Cassie Bustamante

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Styling the Bookcases

November 17, 2011 by Cassie 44 Comments

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What an exciting post this will be, huh?  I have to be honest here, I do NOT like styling things…. This part of home decor usually stresses me out when it comes to bookcases.  I don’t know why…. I think because it is not natural for me.  I can pick out colors and textiles, and put them together easily, but setting up the little vignettes has always been harder for me.  So bear with me, because I did my best!

You may remember I showed you the bookcases I finished for our living room.  After letting the paint set for several days, I got to work styling them.   Of course, we needed a place for our books, though we had already put some in the guest room.  So that was the first thing I pulled out to use.  I also had a bunch of milk glass sitting around that I thought would pop nicely against the orange.  I gathered some  meaningful photos and other meaningful pieces, like the artwork Sawyer made me for Valentine’s Day last year and the horse I inherited from my grandmother.  And I added in a couple of goodwill paintings I had found and fell in love with.  Lastly, I added in some glittered pinecones leftover from an upcoming project- they give a little seasonal touch.  And here they are, styled and prettied up!  Oh, and this room has no overhead light and it is rainy here today, so I apologize for the not-so-great photos!

And there you have it.  There is only so much I can say about bookcase styling.

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Comments

  1. A Flair for Vintage Decor says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    Great job…haven’t told you yet…but I love those bookcases! Take care, Caroline

    Reply
  2. The Frosted Gardner says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    It looks wonderful! You have great style!

    Reply
  3. Anne says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    They look fantastic!

    Reply
  4. Chic Coles says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Styling can be so hard. You did a wonderful job. The color of the back shelving is fantastic.

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    You might not like doing it, but you’re good at it! Love the look!

    Reply
  6. Gwen @ The Bold Abode says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    My word for the day…Pulchritudinous!

    They are stunning!

    Reply
  7. modern jane says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    It takes a master to do it right! 🙂 I love the B and the orange! So great! I’m actually really jealous.. I would love to have one to style!

    Reply
  8. [email protected] says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    You are unreal…in a good way. Ah-mazing!!

    Reply
  9. Kara @ June & Bear says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    I love milk glass and yours does look great against that orange. I just noticed your zebra print rug too. I just got one for the new living room design, but I’m afraid it’s too big.

    Reply
  10. Renee @ where the grass is greener says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Looks awesome Cassie! You did a terrific job!

    Reply
  11. Katie says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    You did a wonderful job! Love the vignettes against the orange, and the pinecones are a lovely touch of nature.

    Reply
  12. freckled laundry says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Very pretty, Cassie! I too love the gray with a pop of orange/red!

    Reply
  13. Rebecca says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    You did a great job! I’m so bad at that, just don’t have that flair. I may have to steal some ideas!

    Reply
  14. Maury says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    They look great! The orange is awesome and I love the pop of white against it!

    Reply
  15. Sarah AKA The Thriftress says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Cassie the bookshelves look great! The height is perfect and I love the orange/turquoise/grey color scheme. The living room is coming along nicely. I can see you guys in there at night drinking some wine!
    Sarah

    Reply
  16. DecorandtheDog says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Ooo, I like the color. I dislike styling shelves too. That’s why I my shelves the same as they were 3 years ago.

    Reply
  17. Cathy Wall says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    For someone who doesn’t like styling, you do a magnificent job! The book cases look amazing, love the milk glass and other goodies you used. I spy a Dala Horse too…..
    Cathy

    Reply
  18. [email protected] says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    These are SO pretty! You did a great job styling them. I’m lousy at styling my bookcases…there are just too many books on them!

    Reply
  19. Brandi says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    Gorgeous! I love, love the colors you chose! Orange and gray look so good together! And you styled them perfectly! Beautiful job, Cassie!

    Reply
  20. A Vintage Vine says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    What do you mean…”you aren’t good at styling”….!? Those are wonderful, you should see my vignette’s…Heck, I am not even sure if I can spell the name! HAHAHA! Seriously, the color combo, the styling, it is all perfect!

    Reply
  21. laxsupermom says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Gorgeous job styling your bookshelves! My problem is that I always cram way too much stuff on them. Yours look incredible! Love the orange peeking through. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  22. BESOS LYNN says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Love the milk glass bowls and vases.
    besos,lynn

    Reply
  23. Shari @ turnstylevogue.com says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    I think it looks great. The pops of white are a perfect choice. Now on to the next project, right?!

