ikea hacks: billy bookcase built-ins

One of my favourite decor features are built-ins. Not only are they multi-functional—offering precious storage and space to display your favourite books, family photos, souvenirs, etc.—but they can add value to your home, giving it the look of a custom build. If you don't have a carpenter in the family, built-ins may seem like an expensive and daunting task, however, one of my favourite Ikea hacks to peruse on Pinterest is the millions of different ways people are transforming the Billy Bookcase to look like a built-in.We attempted this in my parent's previous house, installing a set of wall to wall bookcases with doors in the dining room. We were looking for extra storage since both myself and my Bubi had moved in, bringing a lot of our belongings with us. These units held a ton of stuff, and kept things accessible when we needed them, or hidden when not in use. For some reason I never took a picture of them styled and in use, but managed to snap the below shot just before we moved. 

Now that we've officially moved everything into our new house, my parents and I are hoping to use the Billy Bookcase once again to create built-ins in our kitchen/dining space as well as a pair to sit on either side of the soon-to-be-built fireplace in the living room. Our first experience with the Billy was good, but I think we can customize them even more to look less like the Ikea staple and more like a custom piece of millwork. 

As inspiration, I've rounded up my favourite 5 Billy Bookcase hacks:

Bliss at Home via BHG Blog 

 Orlando Soria via Lonny 

 Suzanne's Colour in Harmony Room via Apartment Therapy 

Laura's Living Room via The Makerista 

Love these, but cannot find a source -- if anyone knows where they're from please let me know so I can credit them. 

4 fab home decor books

For as long as I can remember I've been an avid reader. And I have been so pleasantly surprised at how seamless my love of decor and books seem to be--from beautifully styled bookshelves, to gorgeous coffee table books, to a limitless selection of books from fabulous designers and bloggers. My colour-blocked bookshelves can barely handle new additions, but I'll be squeezing these new fall releases into the mix.   

Styled: Secrets For Arranging Rooms, From Tabletops To Bookshelves by Emily Henderson

I've been waiting many moons for this little bundle of joy. A long-time fan of Emily Henderson's blog, I have no doubt that this book will live up to my fan-girl expectations. Perfectly-imperfect-mid century-modern-eclectic with a touch of Spanish Mission, her style is out-of-this-world fabulous and her ability to mix pricey designer pieces with vintage one-of-a-kind gems looks effortless and chic. In my mind, this book has potential to be the new bible for Domino-lovers. 

The Kinfolk Home: Interiors for Slow Living by Nathan Williams 

A stark contrast to Emily Henderson, the Kinfolk crew are able to piece together the most dream-like interiors, tables, recipes and events you can image. Just as the title suggests, they've mastered the art of 'slow-living' aiming to simplify life and encouraging us to spend time with friends and family whenever possible for simple, yet beautiful gatherings. Like the magazine, I have no doubt that this book will be best enjoyed on a Sunday morning with a cuppa joe in your favourite mug.  

Apartment Therapy Complete And Happy Home by Maxwell Ryan and Janel Laban

Just as I go to Martha for all of my baking and etiquette questions, I go to Maxwell and the Apartment Therapy team for my home decor questions. If you've thought it, chances are they've written about it, and have countless user comments pipping in with their two cents. I'm sure this book will be packed with home improvement / decor tidbits and goodness. 

Lovable Livable Home: How to Add Beauty, Get Organized, and Make Your House Work for You by Sherry and John Petersik

I was very late to the Young House Love bandwagon. I knew of them, but wasn't a daily follower. This past summer I perused their blog and loved what I saw, however, they had left the blogesphere and were no longer producing new content. Luckily they have a new book that is packed with never-before-seen DIY projects, home renos and home tours, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! 

Did I miss anything, or have you read any of these books yet? Leave a comment and let me know!

summer reading series: good bones, great pieces

Summer Reading Series: Good Bones, Great Pieces: The seven essential pieces that will carry you through a lifetime.
By Suzanne & Lauren McGrath

Mother-daughter design duo, Suzanne and Lauren McGrath, take readers through several stunning and unique spaces that incorporate each of their seven essential pieces. With an array of eclectic rooms, seamlessly combining new and vintage furniture and accessories, there is something to inspire the traditionalist, modernist and everyone in between.

Each chapter dedicated to its own piece of furniture and readers are given a brief history lesson, what to look for when sourcing, price ranges (affordable pieces exist and are featured), proper naming conventions and small tidbits of information behind their clients and their room’s inspiration.

Hailing from New York, Suzanne and Lauren have gained the praise of Martha Stewart, been featured countless times in Domino magazine and run a beautiful blog, as well as a successful business: Suzanne McGrath Design. This book will leave you itching for a garage sale, second-hand store or even a dig through your basement looking for those old tables you can now impressively refer to as ‘demi-lunes’; because you will know that beautiful, comfortable spaces are created with a combination of pieces that range from cheap and cheerful to top-of-your-budget, and by knowing the rules, you can masterfully choose those that will carry you through a lifetime.