A&L:  When approaching shelf styling how do you get started?  Do you have certain design elements (like color palette for example) in mind or do you start a design with how the shelf will function?

EG: Great question! Shelf styling for day-to-day living is a bit different than shelf styling for an editorial publication. It's my job to elevate what that interior designer has already done in the space. Or, in the case of helping a homeowner, I get to know their lifestyle, how they use the room, and then I will make recommendations on what the shelves may need after I have opened up a lot of cabinets... I like to pull out art and objects that the clients already have and incorporate those things if I find them to be visually interesting. If I'm struggling to give them a styled, finished space, I will do personal shopping for the right art and objects.

A&L:  Are there certain items that you always include in shelf styling?

EG: Yes! At least two pieces of art - one painting and another medium of your choice (think, sculptural/dimension). Sentimental finds and heirlooms that you will enjoy seeing every day. At least one plant and, preferably, a small vase of fresh blooms. Only a public library should have just books. 

BEFORE: Emily Recently worked on a project with Kathleen Reynolds Interiors to assist in styling this empty cabinet.

AFTER: By incorporating the elements from her above answer, Emily was able to take this empty cabinet and make it special.

A&L:  How do you determine the scale and placement of the artwork and objects that will be part of the shelf design?

EG: My work process includes letting the existing space speak to me… Everything from the personality of the person(s) who lives there, the architectural style of the home, and the current furnishings that are in the immediate vicinity. These all really inspire a creative direction. From there, I use my set design, visual merchandising, and studio art background to inform the curation and composition. Not sure about composition and if you have an eye for it? Grab a copy of Milieu or Veranda and study the way those photo stylists and designers lined the shelves. The eye really should travel (don’t have all items at one height level shoved against the wall). Pull some things away from the wall. Lean some books, line up some, and stack others. Perhaps one or two shelves are dedicated to only books. Otherwise, you have room to play and create a space that really expresses who you are, what you love, and what you value. That is accomplished by pulling in art and objects to bookend your favorite books. Visual impact is achieved by layering decades and design styles. Inspiration is influenced by surrounding ourselves with beauty - such as original art - and one’s self-expression is announced through the use of another person’s mastery. Oh! And don’t be afraid to put oddities on top of your books! Diane Kilgore Condon’s small, sweet birds are the perfect topping! And, Katie Walker's smaller pieces at the gallery right now slide right into a bookshelf... The perfect interruption!

BEFORE: Here's an example of how a shelf can feel cluttered and transform to something artful with a few key changes.

AFTER: By editing what is in the shelf and adding a few new elements including art and florals, this room comes alive!

A&L:  How do you ensure that the shelves or other like surfaces are visually interesting but don’t look cluttered?

EG: I remove absolutely everything from the shelves and give myself a blank canvas. Even if I know that this book or that object will make the final cut, I want a clean slate and to build from there. I also find it really helpful to style all the shelves on a wall as one project… not piecemeal. Oh, and spread out your collection! There is no reason that all art, books, and objects need to live in one room. Think of creating a collection of vignettes that visually tell a cohesive story throughout your entire home.

A&L: Do you ever add shelving to a design specifically as a way to add art and objects to a room?

EG: Yes! When I notice someone doesn’t have shelving, it is definitely going to be a recommendation. I don’t like clutter but what we love, admire, and use shouldn’t be lost in closets and behind cabinet doors. Shelving should host your best and favorites!