When Alison started working at Curves a few weeks ago, I would drop her off there each day and return home where I would try to amuse myself until it was time to go pick her up at the end of her shift.
One day I got a bug up my butt and decided to rearrange the living room furniture. The weather was turning cold and we had discussed having a fire in the fireplace that night. When I got back to the house, I got the Shop-Vac out and gave the fireplace a good cleaning, then brought in a load of firewood and stacked it in the fireplace.
When I was done with that, I took a look at the new sofa across the room, and decided it was too far away from the fireplace. So I moved it, and the coffee table, into the middle of the room, so that we would sit closer to the fireplace.
This was the result.
It was instantly more intimate. Alison was pleased with the result when I brought her home from work that evening.
But moving the sofa away from the wall left a bare wall and a four foot wide path behind the sofa. This begged for something to fill the space. We discussed it, and I told Ali I had always envisioned a bookshelf against that wall.
Last weekend we were out shopping and stopped in at Pier 1. As we wandered around the store we came upon a bookshelf that we were both instantly taken by. But. despite us both falling in love with it, we resisted the temptation to buy it right then.
It was a good thing we didn't buy it then, as a few days later we saw a Pier 1 advertisement on TV for a special sale that began on Friday where you could save 20% on any item in the store. Anything.
So Friday morning we went back to the store and bought the shelf. Not only did we save 20% on it, but we also received a $20 gift card that we can use there any time in November.
Getting the bookcase home was tricky, but we finally managed to cram the box into the car (a VW Jetta).
It took an hour or so for us to unpack the shelf and put it together. But we finally got it in place.
Doesn't it look great? It looks even better now that it is populated with books.
There I am, feeding my internet addiction.
Posted by: Alison | October 22, 2006 at 22:23
It looks wonderful. This time of the year, I crave being near to a fire, so I can understand your furniture arranging.
Posted by: Margaret | October 22, 2006 at 23:06
It DOES look great! I love the bookshelf too. It's very unique and works wonderfully.
I've always wanted to pull our sofa out from the wall so I could put a sofa table behind it. We're thinking of shopping for a new sofa soon and you've reminded me of my Sofa Table Dream. I'm gonna look for that :) Thanks for the reminder!
Posted by: Carrie | October 22, 2006 at 23:39
its perfect. and i am jealous. i wish for a home someday. a house with a fireplace and a bookshelf.
you are both so lucky.
;-)
Posted by: melanie | October 23, 2006 at 04:32
I remember when I could see the top of my coffee table. It was the day I unpacked it (it packed flat!).
Could you drop in later and move my stuff around too? I'm tired of the way this place looks.
Posted by: Mist 1 | October 23, 2006 at 08:10
More space for books is always a good thing. The place looks fab!
Posted by: Elle | October 23, 2006 at 09:31
V. Jealous! I love those shelves, too and wanted them instantly for my bedroom but the P1 Card is currently full--I'll have to wait. P1 has improved 150% in the last few years - this year has been especially great--there is this room divider (dark wood/squiggly planks) that I have been slobbering over for the last month as well... you do know that I consider myself as their unpaid spokesperson. :-)
Posted by: Teresa | October 23, 2006 at 14:01
I have been thinking of doing exactly the same thing.
It looks very cozy.
Posted by: Susan | October 23, 2006 at 16:55