Sofia Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 After last year's bookshelf frenzy of purchasing, we hoped to organize our shelves. Now that it is his/mine/ours it's a real hodgepodge. I have my sincere doubts they will ever be in a real order. But here is some of it. love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) I've so enjoyed browsing everybody else's bookshelves, that I thought I really must add my own! These three pictures represent about two-thirds of our collection. The first two pictures are in our 'living' room, which is in fact the largest bedroom which we changed! The first picture contains OH's books in the two left hand cases (the half-width and first full width - we've integrated some of our travel books, but otherwise decided we needed to keep our books separate, although still dive into each other's whenever!). The next two cases and the top shelf of the third are my fiction books. The rest plus all of picture 2 is history and our outsize books. Picture three is in my workroom: top shelf is mostly myths and legends, left hand case is religion, philosophy, books about books, essays and journalism, poetry, drama and Virginia Woolf (she warrants her own section!), whilst the right hand shelf is primarily science and (bottom shelf) food. I hope the piccies are clear enough (later edit: especially as, whilst Windows Photoviewer will allow you to zoom, but I can't see how to do that with the attachments other than downloading them). I'll add the other shelves later. Edited February 14, 2012 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Mmmm, terrific shelves, Pontalba and Willoyd! I can't wait to see the rest of your shelves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) I can't wait to see the rest of your shelves! Your wish is my command! From L to R, bookcase 1 is the other set of shelves in my workroom: shelf by shelf: on the top a spillover from the fiction next door, being sets of pre-war detective stories (one of my weaknesses!); below that art and architecture, then languages including foreign language novels; then children's novels; on the bottom are Simply Foxed books and magazines double stacked in front of more children's novels. Bookcase 2 is on the landing, with Dickens on top, the shelves being for biographies. Bookcase 3 is next to it, containing London history. Bookcases 4 and 5 are in the bedrooms, 4 being travel writing, whilst 5 contains our maps and guides. And that's pretty much it! Edited February 14, 2012 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 they are all awesome, but # 4 is my fave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 wow what wonderful shelves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 they are all awesome, but # 4 is my fave They are mine too: they only went in just before Christmas when we had the whole bedroom stripped back to the bare plaster and rebuilt and redecorated. We've been intending to get shelves into that alcove (created by the chimneys for the back rooms of our Victorian terrace swinging into the centre line to join the chimneys from the front rooms) for some time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 They are mine too: they only went in just before Christmas when we had the whole bedroom stripped back to the bare plaster and rebuilt and redecorated. We've been intending to get shelves into that alcove (created by the chimneys for the back rooms of our Victorian terrace swinging into the centre line to join the chimneys from the front rooms) for some time! Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiara Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Willoyd and Pontalba, I love your shelves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Willoyd, that's amazing! I love the phone in pic #4, is it for bookish emergencies? "Hi Missus, this is Willoyd, where is my copy of To the Lighthouse??" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Willoyd, that's amazing! I love the phone in pic #4, is it for bookish emergencies? "Hi Missus, this is Willoyd, where is my copy of To the Lighthouse??" As we're on 3 floors plus a cellar, it has been used for internal communication (much to OH's astonishment!), but not bookishly (yet!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 As we're on 3 floors plus a cellar, it has been used for internal communication (much to OH's astonishment!), but not bookishly (yet!). Okay, I take everything back that I said to you in my reading blog about going through books and giving some of them away as a therrapeutic action. You have ROOM for hella many books!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 (edited) Okay, I take everything back that I said to you in my reading blog about going through books and giving some of them away as a therrapeutic action. You have ROOM for hella many books!! Yes and no. We've already got a lot of books (as you know!), and there's not a lot of room for more. The house might sound large but it's a Victorian terrace, where the emphasis is on vertical rather than the horizontal. (which makes the view from the bedroom rather spectacular, and at least keeps us fit!). It's not small, but I do know bungalows with more rooms! Edited February 18, 2012 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Willoyd your shelves are just amazing My oh my oh my!! .. I was thinking you were more minimalist .. I don't know where I got that idea from cos I know you're a big reader but I thought you didn't 'keep' books necessarily. And they are all so organised. Did you have a tidy up before taking the pic or are they always this ship shape? Such a lovely library, you're so lucky. I live in a Victorian terrace too (with converted cellar & attic) but I have a feeling (just by looking at your bookshelves) that my Victorian terrace would fit into yours several times over There is not one room in this house that I could fit a floor to ceiling bookcase .. not without having nowhere to hang clothes or put dishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Minimalist, moi? I think not!! Actually, we do turn books over quite a lot: that recent clear out took out about 300, but we do keep a lot too! I am also pretty brutal about books that get less than 4 stars when reading. No I didn't have a tidy - that is as they usually are. I'm afraid it's even more anally organised than you might think: each of the sections are internally sorted too. Thus, fiction is all alphabetical by author; history is split first of all geographically (basically world history, then the different continents with Europe first, then the others) and then subdivided chronologically with general histories at the end; biographies are chronological (I can't abide book shops where they are done alphabetically - what on earth have the Mitford sisters got to do with the Medici?!); travel writing is by continent then by country, then by author alphabetically, as are the guides (with those for cycling and walking separated out), the others by author. Sad or what?! But it does mean, we know exactly where to go, and its easier linking books or finding related books when browsing. The history especially has some umming and aaghing moments, but that's half the fun! Yes, the ceilings are high - that's one of the reasons we bought the house, but when I was talking about verticality being the emphasis, we've basically got two rooms per floor. Whatever the size though, the Victorians did know how to build houses - I can't imagine many of those going up today still being in such good nick (or even being there) in 120 years time - we've still got the original roof tiles for instance, and the builders we had in last week to do some work on the chimney reckoned they'll still be there in another 120 years timel. Edited February 19, 2012 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks y'all, I'll try to get some more up tonight. Willoyd, your shelves are wonderful! Love the alcoves. Beautifully done! Verra ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Ok, a few more views... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 lovely Pontalba...I especially like the cats just sitting around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Fab bookshelves and fab video! Thank you Our bookshelf in the bedroom (which was given a complete overhaul before Christmas, so it is somewhat more tidier) ~ Some of you may have seen the photo on facebook, our wee book nook ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 LOL Thanks Sophia, they are the only ones that don't eat! Wee nook indeed weave, great looking shelves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Looking good, everyone! Nice collection of Murakami and Moers, Paula. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 This is a larger version of my avatar, it's the wall directly in back of me whilst at the computer, and the view above the computer, and that wall in front of me... and to one side, same view on the other side as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Looking good, everyone! Nice collection of Murakami and Moers, Paula. Thanks hen I've still to read the next two Moers books, I need to get moving This is a larger version of my avatar, it's the wall directly in back of me whilst at the computer, and the view above the computer, and that wall in front of me... and to one side, same view on the other side as well... Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Beautiful, Pontalba! I love the way your shelves go around the window. OK, I have a question. I've noticed that you (both Paula and Pontalba) don't have cornices on your ceilings (the bit that covers the join between the ceiling and the wall). Is this common in the UK and the US? They come standard in all houses here, but I'm finding them rather annoying of late. I can't buy the height extensions for my Billy bookcases because the cornices are in the way. I can only imagine my Dad's face if I tell him I want them removed so I can fit in more books! Here's a pic of what I mean (these are the bookcases in my lounge room; the one on the right is the new one): (Excuse the blurriness!) Edited February 21, 2012 by Kylie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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