You might remember my good friends Gail and Casey? I did a Colour Rescue Styling Makeover for them (you can watch it here). We also teamed up to help furnish and decorate the five suites at Wilma’s Transition House for Women and Children after a fire delayed the opening of their new building last year.
It was such a rewarding project, and we were thrilled to be part of the team that cleaned, sourced furniture, and made those spaces feel like home again.
Creating the finishing touches
Lately, Gail’s been putting the finishing touches on her upstairs den. Her new millwork was finally installed, and she asked me to help style her coffee table, end tables, and especially — the bookshelves. When shelving becomes a major focal point in a room, it should feel curated and artistic, not just like a storage spot for books. So that’s exactly what we set out to create.
Yes, we did find everything for this bookshelf makeover at my favourite accessory store. Sometimes it really is that easy! And before you say it — yes, this could have been a place to display personal or world travelled collections.
But Gail didn’t have those things, she just wanted the room to look pretty (can you blame her?).
Now, if you do have collections and want to know how to make them look fabulous instead of fussy, don’t worry — today’s tutorial is for you!
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Love your decorating common sense.
Thanks Jill 🙂 Maria
Lovely display!!! I would love to see a make over with someone’s real books, chotckes and collections,😀
While I appreciate your advice, in this particular case Gail didn’t have books or anything else to store on the shelves, so she didn’t need shelves. Instead of creating unnecessary dust magnet, she could hang 2 large paintings over the cabinets.
That’s a great idea too — and in another space, two large paintings could absolutely be a beautiful solution. In this case, Gail really wanted open shelves to bring height, warmth, and dimension to the room. Since she didn’t have personal items yet, we used curated pieces to make it feel intentional and inviting rather than empty.
Every home tells its story a little differently — this one just started with shelves instead of canvases. Thanks for your comment. Maria
I agree and like most of it except the top left shelf looks out of proportion. But love high art … the room looks great but I love greens’! Nice!
Cannot open the youtube link from this email.
Lamps are great, a rare smaller size. Where did those come from, assume are corded. Didnt see them in the online process.
There is a hole drilled behind each one and they are plugged into the cabinets below! But rechargable light bulbs could also work! Maria
Gosh, I can not get over the package art…..if it is not original, it does not belong in my home. Find an artist you like and buy from them. Have it framed and enjoy. Also pottery and unique treasures. Yes, this takes time but it is the personal touch that makes a home spectacular . When I see a basket on a shelf, I recall the trip or time it was purchased. The same with a painting or family antique.
I couldn’t agree more — personal treasures are what ultimately make a home feel soulful and one-of-a-kind. In this case, my client didn’t yet have a collection to display, so our goal was to create a foundation that feels beautiful, balanced, and ready to receive those meaningful pieces as they’re gathered over time.
Design is always a journey — sometimes we start with the frame, and the stories fill in next. Thanks for your comment! Maria
Could you give some tips on how to display small items? I have a bunch of things that are special to me, but are not the “size of a cabbage”. Do I group them in clusters? Use books and things for height? Any tips appreciated. A video or blog on displaying collections would be great. Thank you!
I love it and was able to get some great ideas for our new build! Thanks!
Thanks Maria, you create such beautiful displays! I appreciate all your tips especially ‘items the size of a cabbage’
Very nice Maria. Got some tips. I have a sofa table against the wall that needs help. It’s another trip to Homesense today, Thanks.