggestions on putting taller items in your taller spaces. You need some larger colorful items to make it pop. I think you should paint the back of the unit a bright color and then paint the shelves and cabinets white. With it all the same color the shelves are lost and the beauty of their mid century arrangement. Don't rip them out though-- they can be great if styled differently!

Do not remove them, they're great! If they were mine, I'd keep the bottom cabinets and upper shelves a lighter neutral color. Then, I'd pain the interior "back walls" two or three dark colors to make your featured books/knickknacks "pop". That would be very mid century, and would look gorgeous. Just don't do a pattern with the back color, more random...

Of course your decision on what to do, but I would keep them, give them a coat of bright white paint, and fill them with books and art. MCM, you wouldn't overstuff the shelves anyway. I think you're very lucky to have these and it would be expensive to copy, and sad to replace them with a more traditional bookcase.

I had this comment when this was first posted, but I was on a phone and couldn't post. I would remove all the shelves on the right side and put a great painting or print in that space. Then tie in the colors with books or decorative items (just a few) in the shelves. You can do that visually by cutting out a picture of a painting and sticking it (either really by hand or online) in place of the shelves to see how it looks. I apologize if I'm copying someone else's idea. I'm in the middle of a bunch of other activities so I didn't read through all the suggestions.

You do need to add some large art to your walls in the room as well. Your furnishings are right on BTW.

We opened up the space, this is our living room. I change the art pieces once in awhile and I love the look. We're in a rather casual lakefront house.

I would paint it all a lovely bright colour such as turquoise, change the doors to solid wood and change out the counters...maybe even tile the counter

Definitely don't remove the unit......you can definitely work with it to make it an outstanding piece. Its really nice but the first thing the eye picks up is the shelves aligning horizontally. They are also quite small which makes the unit look very busy. I would remove some of the shelves to make them different sizes on the left and remove the top shelf on the right side, then paint out the cabinet in one color (dependent on your color scheme in the home) and the wall space of the cabinet a different color. If you have never seen this, it looks awesome and gives real definition to the piece. Then I would take out all the brick-a-brack and add specific pieces that correspond to your decor. On the right side where the top shelf has been removed I would place a sculpture piece or hang a piece of artwork on that space. The louvered doors are great....just add some cool knobs. It would look awesome!

As I said before this is a very genuine mid-century design and I wouldn't make major changes. Do think about what meaningful books, art, photos or mementos you'd enjoy seeing every day rather than buying "stuff" which has no emotional meaning to you. Good luck!

Fill the shelves with lots of books! After all that's what they were meant for. You could arrange some horizontally stacked & some vertical, and even choose books with similarly-colored covers or a range of similar colors that complement your decor (look for photos of Henry David Sleeper's Beauport for ideas on arranging books by color.) Or cover each of the books with one color of paper for a very unified look (though I suspect people who cover all their books never read their books!). Then place just one big sculpture or large interesting midcentury vase in the tall left-of center opening. One big sculptural piece has a lot more impact than a lot of small items on a shelf. Is the bottom shelf the right size for record albums and a turntable? That would recreate a groovy midcentury atmosphere!

If that is near the kitchen I would display some fine China too in there and some nice recipes books.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/stevenson-contemporary-kitchen-austin-phvw-vp~1477745

https://www.houzz.com/photos/captains-residence-living-area-traditional-dining-room-providence-phvw-vp~388163

https://www.houzz.com/photos/plymouth-kitchen-renovation-traditional-dining-room-minneapolis-phvw-vp~462007

https://www.houzz.com/photos/presidio-heights-condo-contemporary-dining-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~65178

if you don't like them, take them out. it's your house and you can have what makes you happy. if you're neutral, leave them alone. above all, use them to display what you like...I'm amused at the posts telling you what you should have and in how much quantity...

When someone asks for advice, it's generally because they want ideas and opinions from others.

Before doing anything too drastic I would paint everything white, assuming that you have white trim elsewhere in the room.

Adding trim around them can change the look dramatically, make them look up to date

I am late to this party, but I think many posters are correct...don't pull out shelves or unit until you have tried to reconfigure your contents. Don't be afraid to take your favorite items out if they don't fit (ducks) and find another place for them. Try to find teak pieces, pieces that fit a space (tall and skinny items for tall and skinny spaces). I would think to make it at least 1/3 books, mixed with laying down and standing up books, books mixed with classics, photos framed to fit a space, small painted art to fit a space. Take your time to collect things you like from the 50's and 60's. Others have posted great photos of ideas.

I love the teak table and green and turquoise chairs in the room, especially if you are staying in that modernist style. I would like to see those colors painted randomly at the back of each section of the bookcase, adding a warm color, such as a coral or a golden yellow. A dark brownish red coordinating with the brick fireplace might be a nice tie-in. Paint can always be changed.

To me, the shuttered doors are from the mid-century homes, but of the colonial/traditional style built in the same time frame. They may continue to work, though, with customizing the upper section. Perhaps paint just the louvers in the turquoise and green of your chairs, if d you are brave with color. Really cool idea would be replacing shutters in doors with frosted glass, maybe in a green color of that period.