THE WINNER AND STYLING BOOKSHELVES






Happy Friday y'all!  How ironic that the winner of the YELLOW giveaway is the Pink Pagoda?  I worked with Jennifer on the One Room Challenge.....you can see pictures of her finished room here.

She has great style and I am hoping that she can use a little yellow in her life :)  Jennifer also has some great things to buy so go see!

A couple of weeks ago when I posted about the bookshelves I did for my ORC Melanie from My Sweet Savannah emailed me and asked if I would help her with a few shelves in her dining room.

I have been reading her blog since I was knee high to a grasshopper.....well not really but since the break of dawn....OK...since I discovered blogs.

She is quite talented and one time I saw a picture of her in a cowboy hat and was so jealous of how much she rocked that look.

Doing shelves virtually is a whole new world for me.  I am visual and need to be able to stand back and case the joint while I am doing them  [drinking wine is always optional].  But she was persistent and assured me that it could be done.  I am nothing if not easily persuaded (remember how Linda threatened me about trying to pull out of the ORC!) folding like a cheap tent as they say.

So she emailed me a picture of what they looked like.  

I thought they looked pretty good myself but I can understand that sometimes you can be too close to the situation...and need a new eye!

I had to figure out a way to do this so I printed out the picture and got some tracing paper.  Using mostly what she already had and....here is the first rough draft.  

She emailed me a few pictures of various things she had hoarded  laying around so I used a few of them..... starting with the canvas in the middle.

Pretty dang primitive....I know.
We kept playing around with it for a few days....emailing pictures back and forth....and then the weekend came along and we took a break.

I think she uncorked the wine and worked on those shelves like Jackson Pollack on a canvas!

The next image I received was completely different from  the previous one.....really.

After some scooching....tweaking....."do you have one of these?"....do you have 2 of those?".....about 15 or 20 e-mails back and forth with  pictures.....we declared "case closed".


She can't fool me....I know bloggers....and they like to mess with stuff!  I give it about 2 weeks.....

She mentioned a plant in the corner and I said....yes some greenery would be awesome to tie in with the green bottles......5 seconds later another email.

Girl is good.  And fast.

You need to go here to see her pictures because not only does she look damn good in a cowboy hat she also takes much better pictures than me.

The whole process made me think about the art of display.  AND...that made me think of Pottery Barn because they do have quite the team of stylist.  One thing I know and that is.....create an arch.

I took some pictures with my iphone the other day to show you.

See?
Here is another one..
Start in the middle of the shelf and work out.
You are going to get the point after a few more of these....
Again....
Even here with these shelves....
Wanna poke my eyes out yet.  Bad pictures I know but I am just trying to make a point.  Are there exceptions to the rule?  Of course.  
Because of the wall restrictions...but still an arch! 

Still an arch.

OK...a good example here is that on the second shelf they hung the middle plate to get some height.  The third row they kept everything pretty much the same...



So if you are struggling just use the guidelines of "shelving 101"....start in the middle with the tallest item....and then layer the back with books, trays and plates.  After that stand back...take a sip of wine and see where you can edit.

That's all I got today....

Sherika






30 comments

Kathysue said...

Congratulations To Jennifer, I love pink and yellow together especially with her blue and white porcelain, YUM!!
Great job on the shelves, and really fun stuff to work with. I love doing shelves and vignettes. I use the wave method, but I too, place the largest objects first and work from there. You are such a talent and always a JOY to read!!
xo Kathysue

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

Well if I couldn't win....I'm so happy Jennifer won! Shelves are hard to do....maybe I'm not drinking enough?

Bethany [at] Powell Brower Home said...

and SHABOOM, you did it! great job YOUS TWO

Brandi said...

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Sherry. Styling has never been my thing. Love the "arch" tip. Melanie's shelves look great btw.

Catie said...

Great post!! Thanks for the tips. Love the wine idea best :)

Holly Gruszka said...

The "new" shelf look is awesome - nice collaboration. And I love your drawing Sherry - I love seeing those details and how the mind works (our crazy minds right?) I play around all the time and I know the hubs thinks I'm crazy. Have a great weekend Sherriki.

An Urban Cottage said...

Thanks a bunch! Now I'm going to be all OCD about the arch.

The Pink Pagoda said...

I won something (never happens)?? The awesome yellow goodies you put together? OH MY GOODNESS
so excited!! Thanks so much Sherry!! I can't wait to incorporate some happy yellow over here!

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Shelves look great...great advice. Congratulations to Jennifer...

René said...

And this is why you are the shelf whisperer. Thank you for your insight. The shelves look great and the two of must have had fun during the process. Totally agree about Melanie in the cowboy hat!

Unknown said...

That is awesome. You really nailed her shelves, seriously. I love your tips and the examples. Awesome job, now celebrate!
Have a great weekend.
Nancy
powellbrowerhome.com

Design Esquire said...

Love the tip! I now can't wait to get home from work and look at my shelves! (Ok, to be honest, that is not the only reason I can't wait to get home on this Friday afternoon...)

Jessie said...

Congratulations to Jennifer! Love your tips. The shelves styling turn out wonderfully. Great collaboration.

Happy weekend!

Jessie
www.mixandchic.com

Melaine Thompson said...

Ha ha! Maybe I need to wear that hat more often! So fun working with you, or should I say, thanks for putting up with me! Mrlaine

Melaine Thompson said...

Ha ha! Maybe I need to wear that hat more often! So fun working with you, or should I say, thanks for putting up with me! Mrlaine

Kelly said...

That is a wonderful tip. I always just try to work it until it looks right, but never really knew why it didn't work or did sometimes. You did a great job advising her on her shelves. I love how it turned out!

Woodside Park said...

Thanks for breaking it down....awesome, Sherry! Shelves can be so difficult and challenging.
Congrats to Jennifer!

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

I can paint anything, am not afraid of power tools, but I STINK at the whole styling of shelves and vignettes and stuff…..I've loved these posts the last few weeks on the bookcases and shelves you've done!

Mary said...

Wow! You are good! You could make a living at just styling shelves/tablescapes.
I really struggle with this. Once I get it where I think it looks OK, I don't touch it. It takes me so long to get it "right" that I don't want to move anything & have to start over.

Victoria said...

as Sheldon would say Bizinga!
Love the arc,Melanies shelves
turned out super, your are
one talented designer!

awal.ny said...

I never thought of it that way. I always try to end with the high pieces at the end. I am redoing my living room mantel this weekend and I am going to try it out. Thanks for sharing your decorating tip. Oh and just so you know, from what I have seen on your blog, I sure wish you lived closer to me, I am in need of a designers eye with a master bedroom addition.

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

What a great lesson! Have a fantastic weekend :)

The enchanted home said...

What a great informative post. I will never look at another arch the same:)

Taylor Greenwalt said...

Great advise and congrats to Jennifer.

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

Great job..I'm laughing at your comment...they mess with stuff..don't they all? It makes me crazy when I go back in and things are out of place...

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Very fun. I take everything off first and add until it's just right...the arch is a great tip.

designchic said...

They look amazing Sherry. Love the way you edited and the thought process behind it...great job!

christy said...

The bookcase looks so great, love that first picture.

Naz said...

Congrats to the winner of the give-away.

I never thought of it being an arch but you hit the nail on the head.

Unknown said...

Love the end result - thanks for the arch tip. I'm trying to style the bookcases we had built for the hubs office right now - laudy - I think I may need a whole bottle of wine! ;)

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