The spot at the top of my stairs has been through many incarnations. As a matter of fact, I was supposed to re-do this spot in June 2008.
But I didn’t.
Last summer I took everything down with the intention to work on it again.
But I didn’t.
It eventually became a gathering spot for stuff I didn’t know what to do with.
It has bugged me for years.
It shall not bug me anymore.
Disappointingly, the only evidence I had of it’s before status was captured on my iPhone. I actually swear that I also got it with my good camera, but I can’t find the image anywhere. Argh! Humph! So, the after photo had to be taken with the iPhone too, which is also disappointing. I feel like I am going to regret not having taken more “pretty” photos of this set up later, but at least it is done. Pretty pictures next opam? I am going with it.
As you can see before, this spot had the beginnings of some semi good ideas, with no real attempt at making it actually good.
That changed when I found these prints on etsy, from artist Bianca Gõmez. I loved the pop of color. The simple graphic statement. The sweet inferred lean in for a kiss. I measured my wall to make sure they would fit here, framed. They did, and I ordered.
I still wasn’t sure what I would put underneath. But I had this glorious metal and glass industrial bookcase that was sitting downstairs in a spot that bugged me. I measured that to make sure it would fit, and it did. So I went about moving things around. We buy a lot of books but usually pass them around or donate them. We keep a handful that are special to us, but they were hidden in the linen closet. I was finally able to organize my books into a rainbow, as seen all over the internet, but until now not done at the Whitney house. I added a metal crate filled with old handmade scrapbooks from the days of yore. The shelf below holds more scrapbooks, from 2000-2003. Finally, a place for them! The bottom shelf was too small to store anything, so I added one of my favorite garage sale finds ever: a Polaroid land camera in it’s original box with it’s original papers, flash, battery, and “postcarders”. Next to that I placed an old Pepsi crate.
For now I added two vintage cameras from my collection to the top of the bookcase, and I have more in storage in the garage that I will place here soon.
(The doors on either side of this spot lead into my girls’ rooms.)
Prints: Cosas Minimas $52 (including shipping from Spain)
Frames: IKEA Ribba $30 for both
Bookcase: Craigslist $150 (older purchase/splurge)
Look at me! Two months in a row.
xo
Tara
by Tara Whitney
show hide 26 comments
link to this post email a friend