How to display books and objets d’art
All homes have items that are beautiful enough to be displayed … they may be valuable, useful, needed every day, or just gorgeous items in their own right that deserve a display space. Here, we’re going to have a look at how to display objects d’art and books.
Often we are asked to create schemes for entire homes, from floor to ceiling. Whilst we are engrossed in specifying flooring and furnishings, kitchens and cabinetry, we also have to think about details such as the height of bookshelves and creating spaces for treasured vases or sculptures. The devil, as they say, is in the detail, and we are very detail-oriented!
How to display books
How do you organise and display books? Well, we design dozens of book cabinets, and some are created not just as simple bookshelves, but as book display cabinets, where the intention is to display books as much as provide shelving for books. It’s vital to know what kind of books are to be stored. If it’s a precious collection of hundreds of classic Penguin paperbacks, those will require different made-to-measure shelving from that needed for a collection of enormous glossy hardback art books. So, we discuss with our clients their individual requirements. Bespoke alcove shelving is made by our Joinery team, and we can provide shelf heights and depths to suit individual requirements. Sometimes shelves are a uniform height from the top to bottom of an alcove, or we can graduate the heights as necessary. Most people want to display a few framed photographs or pictures at the same time, so we don’t assume that bookshelves are just going to be full of books.
Displaying and storing art
When it comes to providing display and storage space for objects d’art, we usually try to find out exactly what type of items our clients want to display. Again, it’s a case of knowing the size and scale of the items, so we can specify the appropriate bespoke shelving, and provide the correct lighting if required. Our clients are often connoisseurs and collectors, so it’s important that we work with each client so we can get the display spaces exactly right. Sometimes it’s straightforward – there may be an important painting that is destined to be hung in the new drawing room, in which case we will know to include the required spot lighting, down lighting or concealed lighting that will enhance the artwork. Sometimes it may be as simple as providing a table or suitable sized cabinet for a beautiful vase or sculpture.
Displaying collections and sculptures
Collections of objects can be fun to work with; it may be a collection of a dozen or so small vases that need shelf space, or it could be a collection of studio glassware that needs to be illuminated to enhance the colour and glow of the glass itself. In those situations we often specify concealed integrated lights that sit on the underside of shelves, casting light downwards onto the item. We often have to answer the question ‘how do you display a sculpture’ and realistically, that entirely depends on the sculpture itself, there isn’t a definitive answer! It depends on the size of the sculpture, whether it is to sit alone on a shelf or table, whether it’s part of a collection, whether it should be displayed with other similar items. We approach each task with fresh eyes and make sure that our shelving and display systems will accommodate our clients collections – whilst at the same time leaving space for future additions!
Some of our favourite joinery projects for displaying objects of art
We have learnt that there are no strict rules for displaying treasured items, we know that our clients collect books and objets d’art because they are meaningful to them, so everything has a value beyond its cost. We like to combine contemporary with traditional – for example, as seen here the combination of two delicate contemporary vases placed on a very traditional black marble fireplace is extraordinarily striking.
Display space is important in the kitchen as well as living areas. A kitchen needs to have some items on display – apart from the everyday things that are needed. These shelves above the sinks and hob are handy for cookery books, but also provide an area for some extra-special bowls and platters as well.
Flexible display and storage space is both practical and interesting. It gives plenty of options to change things around and to accommodate larger or smaller items as necessary and when new acquisitions are brought home. Concealed storage, such as these slim drawers, are useful for papers and folders.
The quirkiness of this display alcove is relaxed and refreshing. There’s a glass terrarium, with a gold finish that compliments the gilt banding on the cabinetry. Some books are upright and some are flat – why not mix it up! And some greenery never goes amiss, bringing life and texture to the scheme.