Monday, May 6, 2013

Entry Tour: Styling with Antique Books

If you recall there is no real separation between our entry and our living room. Kind of unusual for an older home, plus our neighbor's house was built by the same person at the same time and they do, in fact, have a separate, walled off entry space.
 
 



 
This is a spot I have struggled with so much. I've been really unsure of how to decorate the space, not only because it is so open, but because our massive, off centered fireplace appears to be half in the living room and half in the entry.
 
A while back, I decided to make it less entry and more of an extension of our living room and I really think that this had worked. I've kept all the furniture the same for a while now; it even survived my massive rearranging a couple of weeks back when our new couch was delivered.


 
 
One thing I did do, however, was to change the styling of our small, black step back hutch.  It had previously been filled with a collection of vintage canning jars, but when I was fortunate enough to get rid of the--way to big for our room I can't work around this ginormous thing it just really needs to get out of this house right now--dining room hutch (cue angels singing and all that good stuff) I needed a place to display my antique and vintage book collection.


 
Now, I do have a few books in other spaces (like on my coffee table), but for the most part this is my collection in its entirety.




 
I came up with this idea for displaying my books from a picture that I had saved on Pinterest.  Can I just tell you that I think about this image way too much? I seriously love when a collection is grouped in a mass quantity.
 

 
Here's one final look:



 
You can see more ideas for displaying collections on my Pinterest board here.





 

Linking to: 
DIY Show Off Mod Vintage Lifehttp://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2013/02/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no151.htmlthurCozyLittleHousebadge150xhttp://www.cozylittlehouse.com/ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia52 MantelsBeyond The Picket FencePhotobucket A Delightsome Life vif187http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/ Boogieboard Cottage”Fall  http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/


 

16 comments:

  1. I think you've done a great job of creating an entry! Love that upholstered bench...

    Our front door opens right into our living room too and I struggle with how to arrange it in a way that makes sense. We enter through the mudroom on a daily basis, but I want the front entry to be inviting for guests...

    I love antique books too and have some arranged by color on our bookshelves. Maybe I'll get around to actually reading them one day. haha.

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  2. Gorgeous! I love the way you incorporated your entryway into your living room. It looks superb!!! Love the cabinet filled with books also.

    I have been browsing your blog recently and really love your style. I host a Girl Time Tuesday get together every week and would love for you to check out my Girl Time post tomorrow, May 6.

    www.kinserhome.blogspot.com

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  3. loving every minute of it!
    keya

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  4. It looks amazing. I love it Don't forget to link it to my Inspire Me party this evening. Hugs, Marty

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  5. It looks beautiful! The bench, the hutch, the mirror and of course the books, I love it all!

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  6. Looks great! I just love old books! Would love it if you would link this up to Give Me The Goods Monday: 1 Party, 5 Blogs! http://www.rainonatinroof.com/2013/05/give-me-goods-link-party-7.html
    Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

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  7. Looks fantastic - I love old books. Loving your blue candlesticks on top of the black hutch, too.

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  8. Looks great and I love, love that mirror you have hanging.

    Cynthia

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  9. Hi Angela, Your books look awesome arranged that way. I love the look of your entry/living room. I have an entry/dining room so I know it can be a challenge.

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  10. Lovely! I too love your settee. And I could have written Katie's exact comment above, trying to figure out how to make a mudroom more inviting, even just for our family. It's funny you mention both antique books and antique jars. I have been rearranging and grouping my antique books by color...so eye appealing together. And we have built in cabinets in the dining room...they're a bit hodge podge, but primarily filled with tea cups and other china. While I love them, don't so much want a Victoria look. I am wanting to move them and replace them with nice clean lines of my Grandma's antique canning jars and Grandpa's insulators...and maybe some vintage pyrex refrigerator dishes. Anyway that was a chatty comment. :) I enjoy your blog.

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  11. I love old books! You have really made a nice vignette in this space!

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  12. Your bookshelf styling looks great. I love using old books for decorating.
    Mary Alice

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  13. You just have a cool house. What more can I say?
    Thanks for sharing! Love the books:O)
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  14. I love this! SO pretty!

    I've featured you today: http://www.52mantels.com/2013/05/home-decor-ideas.html

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  15. Our old home doesn't have a proper entry as well - you either enter at the living room or most times at the dining room. Love your hutch and the way you displayed the books - marvelous - I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  16. Angela everything looks wonderful!

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Thank you so much for stopping by Number Fifty-Three! I look forward to your comments.