Canoe Bookshelf

This Canoe Bookshelf from Westmoreland Woodworks has a quirky and fun-loving appeal and would fit in well with my nautical and cottage-style decorating themes. I love them because they remind me of being by the water, and of vacations on Martha's Vineyard and Hilton Head, and of childhood summers spent on the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The bookshelf is made of pine and is hand-distressed with worm holes and indentations that make it look like it has been a fixture in the family cabin or beach house and has been passed down through generations.

Cheval Bookcase

I am a lover of books. I cannot resist them, and so there are books all over the house in piles and stacks and on shelves. I try not to buy them because I feel guilty when I finish them so quickly, but there is nothing like the promise of a new story in which I can immerse myself. Many of the books I buy, I try to donate to libraries and other organizations, but there are still a number of them I can't bear to part with, so I need to find a place to store and display them. The Cheval Bookcase by Danbury Imports has a gothic design and a 30s feel to it. The bookshelf also reminds me of a shelf given to me by my grandmother -- it had similar details and that unmistakable period look. The bookcase is made of plantation-grown hardwoods, so it's extra-sturdy, and the black finish goes with everything.