Books! What can't you learn from Books?
I have an awkward corner in my living room and I have too many books. Solution . . . build a bookcase. Needed: a few two by eights for the bookcase, 2 inch molding for facing the shelves and pretend Greek pilasters, capitals and lintels from the home builders supply store. The last items come in 8 foot lengths (except for the capitals, of course) all made of plastic.
And now you need a willing husband with a few tools and lots of talent to put it all together. A little paint and a little antiquing gel and the bookcase looks like a million dollars, YES?
This bookcase is only 8 inches deep(hence the 2 by 8th). Most books don't even require that much depth. 
As soon as I receive a new book, I take off the covers, don't like shininess and bright colors flashing back at me. Bookcases should have lots of books in them. Adding a few artifacts and maybe a painting make the whole scene much more interesting. 
See my table in the hall? It is covered with lots of design books. I leave the covers on these books because they are works of art in themselves and it also identifies the book for a quick looksey. If you think these are all the books I own, not so, you should see the many books in my library. And, then there are all the technical and how-to-books I have down in the catacombs.
Gina
