Sunday, August 7, 2011

New floating shelves in the basement for paperbacks

Finally! Finally! My parents came up yesterday and put up some shelves in the basement for us!  My husband ran out to Home Depot this morning and picked up a few more brackets and boards...et Voila!

BEFORE:
AFTER:

I adore the shelves, but I want to fire the stylist!  I have great difficulty styling anything...I guess I can't expect to get it right on the first (or fifth) attempt...The left side makes me happy, but the right side is unbalanced...I think the black lantern is too heavy....I know its just a basement, and its just a place to store our paperbacks (I do read them again),  but I won't be satisfied until it looks perfect! 

What do you think? 
We also hung this reclaimed wood mirror (a present from an mbanx xmas party many many many years ago!)
ps....what is up with the sunshine/thunderstorms today? Every 10 minutes the weather flip flops...so weird!
pss...THANKS AGAIN MOM AND DAD! 
psss...I am SOOO excited to hear what you guys think!!!Unless, of course, you think its a hot mess...then I might not want to know :)

UPDATE: Globe lamp replaced the black lamp...and some fussing with books...

24 comments:

  1. I think it looks great. Well done! I love how you played with placing shelves. my basement is such a huge mess that a friend of mine is willing to pay for her own ticket and come next week all the way from Montreal to help us get it organized!!! What is going on here; is our basement an unbelievably messy basement screaming help or my friend is just the best?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks!!!!
    Your friend IS the best! Its fun to organize other people's stuff...way funner than organizing your own!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it looks awesome! Your styling is wonderful - (yes, the black lantern is a bit heavy.) You'll find something else I'm sure. Great job! Great inspiration! Love how you put the shelves asymmetrically. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  4. wow! congrats...it looks amazing! I think you did a great job styling..I agree something is off with the black lantern...it is too tall for the space...and too narrow. I suggest you fill in the empty space to its left with something "heavy" and dark, but lower in height, or put something there all together that is 3/4 the height of the lantern but twice as wide. (BTW wouldn't have thought twice about it unless you said something..which you did, so I'll pitch in my 2 cents!) I also love love love the mirror - gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Shannon, so nice to meet you after you commented on my post. Well done on your basement! First of all, love the high gloss floors and I spotted your banister, WOW!! Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  6. right side would be more balanced, if you had less on the top shelf, there's too much weight with all the same dark coloured books:) I like the lantern... keep it, rework the top shelf.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the way you spaced out the shelves...very artsy! I agree the black lantern jumps out too much. How about a small plant? Or a branch sculpture some sort?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those shelves are fantastic! So much extra storage and added colour from the books!

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow such a great job! Feels great to be so organized doesn't it? Love the chair & the magnet numbers!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I LOVE them Shannon - and I was thinking that you you had done an awesome job styling and I should take note of how you did it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love love LOVE how you mounted the shelves. They are perfectly assymetrical (in the best possible way). I'm all about assymetry.
    Amazing work!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the way you hung the shelves, they look awesome! The asymmetry is perfect.

    And thanks for the note about the nursery. You're so right about all the finishing touches coming after. We don't know what gender we're having so I'm sure there will be things to add after. I'm feeling pretty good, just into my 3rd trimester and starting to feel a bit "heavier". How about you? Hope you're feeling good too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like! it totally dresses up the blank wall with some interest and flare. Thanks mom and dad.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think it looks wonderful! I love how it turned out, and how you mixed in the pottery and glass. I'm still rearranging my book shelves after a year, so it might be an ongoing process. : )

    ReplyDelete
  15. Now that you mention it, I totally agree with you about the top shelf...I will switch it up tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  16. My husband wants to get a different chair...but this chair was only $9.99 (or maybe even 50%off, I don't recall, but the $9.99 sticker is still there) and I carried it home - a 45 minute walk - WHILE PUSHING A BABY STROLLER...soooooo I say the chair stays....I would like to get a sheepskin to toss over it...and a pouf to put next to/in front of it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks Lady!!!! the left half is decent....I will concede that much!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm pretty good...feeling like a cow, and not able to walk as far as I was accustomed to, but otherwise in fine shape!

    the appts are getting me down! This week: glucose test + chiropractor (because my back is already bugging me, but it was good up until the last month with baby 1)...and next week: OB, midwife, ultrasound and dentist

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can totally see myself still tweaking these a year from now...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Carol@TheDesignPagesAugust 9, 2011 at 1:49 AM

    Your basement looks amazing! Are those polished concrete floors? I love your styling but maybe you would like it better if the top shelf was a variety of things and not so many books. I also think the black is a bit heavy. What about a series of similar vases that come in 3 heights but all the same colour.

    ReplyDelete
  21. amazing transformation! love your styling especially the glass bottle on the left. you have my dream basement!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the asymmetrical design. I never would have thought of that. It is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I broke up the top shelf, re-arranged the books a bit to lighten it. I think it looks better! I stashed all my sci-fi up there, and go figure, most of them had black covers!!!

    ReplyDelete