Bookshelves!

One of my favorite design elements..not only are they completely functional, but bookshelves are a great way to personalize your space and bring in great color.  Historically the fireplace is the heart of the home, but I would say bookshelves run a close second.  Here are some of my favorite..

image from lonnymag

Love this classic cubby style shelving.

image from living etc

The symmetry makes your stuff look perfectly put together.

image from designsponge

Modular cubby shelves on wheels, perfect for apartment living.

 image from designsponge

An entire bookcase wall..heaven.

image from living etc

 Someday I'd like to have a little book-reading nook.

image from designsponge

Love the easy look of the rustic reclaimed shelves against the brick. 

image from lonnymag

And also the chic, polished look of the mirror backing and paneled 

cabinets. A formal but flashy look that really expands the space.

image from living etc

For the truly dedicated..color coordination. 

Doesn't even need to be real, still cute.

Maybe one of the first bookcases to ever catch my eye..look familiar?

I immediately ran out and bought lots of magazine holders. 

Recently I've Come to a Realization..

The weddings that used to fill my calendar are slowly being replaced by baby showers.  I guess this is only natural, but for someone who used to love buying wedding gifts, I struggle with what to get moms-to-be.  The idea of giving someone a diaper genie or breast pump just seems boring and maybe a little weird..so over the last couple weeks I've been gathering gift ideas meant to be fun, educational and inspire creativity, or at least look really cute in the nursery.

Available at Uncle Goose

Educational and good looking, perfect.

Available at Design Public

Something soft and cozy to wrap the little one in. 

Available at Brook Farm General Store

 Handmade wooden logging truck, super cool.  

Available at BabyRoom

Colorful nesting birds, adorable and interactive 

Available at Dwell Studio

Wooden puzzles, a timeless classic.

Available at All Modern

So many different Flensted Mobiles to choose 

from, all handmade.  (This has been my go-to 

shower gift for a couple years now) 

Available at L'Occitaine.com

Pampering for the Mom and the Baby.

Available at Velocity

I mean, this little fella speaks for itself.

Available at Areaware

What new born doesn't need a gold pickup? 

Who's Cooler Than..

Eero Saarinen, one of the leading figures in American 

Mid-Century modern architecture and furniture design, long

time Charles and Ray Eames collaberator and

my personal hero.

 Aline Saarinen Collection, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution C:1958

 Shown above sitting on one of his own creations..  

The iconic Tulip Chair .

Image from: Eero Saarinen, An Architecture of Multiplicity

And here (the spitting image of my grandfather) 

 Saarinen relaxes on his other classic, the Womb Chair.

I've never sat in one, but they look so very comfortable.

 

TWA Terminal, Idlewild (now Kennedy) Airport 1962. [Ezra Stoller © ESTO]
My favorite of all his projects, the TWA Terminal in New York, was 
recently renovated and now supposedly serves as an entrance to JFK's

 JetBlue Terminal, though I've yet to figure out how to get inside..

Open to the public just last spring, Saarinen's Miller House 

in Columbus Indiana, epitomizes Mid-Century residential 

design.  Love the sunken sitting area and multi purpose 

storage on the back wall. 

And of course the St. Louis Acrh. 

On all of my cross country adventures I never passed through 

St. Louis.  Someday I'd love to take the elevator to the top.

And most importantly, here in my own home town 

Eero Saarinen's Klienhans Music Hall.  Yeah Buffalo.

Light up boys, you've earned it! 

 Saarinen shown here with Charles Eames (right)

Such a great shot, from a great blog..

It's September..

And though it's still a bit warm for fires (high of 82 today) I needed to share our latest addition here at 22 Irving, a new wood burning stove!! It's smaller, more efficient and way cuter, can't wait till October.

old stove

new stove

so huge

so compact

PS we'll be patching and refinishing our wood floors in two weeks, which will pretty much complete our work on the house..crazy.  Kind of sad it's all over.  Ahh memories.