Monday, March 29, 2010

Color Coordinated Bookshelves for Crazies

What do you think of the idea of color coordinating the books in your bookshelf to your decor?  I don't know why, but this really bugs me.  Well, let me take a step back and admit I'm not above using the books I already own to improve a bookshelf as I did here  in my living room....


and here in my dining room...


But, it's not crazy person coordinated right?  Please say yes.  Please.

Okay, let me show you crazy person coordinated so that you'll have a point of reference:


Actually these are not so much coordinating with the room as they are the focal point of the room, but you get the picture.  


And then there is my biggest book arranging pet peeve.  Placing the books in the shelf backwards so that only the paper shows.  Clearly these are people who never plan to look at those books again.  This sort of extreme impracticality makes me nuts.  Nuts I tell you.


I just don't get it.  What is this supposed to be?  What's the point?  Is it intended as art?  If you know, please tell me.

I'm okay with a teeny weeny bit of suffering for great results - kind of like we suffer in those fabulous green patent leather stilettos because they make our legs and butt look amazing and this party will probably only last a few hours anyway, but this sort of display leaves me confused and annoyed.

Well, that's my design rant.  Feel free to add yours.

2 comments:

Susan said...

Just wanted to say that I couldn't agree with you more on the book "rant". I like things to look nice, but that's just not for anyone who is actually ever going to look at a book. And I think the way yours are arranged looks perfect.

Patricia butler said...

It's more than 4 years since you posted this, and I was just on Google trying to find some logical explanation for this backwards book thing. I've seen this on so many HGTV shows and it makes me CRAZY! As not only a reader but a writer of books, I find it offensive that people are using them as props rather than for their intended purpose. If you want wallpaper -- buy actual wallpaper. Don't turn perfectly lovely books into some inert design tool. End of rant!