Hi friends! As I look ahead to our big move, I'll admit I'm anxious about filling a whole home after five years of apartment living. I can't stop pinning gorgeous little vignettes of a well-decorated home. The photos below show my love of these perfectly styled stacks...
images: top left | top right | bottom left | bottom right
It all seems a bit intimidating {and expensive!} to decide what books earn a place of honor in our home. If I had an endless budget, these beautiful books would be gracing the coffee tables and bookshelves of our future abode. They may be eclectic, but that's who we are ;)
where to find them: 100 Years of Fashion Illustration | Roadside America
You won't find me buying books just because they'll make us look snazzy--I want our future stacks to represent the things we love. {Ok, maybe {cv} won't love the fashion ones, but I will!} Do you have any tips on how to create such gorgeous stacks on a budget? Have you been building yours for years or do you splurge every once in a while to create the look you want? I can't wait to hear what you're doing!
Many thanks in advance for your advice! I'll see you back here at midnight for a very glamourous Friday's Fancies in honor of the Oscars! Want more info? Add yourself to the mailing list by clicking here!
P.S. A very happy 59th to my dear daddy, {jn}. He doesn't look a day over 45, so I hope I got his genes ;)
so cute! i got the fashion illustration and design sponge books for christmas, now the paris vs nyc book is on my list! wishing they would do paris vs chicago :) xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteThere are so many beautiful books that I would like to purchase to stack around our home. Once we actually have a house with room they will start being collected. On a recent trip to a thrift store I found some beautiful Reader's Digest books with really neat covers for only a couple of dollars each!
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is that Home Goods has great deals on coffee table books!
ReplyDeleteYou should look in second hand book stores and thrift stores for design and coffee table books. You can get a great deal!
ReplyDeleteThese are great stacks! Each one is perfect. I need to start a hunt for more side tables to make pretty stacks! From your new follower.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to buy the design sponge book! can't wait to see pics of your new home!
ReplyDeleteI have inherited the love for stacks of books from my mother who has them all.over.the.house. Literally, everywhere. Her advice to me on collecting things such as books is that it is a gradual build up. Usually she purchases one (sometimes two) when we're out traveling somewhere or visiting an exhibit, etc. as a treat to herself and also as a way to commemorate something we've experienced. She started my personal collection with the Alexander McQueen book from our visit to the exhibit. Another favorite place to find books? Anthropologie. Hands down, one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI have my eye on that jackie kennedy book! I'm also always lusting after slim aarons coffee table books. I need a bigger apartment to house all of my books though -- they're stacked everywhere!
ReplyDeleteOne Kings Lane always have coffee table book sales! Just bought 2 myself! Word to the wise, since I just moved - used plastic boxes from Target, etc. that way you can put them up and use them later for whatever... they may be pricey in the beginning but will be worth it in the end! (plus they aren't as ugly as cardboard!)
ReplyDeleteI love these images-I'm a total sucker for stacks of books too! What I do is use a credit card that gives me points back, then I use the points on Amazon to buy coffee table books that I'd feel guilty buying otherwise (because hello, expensive!). It's fun because then you can order a bunch all at once and get a big box of books in the mail, like a little present to yourself!
ReplyDeleteMy stacks (which are still small!) are comprised of gifts. I've been lucky to receive gorgeous books from friends and family, so start putting out the word and I'm sure they'll come to you! For the extra loved editions, go to vintage or used book stores and snag some for cheaper.
ReplyDeletethis is such an easy, chic fix for displaying coffee table books without trying too hard or being too messy. i love stacking little things like jewelry, etc., so why not books! genius idea - going home to try it on some of my favs that i didnt think i could fit in my living room... thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeletexx shari ana
I love stacking books...it's the perfect decor detail! Such a fun post!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Books will always hold a special place in my heart. You could try looking on Amazon for (good quality) used copies! There's this great little book store in Boston that sells cheap books organized by color -- usually only $5-10, if you want to go the color coordinated route!
ReplyDeleteI just reorganized my bookshelf 2 weekends ago! Unfortunately, it's in the husband's office so it's not out on display - but I still love that it looks as good as it does!
ReplyDeleteI would spend my paycheck on books if I could... Tips: cover your "uglier" books with pretty paper from Paper Source or elsewhere, buy used books from yard sales and second hand book stores, buy them for their content as well as their hardcover (aka is it pretty). I recently did a bookcase styling post here that might have some more tips... http://www.julipmade.com/2012/02/bookcase-styling-tips.html
ReplyDeleteI seriously LOVE this post..I was thinking of doing one just like it!! Also, I love the new look of your blog:))
ReplyDeletexoxo
Tina
Sadly I have no tips. All of my books are such a mishmash. Haha. I love that Design Sponge book though.
ReplyDeleteLove the books you've shown- the design sponge is a great one! Be sure to check Amazon and Goodwill for cheaper options- they can be a great place to find cheaper ones!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely adding the Paris versus New York and Taschen's Paris books to my list! And I absolutely love all the inspiration photos.
ReplyDeleteWas just browsing Joss & Main and they have books on sale today through Sunday
ReplyDeleteThose are all so pretty looking! I'd recommend the coffee table book "Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style" for the stack!
ReplyDeletei love that 36 hours in...series! the book must be so inspiring for your travels! :) i love the polished stack, or the color coordinated stacks!
ReplyDeletelove it! I totally have that lamp in the bottom right picture from antrhopologie! have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteTry Marshalls, Homegoods, TJ Maxx, etc I have found so many of my coffee table books there for a fraction of the price. You definitely have to be patient and search but it's so worth it. Don't worry it takes years to fill a whole house, I've been in my home 3.5 years and it's still not complete. Decorating a home is not like clothes shopping it takes time!
ReplyDeleteUsed book stores. Libraries. Goodwill. Beautiful old books laid on their side, with a small single flower/vase sitting on top. Tht's my favorite look. :)
ReplyDeleteahh! I love your book choices! As far as collecting books go, I have accumulated a few myself mostly as gifts. Coffee table books are an excellent gift to give someone especially if they ask for it or you know them really well. I love Audrey Hepburn and I have been given three beautiful books all about her from friends and family because they know how much she means to me. Perhaps ask for some as house warming gifts if anyone asks? Best of luck with the shelves, i'm tres jealous!
ReplyDeleteI bought the fiance the NYTimes 36 Hours book for Christmas and it is so fun to look through and he adores it. ;)
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