beyd's Profile

The color of the blue chair sticks out to me. Cover it with something that blends better with the other colors in the room. Could even be blue, but should be more of a jewel tone. I'd look for a print with red in it.

Walls need something. Consider a large black and white map for over the desk by the bookcase. Then get something for either side of the fireplace. And, if possible, the stuff on the ledges on either side of the fireplace should be cleared off and some objets arranged there. The shelves look neat, and can continue to be used primarily for storage.

What about some lamps?

I'd center the sofa on the fireplace and float it into the room, with the coffee table in front of it. Chairs casually on either side.

This room is almost finished! It needs for Elizabeth to let her imagination pull in a little fabulous something and it will be perfect.

This combo doesn't work for me.

How about off-red? Dark cherry red, or brick red, or terra cotta red, or burgundy? With leathery, chamois, palomino, off yellowish, brownish accents.

I find that these muddied, more subtle tones wear well over time.

sorry--hit the wrong button there.

This is what apt. THERAPY is supposed to be about: Thinking outside the box, doing what makes us happy, spending a comfortable amount of time and money AND effort, and sharing it with others.

If you don't like it you're not obligated to adapt it to your own use, but try to at least smile. I won't use this idea, but I did laugh. Hadn't seen it before.

Thanks, Maxwell

I have shelves that are 1" thick birch plywood, cut to order by the lumber supplier. I got the iron-on edge tape from Home Depot and ironed it on myself. I then sprayed a couple of thin coats of urethane to seal everything and mounted them on 2"x1" cleats. The naturally light birch color might look fine with the color of your closet, and if you lightly sand the edges you won't have splinters.

Don't have an opinion on shelf depth. Mine are all no more than 22", and not a problem.

Joan--mag rack is not on a door. It is through a doorway which has a tabbed curtain over it, in the photo that has swatches in the lower left corner. According to the floorplan, it must be in the office.

This homeowner has a major capital investment in shelves.

I only just noticed the piano!

This looks just like a unit I tried to buy a few years ago on the UWS of NYC.

Let's not forget that Ikea paid the metro a whole lotta money for those ads, thus (hopefully) freeing up some government subsidies to go somewhere else in these uncertain times!

Sydney--Where did you get that phone/plan?

I vote for Candice, but we must acknowledge that she obviously has the budget and the time to do all that.

Also love Kenneth Brown, and sometimes Design on a Dime does something I can use.

I like Flat Maxwell, mini Eames, orange squiggle, whatever.

But please---no gnome.

First get the rug (for color basis). Tall bookshelves (go with Billy, then add trim/crown with construction adhesive and staples) on window wall, with some semblance of window seat between.

Take down French doors completely and hang heavy curtains over doorway and window. Maybe with an elaborate cornice over both, to replicate that Chinese Chippendale look over bookcases in your photo.

Add hip or chest height cases to side walls. Consider lining the backs of bookcases with fabric or painting them a contrasting color.

In tall bookcases, leave equal spaces between shelves on either side to display good size collectibles or pictures--say about 2'. Leave space between books, but add collectibles on shelves.

Put hip or chest high shelves on sides (depending on ceiling height) that are shallowest Billy. Add moldings as needed.

I also like the fireplace idea, with an elaborate mirror over it, on one side. If you do this maybe you only need bookcases on the window wall and the fireplace wall, or window wall and opposite the fireplace wall. If you have a wall without bookcases, consider extending crown molding around the room, and add a chair rail or picture rail around the room. This is so easy and cheap. Then you can do things like paint below the chair rail the color or the shelves, and upholster the area between the chair rail and the picture rail, or wallpaper, or paint a different color.

This is not a minimalist room, but be careful with your accessories. It's easy to kitsch it up. You can find lots of good stuff that will enhance this room on Craigslist, and some cheap but good Chinese things at pearlriver.com.

I love the uplights above the cases that make the ceiling glow. You can get these, or some that shine down on your cases, at Ikea.

Great project! Be sure and show us some after pictures!