are bookshelves becoming a thing of the past?
This week I saw two stories about bookshelves suggesting they are going the way of the record player and rotary telephones. It seems that in the dawning era of electronic books (and I am the first to confess: I LOVE my Kindle) that bookshelves are becoming obsolete. Both Time.com and The Economist wrote about Ikea’s plans to remake its famous Billy bookcases to contain all sorts things besides books. The shelves are becoming deeper and they’re getting optional doors – all the better to hold things that aren’t books, like tsotchkes (and I am the first to confess: I LOVE tsotchkes).
In our house, we still have a lot of novels and other assorted paper products, like magazines, kids books, cookbooks, photography books. But it’s true that they are not the only objects that live on our shelves. When we staged our apartment to sell, in the photo above, we cleaned up the bookshelves so they contained very few books. Our realtor thought this would be more appealing.
These days, I find myself drawn more and more to old books and first editions. Is it the nagging sense that classic printed matter is becoming more precious? On our mantel is a first edition of EB White’s This is New York, a must have and read. I’m not buying fewer books now that I own a Kindle. Rather, now I am buying books that I truly treasure and want to have and hold and display. And for those, I need bookshelves.
What about your home’s future? Will bookshelves still have a place there? — Angela M.
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steal this idea: chalkboard contact paper labels
I’ve been following Nashville-based blogger ModFruGal for quite a while now. I really love her home, her stylish DIY tutorials, and her way with polished brass — this self-proclaimed “budget minded modernist” is worth a regular visit. Even a recipe post contains brilliant ideas I want to use in my own home, like using chalkboard contact paper labels on her food storage containers. That way, when you change out your item, the label can be easily changed too. It’s the kind of simple genius that makes me smack my head and say, “why didn’t I think of that?” Functional, simple, and attractive: that means this is my next organizational project! What do you think? — Megan B.
Update: ModFruGal, in response to our linky love, has given us the full tutorial on how she made these! Click here to see how.
post-off: do you have an e-reader?
When it comes to book lists, it’s no secret that you, our power readers, love to keep things organized online using sites like Shelfari and Good Reads. Hearing about your experiences with such tools has motivated me to get organized as far as my wish list goes, but now my want-to-read list is starting to look ominous when I compare it to my tiny apartment, that has little space for my library-sized aspirations. Next month’s book club pick is Room, by Emma Donague (have you read it?) and I’m toying with the idea of taking the plunge and sealing the deal on an e-reader. I don’t fancy myself as the kind of gal who needs the newest, hottest gadget, and in fact, really value the feel of a worn book in my hand, but I’m starting to be swayed. In addition to saving space in my apartment, e-books also tend to be cheaper than the real deal, and can be read on gadgets, like smart phones, that don’t require the purchase of an actual e-reader at all. If do cross over, I plan on still supporting my local independent bookshop for my favorite reads, but I’d love to hear from you: Do you use an e-reader, or some other tool to get your reading in? Sound off in comments! — Sarah C.
Image courtesy of Flickr user Kodomut.
want to read: 40 years of chez panisse: the power of gathering
Ever since receiving The Art of Simple Food from a dear friend, I’ve been fascinated and inspired by Alice Waters, her philosophy, her Edible Schoolyard initiative and her Berkeley, Calif., restaurant, Chez Panisse. I was fortunate enough to dine in the café portion of the restaurant on my first trip to Berkeley, and it is a memory I will never forget. This summer, Chez Panisse will celebrate its 40th anniversary and is commemorating the occasion with a series of special events and this new book, which I cannot wait to get my hands on. A tribute to Alice, her revolution and the people she’s touched over the course of the last four decades, the book is sure to please anyone with an interest in sustainable food culture or a love of Chez Panisse! Available for pre-order on Amazon now. –- Sarah C.
To learn more about Alice & her work, click here. For some of her favorite, quick summer dishes (including wine-soaked peaches!) pick up the August issue of Glamour, on newsstands now.
bookmark-worthy: goodreads.com
A few months ago, Sarah C. introduced us to Shelfari and a few readers chimed in with their pick for favorite social networking, bookworm-friendly site: Good Reads. Thank you guys, I’m hooked! I was looking for a way to keep track of my reading list online (I’m constantly writing down suggestions for great books and then losing the notes immediately thereafter) and Good Reads is a Godsend. Not only does the site allow you to keep track of you reading list online, it also allows you to rate and review books you’ve read, recommend titles to your friends, get recommendations, and browse other user generated reading lists (some are broken into basic genres, but some get more creative such as “Thickest Books†and “Books My Father Gave Meâ€). Check it out, bookmark it, friend me, and don’t judge all the YA books on my virtual bookshelf. –- Katie D.
