Tuesday, October 13, 2015

SHELVES OR NO SHELVES

Never wanting to be at a loss for storage, we had this set of shelves in town.  We decided to move it to the farm since it wouldn't have a place at the upcoming apartment.  We put it here, about the ONLY place left in the house where it COULD fit, ha.  

It's in the entry/foyer area next to the front door.  

Shelves by front door
Do you think it's too close to the door?  When the door opens, it doesn't bump it but we're just not sure if it's too close?  There is a painting hanging above it and the glass terrarium next to it.  Too crowded?

Thoughts?



34 comments:

  1. paint it white and it will disappear.

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    1. True, I'm just afraid of too much white. But we'll see what happens!!

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  2. Too close. More stuff you have in your foyer more crowded it is for greeting guests entering and exiting. My opinion.
    I had a book case like that on my porch until I replaced it with a cupboard. Moved the shelves to the garden shed. Perfect in there.

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    1. Thank you, that's a vote for too much. :-) Thanks for the suggestion!!

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  3. Just my opinion but I see it becoming a 'catch all' for hats, keys, scarves, mail...all the stuff that comes in the door with you and needs to be put down in order to take shoes and coats off and then never gets picked up again. Looks like a nice shelf though.

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    1. my thoughts exactly! and don't paint it, I like the color of the natural wood!

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    2. Two more votes for "too much". ;-)

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  4. It would have been easier to comment if your photograph showed more of the space.

    Having said that, the shelves are positioned perfectly to act as, what Apartment Therapy calls, a “landing strip”. This is basically a catchall place for keys, mail, sunglasses and all the other necessities of daily life that you want easily accessible (findable!) when leaving. You could paint the shelves the same shade of white to blend into the walls if you felt it too intrusive. Or, paint it a bright shade for a pop of color. Have fun styling those shelves!

    jaime

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    1. I agree that it would be easier to answer the question with a photo that shows more space.

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    2. A landing strip... I never thought about that. Thanks for the info, make sense to me. And yes, I was going to get a pic this weekend of a wide shot and totally forgot. Another time. It will be good for winter posting, when nothing is happening outside, ha.

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  5. Hmmm, thinking laterally, could you remoce the picture on the wall and wall mount it? That way you could use it for it's intended purpose in the hallway (I.e. key spot , umbrella stand, letter surface) - for you surely wouldn't have books on it behind the door, would you?

    You could also put a trailing plant on the lower shelf to soften the appearance...?

    Otherwise, you could paint it white and, again, wall hang it an use it in your bathroom or laundry room?

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    1. I thought about wall mounting, but it's pretty big and heavy. I never thought about the fact that books would be lost behind there. I do like greenery idea. Thank you!!

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  6. I think it looks good as is, and where it is centered under the picture ... and it would be great for books and CDs (if you still use them) and leave the top shelf mostly bare but with a smallish basket for keys etc as you come and go. Of course my husband accuses me of terrible decorating skills ... but that's my opinion!

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    1. Ha, I'm sure you are just fine at decorating, it's all what we like to do for ourselves, right? We actually DO have quite a few CD's. I've moved most all of them to iTunes but just can't bring myself to turn loose of the actual CD's, ha. Thank you!!!

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  7. Mounting it on the wall was my first thought. You could use it above a short piece of furniture in another room, maybe in the bath or laundry or kitchen where shelves would be useful. Since I cannot see what else is in the area or how things are arranged there, it's difficult to comment on the present space. If the door does not hit the shelves and they don't impeded goings and comings, the shelves could be perfect where you placed them.

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    1. They don't interfere with the door at all. Maybe it is in a good spot, ha. Not much other space in the house. We'll see where it ends up. It's still there, empty, as of this weekend, ha.

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  8. I vote to keep them there for a bit and see how it works for you. If you decide you don't like it you can always move it. I would love a small set of shelves for the foyer at the lake house.

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    1. Good idea about living with it for a while.

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    2. Yep, I think we'll just let it be for now. See how it 'evolves', ha.

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  9. Anne in the kitchen expressed my thoughts. Moving a shelf is MUCH easier than moving anything wall mounted. I would hold off on the painting for a while for similar reasons. You have the time to wait and make the perfect decision...

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    1. When putting items on the shelf it may look a bit crowded there.
      Maybe you could think about putting a good sealer on it, put it on your porch and put potted plants on it.

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    2. We DEFINITELY have the time to wait. I think it's far too big/heavy to be wall mounted anyway (though that's a great idea). And Colleen, I never thought about sealing it and using it on the porch (or in the barn for that matter). Thanks both!!

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  10. I'd probably paint it and use to "catch" things like keys, maybe scarfs, hats and mittens... Add some nice little baskets to it and you'll have a very functional little shelf.

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    1. Baskets are a great idea. Yep, a catch spot is a good use. We'll see and keep y'all posted!!

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  11. I have a couple of bookshelves that look just like that. If they are like the ones I have, they fold. Fold it up and put it under the bed until you find someplace useful for it if you don't like it in the foyer. I really like mine. I didn't have to do anything to put them together!

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    1. It does fold!!! The shelves lift up and the sides fold in. Hey, under the bed for now is not a bad idea, until we decide. Funny, we moved it out there as is, I never thought about folding it flat and putting it under the bed, lol Thanks!!

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  12. Adding my vote to paint it white -- and add some baskets to hold incoming stuff ..... always handy to have extra storage! If the shelf does not work there .... perhaps in a closet?

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    1. Thank you! And dang, a closet is a great idea, Not sure why we didn't think about that. Thank you!!!

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  13. 1st Man,

    A book shelve of this size doesn't have to be on the floor, you could change it up a bit and hang it on a wall......just a thought. If not, I'm going to have to agree with Galestorm place it under the bed until you can use it.

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    1. Thanks, and yep, we can definitely put it under the bed. Might just do that while we think about it all. :-)

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  14. I agree with some others - white will make it blend into the wall. You do need a space to put keys, letters, etc.

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  15. I guess my question is what do you have in mind for the shelves and are you sure that it won't just become a dumping ground? If you have a game plan in mind and won't use it as a clutter hotspot go for it!

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    1. We can be tempted to use it as dumping, I've seen that happen....too often before, in town, ha.

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