Living Room Trends: Bookshelf Wealth & Eclectic Grandpa

May 1

Minimalist living spaces are OUT, and colorfully lived in spaces that show character are IN. Neutral color palettes have been popular in residential trends for many years, however recently I’ve been seeing an increased interest in incorporating vintage finds, vibrant colors, and strategically crowded bookshelves reflective of client’s personal style to create a lively home.

This could not make me happier! If you’re wondering what these trends are and how to achieve them in your space, let me show you!

Here are a few examples from our recent designs:

Eclectic Grandpa:

Move over coastal Grandma, we have a vintage trend in town! When I think of eclectic grandpa (in regards to a space), I envision warm wood tones, and moody colors. But it is more than that, it is a bold character that should tell a story. I like to achieve this with utilizing vintage pieces, classic patterns, and a personal accessory or two that tells a story.

Living Room in Newton:

Eclectic grandpas love rock n’ roll. This is another great way to show eclectic grandpa but in a different style. This project is a great example of warm leather and wood paired with a moody color to bring a masculine feel to the space.

Entryway & Dining Room in Newton:

My favorite way to add character to a space is to look through what you might already have! During this particular project, we went through old family art work that had been passed down, and found black and white framed images in the basement. We kept the original frames, they were old and a perfect paring for the hunting lodge feel we were going for. Or rather, eclectic grandpa goes hunting!

Bookshelf Wealth:

This is by no means a new trend, but it is getting a lot of attention recently so I thought we’d talk you through it! Bookshelf wealth is the art of tastefully filling your antiques or built-ins to the brim. Its about layering, stacking, and overstuffed shelves. Showing off the books that you love and have collected over a lifetime.

Livingroom Bookshelf Wealth in Brookline:

Bookshelf wealth is best done when you mix it up! Be sure to include a variety of books, decorative objects and travel trinkets. Play around with height, layering, and direction of your books. Try stacking books horizontally with an object on top, then next to it vertical books with a picture frame in front. Don’t be afraid to layer.

My best advice is to not get hyper-focused on an aesthetic. When you’re buying things don’t worry about how it looks on the shelf, just worry about that you love it. Every time you go on a trip, grab something that makes your heart go pitter patter. Try vintage shops, antique fairs or estate sales. They are all great places to find unique objects.

Bathroom Bookshelf Wealth in Brookline:

Bookshelf wealth often gets limited to shelves in a living space, either a living room or a bedroom. This project, however, shows that shelves are meant to be filled in every room. This client filled theirs with memorabilia images of their grandfather and his train medallions from working on the railroad. It’s a great example of layering in personal items to your shelves.