How to decorate custom Built-ins
From the moment we selected our floor plan with David Weekley, I knew the 16ft wall in the living room demanded built-ins. I’ve always been a huge fan of built-in bookshelves. They strike the perfect mix of practical and beautiful. We worked with Tom at Donnelly Designs to create these custom built-ins for our space. We are so happy with the outcome - they fit the open concept perfectly! Now we can display our books, pictures, pottery and TV. Today I’ll share some of my favorite resources for decorative items! I love combining antiques and sentimental pictures with newly acquired pieces. I think this gives the overall aesthetic more soul.
Custom carpentry work adds both character and major storage to our main living space. Sourcing and decorating shelves can be an art! I love finding just the perfect combination of shapes and sizes. I like the idea of adding seasonal objects as well.
Etsy is a great resource for all kinds of antique selections. I also buy most of my crystals there, including the selenite on the top right shelf. Crystals are a special way to elevate the energy of the room, and I recommend selecting specific intentions for your space. One of my vintage ginger jars is also sourced from Etsy.
Several of my pieces are from my family, such as a painting by my great grandmother. I have a couple old wooden corbels that add great warmth and natural texture. I’m so grateful to have these special pieces to remind me of my heritage.
We love having a special place to display sentimental items. My friend Bonnie’s Blooms created a framed, pressed-flower piece with my mom’s favorite delphiniums to add another sweet memory feature.
Our Crosley record player functions for old-school records, and has blue tooth capabilities! I enjoy the vibe of playing a record while I’m cooking or reading. They are a great way to start a meaningful collection.
Ginger Jars are my latest obsession and I can’t get enough of the gorgeous ones from Lauren Haskell. For more grandmillenial decor follow Cailini Coastal and Caitlin Wilson, these are some of my favorite inspirational resources.
One of the main purposes of built-in bookshelves are for books of course. I love to decorate with coffee table books like Monet, as well as novels. Pro-tip: take the covers off of your novels to create a chic, simple upgrade.
I plan to keep this set up fresh by mixing it up and upgrading some frames and adding pumpkins for the fall!
