I'm a firm believer that one can never have enough books. I'm also a firm believer that books should be on display! 

Love this staircase bookshelf!

What's your favorite way to display books? By color, by category, or just randomly? Standing up, or lying down? All together, or spread throughout the house? 

Images via Apartment Therapy, Design*Sponge, Bookshelf Porn, Flickr,

I spent part of my "snow day" looking through one of my favorite decorating books, Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers. It is full of gorgeous rooms that continue to inspire me each time I flip through it! 

Last year, I found a few vintage Penguin Poets books at the ReUse Center in Ann Arbor. Since then I've been on the search for more editions from this series.

I'll be honest with you, I'm not collecting based on the fact that they are poetry editions, I mean poetry is great, but I'm more interested in the covers! Each cover is a different and unique pattern, and I'm in love with them!

I've only had luck finding one more issue at John K. King. So far I have A Book of English Poetry (D5), The Metaphysical Poet (D38), and Contemporary American Poetry (D67). 

Check out some great images from other Penguin Poet classics in this Flickr gallery. Penguin also has an amazing set of postcards featuring Penguin jackets from over the years.

I love this quote from Penguin founder Allen Lane: "good design is no more expensive than bad." Lane wanted his books to be cheap, and look distinctive. What a smart man!

Chronicle Books is one of my favorite independent book publishers. A quick run through my house and I own 18 books published by Chronicle. The company was founded in 1967, is headquartered in California, and is on my list of all-time dream jobs. Yes, I have a list of all-time dream jobs.

Check out their company brochure, it's pretty cool.
I love the quote: "Books that surprise you. Books that give you ideas. Books that are beautiful."

They have a great blog too.

Here is my current Chronicle wishlist:


Norwegian Wood: The Thoughtful Architecture of Wenche Selmer Princeton Architectural Press $45.00 : Chronicle Books



French General: Handmade Soirées: Simple Projects for Special Occasions $29.95 : Chronicle Books


Paper Cutting: Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft $27.50 : Chronicle Books



To Each His Home: Inspired Interiors as Unique as Their Owners Princeton Architectural Press $45.00 : Chronicle Books




Quick & Easy Mexican Cooking: More than 80 Everyday Recipes $22.95 : Chronicle Books