books

12 Days of Christmas; Bookcase and Reading Areas

As I said in this post I’m grateful for the chance to slow down on the decorating front and take it a little easier over Christmas. The trouble is when you’re minds been full of something for weeks on end then it’s difficult to switch off isn’t it?

This year, just like last, I had silly expectations of what it is I wanted to achieve by Christmas. As the saying goes, it means I might not reach the moon, but I do reach the stars. Lovely. Yet you don’t get to enjoy the celestial view when you’re exhausted!

With that in mind I have targets I want to achieve by this time next year – but whether I achieve them or not, by Autumn I’m going to take my foot of the gas decorating wise and approach Christmas time differently.
Sidenote; hit subscribe because knowing me this paragraph will not age well 😂.

With all this in mind I’ve decided to set myself twelve decorating goals. Some of them are relatively small and some are big and will take a lot of time. Many of the small ones will run consecutively with these larger projects, so they can be finished by November when I hang up my tool bag.

With this in mind I’m doing these twelve days of Christmas posts to inspire me, and hopefully you, for the work ahead.

This first post on bookcases and reading areas encompasses two goals; the bookcase that I want to build in the living room that I spoke about in this post on my American style French Country updates. The latter half of the post will focus on future projects, namely the long hallway on the first floor landing and the reading area I would like to create in the attic.

The last may not be done for a couple of years yet, but it’s good to mull things over.

So, firstly to the living room and the bookcase I want to build this year.

4 How to’s

I love the price and style of these; especially the last one as it shows you how to add library lights and incorporate your speaker system.

Corridors

Well those were examples of how I planned to do the bookcase, but I thought I’d share some inspiring bookcases for corridors as we have one going from the ‘family’ side of the house towards our guest rooms on the other side.

Landings and Attics

This project is waaaay in the future, but we have an attic with an incredibly high ceiling and lots of space. It has a tall central window and the layout would mean that there would be a large landing area. So I’ve often thought that we could do it up to have additional guest rooms in the future and the landing would lend itself to a great reading area.

As the roof is so high the small room that’s already up there has a false ceiling. It makes sense to continue doing this when we create the additional bedrooms to make them easier to heat. So I was thinking that a split level area on one side of the space might be cool; the other side would be used for additional storage.

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas!

10 Reading Material

As part of my series on being a hostess I thought I’d expand on my point about reading material for guests. Here are ten topic ideas for you if your stuck as to what you can put out to entertain your them.

1 Magazines

This is a tricky one for me as we live here in France and many of our guests are English. However there are decorating magazines, magazines of the region and topical magazines that I include on the bedsides of guests to browse through. Some people want to practise their French or just get an idea of the country.

2 Local history

Some local history books are a great idea, or anything on your local area. It may give them some ideas of where to go and what to do.

3 Classic writers

Put out some classics; Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Dickens. An old or beautiful copy will add to the ambiance of the room too.

4 Fairy tales for youngsters

Don’t forget your younger guests – go for classic fairy tales. However you could think of comics too.

5 Quick and interesting fact books

There are lots of books with interesting, short facts on various topics that you an put out for your guests. That way even if you have a full schedule they can dip in and out of them without too much bother. The same is true for…

6 Quote books

This may be from one person, or on a particular topic. Again, something that can be briefly perused.

7 Picture books

Not just for children; art, photos, decor…anything someone can flip through and be inspired.

8 Hobbies of guests

If you know your guests well and happen to have books on their hobbies – gardening, decor, trains, whatever – put some of these books out for them to look though. You never know, they may learn something.

9 Poetry

Classic, witty or modern, a book of poetry beside the bed may delight your guests.

10 The Bible

I often use my friends when I’m staying with them as they can be cumbersome to carry. It’s still something many people find comfort in so why not leave one out so that, particularly in the times of the great feasts, that can find comfort in it.

Coffee Table Decor When You Have Small Children

We’ve only just reached the point where we can risk having photo frames on our side tables – my youngest used to climb on the table, grab the frames and run round with them, throwing them when something else grabbed her attention. Not the best for the frames and, more importantly, for little feet if glass should break.

I’ve been putting more frames up in the last few day as I’ve started to turn my attention to the living room – using up fabric I’d bought some time ago but haven’t had the chance to use to make covers for our sofas. So as a result I thought I’d try a few photo frames and see – they’re still there, so now I’m becoming ambitious.*

I love coffee table decor – it can give a room a polished finish don’t you think? However fingers that love to touch would never be able to resist such a tempting display. To be honest I couldn’t even trust my eldest not to fiddle and break.

Yet as the living room becomes more as I’d like it to be, I sit in it in the evening with candles lit, relaxing and I long for a little grown up glamour. After all, it’s hard to be on the beck and call of little ones all day – you find yourself somehow disappearing. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing – it’s a walk towards humility after all.

Nevertheless the girls getting older means I’m gradually regaining a sense of myself as seperate from them, and that’s a good thing too. I’ve received regular, and I have to say a little heartbreaking, reminders recently that they are growing and this precious time will not last. I’m becoming more aware that I must treasure the moments we have, without submerging myself within them, in order that I can help them develop into adults.

So – grown up glamour for time to be me, that’s family friendly. This is the tricky balance I’m trying to pull off.

At first I thought of using items that can be played with safely – but if any of you can work that I’d love to know about it. I didn’t even know where to start!

So my next idea was a set of table decor that I could put away and then take out when it was time for me to relax. Not only is this a safer option, but it means that my taking it out is a signal to myself that this now is my time. Or better still, when the hubby’s at home, our time.

My first step then was to clear a space in a cupboard to store my table decor in.

Next step, what would be stylish and suitable for using like that? Here’s a list of things I came up with….

Tray

Of course a tray, otherwise it would take much time to be moving things around of an evening. Instead of relaxing it would be another thing to do. So whether it’s a simple wooden one, or glamorous silver one, a tray is needed.

I’ve chosen a mirrored silver tray as it’s a bit glamorous, has a little vintage vibe so suits our home and was, importantly, inexpensive so if it’s broken in all the moving around then it’s not the end of the world. You’ll find ‘inexpensive’ and ‘if it gets broken’ used a lot in this post, FYI.

Candles

One or two, these are essential for setting the mood that this is time for relaxation. It’s amazing how a simple candle can add a feelings of comfort, treasured times and evoque memories with their scents.

I love the scent of roses, so this was my first choice. I had a colourful, glitzy one in mind too, but my little tray wouldn’t hold them both with my next item. Again, it’s a case of what practical.

Flowers

I’ve chosen faux flowers due to the need to keep them in the cupboard. However a good display of silk flowers shouldn’t look tacky and adds a feminine feel.

Books

Coffee table books. Sometimes I don’t want to look at a screen, but I want to be inspired so I like to have some good decorating books around. Alternatively keep the novel you’re reading with your tray and bring it out when you’re having ‘me’ time.

My books are based on Art Nouveau decor and one on sourcing items for period homes..

Little glass coasters

As this is grown up time a coaster for a glass of wine on the weekend seems appropriate, no? The ones I have were a gift from my husband’s Aunt and Uncle and they’re not suitable for little ones. This is a perfect way to use them.

An ornament

I’ve chosen this beautiful little horse, but when season’s change and holidays come around it will be easy to mix things up to reflect that.

You may be surprised to learn that the horse is only a resin, mass produced item made to look old. Again it’s the cheap and, well, not exactly disposable, but if it’s broken….angle.

Now, perhaps it’s time to get the wine out?