Our New, Pretty Book Nook

Remember the odd nook we have in our living room? It's a funny little space that I wasn't totally sure what to do with for a while. We already have those big bookshelves in the front room so it seemed redundant to have books stored in here. Plus, it's really not that that big of a space.

When we built the fireplace surround, we piped through an opening for the TV and cable cords, so that the components could live on a shelf behind the nook. The carpenter who helped us with the fireplace threw up a couple of simple, but sturdy shelves that I painted out in the wall color (Ben Moore's Brushed Aluminum). We've mostly just left the space empty (slash shoved stuff back in there when doing the unexpected-company-is-at-the-door mad dash). Not exactly a great use of space.

Then I had a light bulb moment when I realized I was drowning in magazines (I hate to part with my favorites - they're like design books to me). I had been keeping the unread ones on our coffee table and then tucking them into a cupboard after they were read, which worked fine. But when you love and look at magazines as much as I do, and when you have a nook that needs something special, what to do was a no-brainer!

I will share tutorials for the bench and the new shelves soon - they were super quick and easy, and I think they make the space feel so much more purposeful. I went a little more simple and cozy on the styling because I'm dying for it to feel like fall here. (SEASONS: I MISS YOU!)

Target reached out about sharing their seriously great new Threshold line for fall. Think: warm, soft, cozy, comforting, with equal parts organic and modern. It's all beautiful. Like this brass task lamp? It's gorgeous, solidly built and a really decent price point for something that looks like a million bucks!

The little glass terrarium and the green agate tray are both from Target as well. Either one would make a great holiday or house warming gift!

These little benches are fab. The legs are exceptionally gorgeous (maybe the world is finally moving past the standard dark, squared off tapered legs!?) and I love the textile used for the upholstery!

I hung a giant vintage mirror from a local antique store above the DIY console. I loved the light the mirror brought into the room, but suddenly the wall felt a little boring, so I added a series of New York prints from this book in these pretty limed wood frames.

Over in the nook area, I added a few woven baskets on the shelves for tucking away catalogs and unread magazines, and a few little vases and bowls to act as catch-alls and bookends for the slippery magazines! I especially love the concrete vase with the gold stripe.

What could be more cozy and fall-appropriate than chunky sweater pillows and a super soft, tassle-y gold throw?

I used this little side table as a plant stand for one of my favorite snake plants. I'm obsessed with these plants because I can mistreat them for like a year or more and they never die! True love.

It's nice to have a quiet, chill corner in what's normally a pretty bright and busy room. I feel like we all have our own little corners in the house now - Michael loves to retreat to the white settee in the music room to play his guitar, the girls have their own favorite spots in the playroom and now I get a special nook for cozying up with my beloved design magazines. :)

This post is sponsored by Target. Shop Home Décor for modern luxury made easy.