    Reply
  24. Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    Oooo! Now I need some glitter pine cones! I love what you did with your shelves…you may not like doing it, but darn it, you’re good at it! (c: I am totally drooling over that gorgeous color combo of your shelves, too! So fantastic, it’s one of my new fave combos…

    Reply
  25. Anneke {RustiChic} says

    November 17, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    Styling can be so difficult – I think they look GREAT!!!

    Reply
  26. [email protected] Road says

    November 17, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    I think it looks great! I like how you have some books laying on their sides and some upright, and the milk glass looks really pretty against the orange.

    (I like Jodi Piccoult, too)

    Reply
  27. Kristie says

    November 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    You may not think it’s exciting, but I was SO happy to see this post. I’m in the process of making my bookshelves look intentionally and artfully arranged instead of a mess of a dumping ground in our entry. It’s hard!

    Yours look great! I’m inspired 🙂

    Reply
  28. Kahli says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I love it Cassie! This is great inspiration for a bookcase that we will have to style at some point right now it looks like a horrid mess. But where did you get that letter “B” I must have it!

    Reply
  29. Rita says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    This looks GREAT! and I know exactly what you mean about knowing paint and colors but not having a clue about decorating it! My house suffers for this very reason!!

    Reply
  30. Ali Richardson says

    November 18, 2011 at 12:27 am

    I LOVE THEM!!!! Can you tell I was yelling that!? I really love them and think you styled them perfectly. The white pops are definitely great, especially that white “B.” You know how I’m a sucker for initials 🙂

    Reply
  31. Tammy @ Type A says

    November 18, 2011 at 12:35 am

    i love the colors of the bookcases too! everything is beautiful!!!

    Reply
  32. Prudently Painted Vintage says

    November 18, 2011 at 1:30 am

    Looks styling to me! I have a hard time with bookcases too for some reason. I actually have a board on pinterest for decorating shelves. It helps…. A little. You really did a great job though 🙂

    Reply
  33. Allison says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:08 am

    I think you styled your book shelves perfectly! It’s a really nice mix of books, pretty decor and art. That is a great orange. Fantastic job, Cassie!

    Reply
  34. Andi @ Jane of all crafts says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:28 am

    So for not liking to style bookcases you are AWESOME at it!! I think it looks like something out of a magazine. seriously ah-mazing!! Can you come to my house and style my bookcases?? pretty please?

    Reply
  35. [email protected] of a craigslist junkie says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:33 am

    It looks great Cassie!

    Reply
  36. ReFresh ReStyle says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:45 am

    Love the color and styling!
    Debbie

    Reply
  37. One in the SAHM says

    November 18, 2011 at 4:11 am

    I see all that Jodi Picoult in there – I KNEW you had great taste!

    Reply
  38. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal says

    November 18, 2011 at 4:17 am

    You did a great job Cassie! The orange makes a great back ground. I love those little gold framed prints you added. Those are so pretty!

    Reply
  39. Restyled Vintage says

    November 18, 2011 at 8:57 am

    I think they look wonderful, Cassie. Love the big ‘B’…I recently bought some smallish square canvases that look like scrabble tiles, I got G K S & J for our family Geoff Karen Sophie and Jake 🙂 They are from an Aussie store called Typo, one of my new faves!

    xx Karen

    Reply
  40. Galexi Cupcakes says

    November 18, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    The styling is perfect.. Jackie

    Reply
  41. Meredith says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    I featured your bookcases in my post today Cassie! You just keep churning out the gorgeous redos! I still can’t believe you got that pair for $80. I’m hunting for something similar (but I’d prefer a set of 3-5) and the prices I’ve seen are outrageous!
    Great job. 🙂
    Meredith @ Welcome to Heardmont

    Reply
  42. Mrs. Chic says

    November 18, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Those are so pretty!! 🙂

    Reply
  43. Lisa @ Turning Tables says

    November 18, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    You did an AWESOME job…everything looks so good together up there. I know a lot of thought went into it, but everything looks like it was placed with ease and minimal effort. Like you just knew they all belonged in those spots. Perfect!! I am so like you in that that kind of thing STRESSES me out. Ali has always had a knack for it “vignetting”, but me, not so much. My nursery gallery wall has given me the same stress/anxiety. LOL.

    Reply
  44. Michelle @ Ten June says

    November 19, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Wow, what an amazing transformation! I can’t believe how you took the shelves from plain wood to all guessied up like this! Love love. Now come make me some! : )

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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