Love your bookcase and room with the console :) Would you consider using the corbels as bookends with books in between on the bookcase?

Design Interior South- that measurement is 5 ft 2 inches. I gave you the total length the first time. Sorry about that.

Outshopping422- thank you so much!! I tried it! what do you think?

So with one set you would have roughly just under 25" of space on each side of them. There is nothing wrong with dead space as it gives your eye some place to rest. If I were ordering them I would take some boxes or books that are the size of the leather bound boxes and set them in the area for a visual to see how you feel about the scale.

Lori use two of the corbels with books between centered in that area.

Yes Design Interior South...that’s what I

meant...I thought there were only 2 corbels.

Lets start from the bottom up

1. Place books on center tallest stair casing down in size each way and place a corbel as book end on each side of the books. Don't skimp on book size here . those corbels are hefty. Also give the books a good span8-12 goof sized books.

2. Next shelf up, Does the black urn you have on your console fit there? If so place it center on next shelf. Now stack books on either side horizontally. Largest on bottom stair casing up to smallest. Make sure each stack is as even in size and proportion as possible.

3. Top shelf. Do you have two identical plants? I would place them on each side and then maybe a grouping of 3 framed pictures .

Stay away from the ends of the shelves and work center out instead of edge in.

If you take a photo of the book case empty I can do a rough mock up for you possibly.

I like this but the outlets drive me crazy. My hubby thought we needed them there when we built and I overlooked it. He also has our surround sound control plate up there. Im sure he did it just to annoy me🤣🤣

Should I take some items off the upper shelves too?

Lori instead of a lot of small items I would like to see fewer items and the ones you use larger scale so the items are intentional.

Do you like symmetry? Or do you prefer a more organic look?

Wow Lori that looks great!!!! You really don’t notice the outlets. Good job :)

I wouldn’t change a thing :)

Here’s my naked built in! I’m definitely more of a symmetry type. Thank you so much for doing this! I‘m really struggling with it and just want it to look right. The black urn is massive and does not fit the second shelf. It fits on the bottom shelf only.

Okay Lori please know I grabbed "like" items to show you the balance and symmetry you can achieve on your shelves. We are working with lay out here. This layout can be achieves with your items. I just couldn't use them in the mock up. How do you feel about this? You likely need more books!

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*achieved

Wow! Thank you! it looks great! I’m not sure about the top shelf but I love the other two shelves! What is sitting on top of the books on the second shelf? And yes I started putting it together and I’m already out of books! Lol!

Design Interior South, that mock up looks great.

I just did glass spheres but you can place anything there keeping in mind the scale of each should be similar. As I said I just grabbed like items /place fillers. If you click on more info it should list everything from the Houzz site I used

The prints about 5x7 size or larger?

The picture frames?

Yes

Thanks Dawn

I don't know the height of your openings. If they are a pretty standard height then 5 x 7 would be appropriate Is the framed piece leaning in the back 8 x 10?

This is a good tutorial. ;-)

dianabythelocks- yes it is! She is wonderful! I might be able to sleep tonight Not worrying about how to put this together! 🤦🏻‍♀️

...

No stress allowed!

The print by its self is 10x 13 framed it is 15x18. The shelf is 13 It goes up higher inside that’s how that piece fit. I hope that makes sense. Here’s what I have so far. I need more books and i don’t have the items for the top shelf, Does that champagne bucket work or should I find something else?

Lori I don't mind the juxtaposition of the shiny metal with the rustic corbels. How do you feel about it there? The scale is appropriate too.

Id move the books slightly (slightly) further out on each side of it and as we have mentioned add to them in height by building from the bottom (placing larger books on the bottom of the stack).

I like the champagne bucket and I’ve been trying to find a place for it. I have a wider white type urn but it is about half the height of this piece. I’ll try to find some items to add like more books and and the items for the top shelf. I don‘t have 3 of the same sized frames which is crazy. I can grab some and figure what type print or picture to put in them later. Thank you again and it’s already looking so much better to me! I’ll update you when I gather more items.

