Friday, June 27, 2008

Our House, In The Middle Of The Street

Or rather, the cul-de-sac.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast of Cheap But Not Easy to bring you this: The Derfwad Manor Open House Extravaganza. Mrs. G over at Derfwad asked if a bunch of us bloggy types would post pictures of our favorite room in our respective houses. Being the little joiner, I agreed to participate.

My favorite room isn’t necessarily a room per see; it’s more of a chunk of room. I have an L-shaped living room (ARGH), which was a mite difficult to arrange and decorate. So I turned the small leg of the L into a library.

Which really is an over-inflated name for the four large bookshelves where I store all my books, CDs, movies, and doo-dads. Apparently, I have delusions of grandeur. Whatever.


I present to you, The Cheap Library:


Not only does it house a large collection of Nora Roberts paperbacks, it proudly exihibits this Snow Globe Retrospective:



Now on loan from the British Museum, Art die Plastiek mit Wasser.


Those items in the lower part of the picture? Those are Video Cassettes. Long ago, at the end of the century, they contained movies for our viewing pleasure. The Library maintains an extensive collections of these relics from the past.

I repose at The Library in this chair:



It's on loan from that great antique house, Dumpster Next To My Old Condo - as is the table. The footrest is from The House of Target and the lamp is from The People's Republic Of Overpriced Furnishings (Pottery Barn).

One of the best parts of The Library is its proximity to fine dining:



I find it hard to read without eating. Of course, I find most tasks difficult without a little something to munch on, like writing or driving or laying down.

Thank you for stopping by The Cheap Library, your patronage is greatly appreciated. However, the library will be closing in five seconds. Please make your final selections and go away.



Damn, I have a LOT of stuff. Sheesh.

Your regular broadcast of Cheap But Not Easy will be posted after the lunch hour. Tune in for beauty product reviews and the easiest recipe on the Web.

19 comments:

Smirking Cat said...

I love it! I love to read, and a wall of books is so inviting. Are those individual bookshelves, or built-in?

blackbird said...

You may have a lot of stuff but IT'S SO NEAT. (Actually, I don't think you have a lot of stuff...)Thanks for the tour.

The Cheap Chick said...

They are individual bookshelves - the Billy shelves from IKEA in black-brown. They match my black-brown couch from IKEA. That's just how I roll.

Anonymous said...

Your library is lovely. Mine is all over the house. I'm jealous.

Louise said...

Love the chair. And nothing is better than a library close to a (well-stocked) kitchen.

Anonymous said...

You have an excellent system for snack reading. Fine work.

Anonymous said...

Our first house had one of those HUGE bonus rooms built above a three car garage, we had 10 bookcases and 4000 books. We loved it. We moved and now must make do with books scattered here and there and a handful of bookcases.

I love your wall.

Anonymous said...

Oooh...that is a really nice library!

Guess what? My new apartment is in WALKING DISTANCE OF A HALF PRICE BOOKS. Be still my beating heart.

oliver rain said...

Entertaining. The bookshelves are wonderful. Tell the truth...did you have to tidy before you took the picture?

Mrs. G. said...

You have your own library? Sigh.

I have shopped at that same great antique store too.

Your place is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

It's beautiful! All organized and neat and organized and . . .!

The Girl Next Door said...

OH I love it a lot of stuff but so organized. And Video tapes? I so love you for helping me be "not alone" in that one. Great blog!

Marketing Mama said...

I love how you lined up the bookshelves - very classy and cool! :)

Anonymous said...

A library -- brilliant! Please come arrange my shelve so nicely.

Karen said...

You had me at cheap library and house of Target. My mom used to refer to her decorating style as early garage sale! Oh and I totally wish I had a cheap library. Hmmmm, I may have to redecorate part of a room soon.

Babybear Scraps said...

What a great library! But do I spy a Green Bay Packer's tchotchke?? *faint*

Anonymous said...

Oh, that wall of bookshelves is wonderful; you can't have too many! And your reading corner looks so cozy.

sozzled said...

I am in awe of how organized your shelves are.....

Manager Mom said...

I totally want to move in with you! That library... scrumptious. I could just relax in there for DAYS.