Shelf Expression: 70 Projects & Ideas for Creative Storage & Display

This book is a very informative resource for shelving information, especially the hanging of shelves and materials used for hanging. The first part of the book discusses types of picture hangers and various shelf brackets and hooks. It also talks about using other materials for hanging like ropes and chains. There are "Tip" sections that are in a light tan box that easily draw your attention to them and contain good information, i.e. troubleshooting sagging shelves, tips for arranging shelf displays. The 70 projects in the book will really get you to thinking because it shows, not only traditional shelves, but ideas for using unusual objects as shelves. These unusual objects include a toy wagon, baskets, paint cans, trays and mail sorters. For these ideas alone, the book is eye-opening and will definitely have you rethinking your ideas of shelves. One of my favorite chapters was "Decorating Shelf Surfaces". In this chapter, the author took a standard wooden shelf and decorated it various ways: ceiling tin, upholstered w/nail heads, mosaic tile, faux leather (using brown paper)...quite inventive. The reason I gave it 4 stars was that a few projects did not have instructions on how to attach to walls. For example, on page 57 there are wire vessel shelves, but no information about how to attach. The photograph also does not show the attachment. Another slight negative is that on the majority of projects there is "Sourcing" section, which gives very generic info on where to get items, i.e. "home décor store, home supply store., gardening centers, second hand shops." Overall, a very good book with great inventive ideas and information. I would recommend it.

What a great book. I bought it bargain priced but after having looked through it I'd have paid full price for it! It is chock full of great photography and tasteful decorating ideas, many of which I never would've dreamed of. (Not goofy stuff or out of place junk you sometimes see hung up on walls). The shelving designs run the gamut from country decor(small toy wagon built into wall shelves) to entrance shelving, to sleek contemporary and simplistic Asian looks for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms etc. Really so many different options and a great variety of ideas. If you a looking for inventive ways to decorate your walls, I definitely recommend this book.