Design Interior South- I finally had a chance to shop for the items on the top shelf. I can return so let me know your honest opinion. I’m still working on finding larger books. I found a few at a local store but I would like to find a few more really large ones. Not sure how many I should put between the corbels if I add more it will cover the outlets but I’m afraid it will mess with the balance. I still need to put prints in the frames that’s just what came with them. Lol! I can also shorten the plants a little if needed By cutting down the foam in the bottom of the pot.

Hi Lori! I think it looks really well balanced as is. I wouldnt worry about covering the outlets. They are what they are. The great thing about the outlets is if you wanted to place a small lamp like where the dig statue is , you could.

How do you feel about it?

Would you be open to less symmetry, more balance? I feel like it’s really too uniform. Almost each grouping is the same height. The top shelf looks too ‘heavy’, the frames feel too large...are the pictures meaningful to you? The corbels feel too heavy for the size of the books, and even for the shelf height. Love them though...and the champagne bucket.

The rule I usually follow, although there are exceptions, is to use about 1/3 books, 1/3, objects, and 1/3 open space. This gives the eye a place to rest and is usually more interesting too. Your shelves have too many heavy looks too high. That top shelf is way to full. It is also helpful to "layer" some items so everything isn't at the same line. Some things forward, some thing back further. I think the corbel bookends are a problem. I would remove those and vary the "stacking" of books. Lay some flat in a stack and some upright. One shelf with them to the left and another with the stack to the right. The corbels might work with that approach. I am jumping in here and haven't read the thread completely, so forgive me if you have already plowed this ground. Just my $.02.

I also like the look of a piece of art hung on the front of the shelves. This would be particularly good on yours due to the width of the shelves. This has some nice "layering" too. Notice the books how some are flat stacks and some are upright. Nice example.

Hillgrove Project · More Info

Just wanted to say I first heard the "1/3" suggestion Flo mentioned here on Houzz. It's really helped me and does make a difference.

Thanks ladies. The problem is i love symmetrical. The other built ins posted look messy and disorganized to me.😬 I am open to changing it to be a little less symmetrical but those above don‘t do anything for me??

Ok. That’s fine. Just remove some bulk and get more open space. Try swapping bottom shelf items with top. See how that feels.

Go for authenticity. The corbels mean something to you so I would keep those. Don't just buy things to fill up space. Find things around your house that mean something to you and put them there. Don't buy books for how they will look on the shelf; put books that reflect who you are, what your interests are. Put things that may not look perfect but will put a smile on your face every time you walk past by.

Lori, One thing I would suggest is the photo frames be a bit lighter in color, maybe a metal to tie in your ice bucket. Also I think a huge improvement could be found in wallpapering the back of the case in a grass cloth wallpaper that picks up in the tone of your leather sofa. I tried to mimic what that would look like here in this mock up

As you can see it would add some warmth and texture to the space

I like the idea of the frames to match the bucket, but it still looks too heavy on top-like an upside down triangle, and all the same height for the groupings on top two shelves. Try what Flo suggested above...

This built in is a pain in my butt! I can’t seem to get it right! hemina- my books on the bottom are spread out a lot wider across the shelf if you scroll up and look at my picture. I can easily vary height on the second shelf by taken away some books so those are much shorter, swap out for smaller frames In a metal as suggested or could get smaller plants??? I’ve changed it a few 100 times this is what I currently have seems to cluttered to me?

That is almost perfect. On top shelf, move hourglass toward center just a couple inches. Move pewter cup toward center an inch or two. So much better. It has a beautiful look and a symmetry too it as well. Are you ok with it?

I think it looks beautiful. Like Flo said, move items on the sides of the top shelf in just a bit. I think it looks really nice.
You can put this one to rest.

Flo Mangum- thank you!! Do I move the whole grouping or just the pewter cup and the leave the books? It’s growing on me. I’m somewhat of a minimalist so it seems like a lot of things on the shelfs. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes, just move each piece. Leave the other pieces.

If it feels like too much remove the large white compote from middle shelf. I like it there but just try it. We want you to look over there and say “I love that now!” Lol

Hi... I'm so late, but I did read back, about 'heavier' top shelf. My little asymmetrical try is to move good books/ends over. Cover the outlets [like I said, small but...]. Bring down item like sand timer ?