Well-Built

I am a self-proclaimed purger when it comes to material possessions.  Growing up, my dad used to give away one item of clothing every time he bought something new for his wardrobe, and I suppose the minimalist mentality stuck.  I hate clutter, and try to keep my decorative accessories to a minimum.  The one thing I can't have enough of, though, is books.  I inherited a great collection of antique books from my mom that I treasure.  I also have a thing for collecting blatantly sexist books from the 1920s through the 50s.  And, as you are probably well aware of by now, I looove coffee table books.  Needless to say, I love a beautifully-designed built-in bookshelf.  It eliminates the need for freestanding shelves and adds architectural charm:

{Christina Murphy via Style Beat}

{Staci Jacobi}

{Architectural Digest}

{Nick Olsen}

Admittedly, my OCD brain loves to see books arranged by color in a shelf.  However, I realize this isn't necessarily practical.  I appreciate the haphazard, lived-in vibe of these bookshelves.  The accessories and art added in create a sense of personality:

Although this gilded shelf is not built-in, I had to include it in my post because I love the way it has been accessorized.  The collection of vintage globes on the top shelf and the plates mixed in with the colorful books is the perfect balance of authentic and chic:

{Jean-Louis Deniot}

My favorite built-in design I've seen to date comes from the design great herself, Suzanne Kasler.  Again, I think the haphazard nature of the books creates a lived-in, cozy feel- like a true reader lives in this house!

{Suzanne Kasler}