My entire job involves looking at celebrity homes, so it's always refreshing to see something completely new. This week, Anne Hathaway's shelving provided that opportunity.
The actress's living room was designed by the acclaimed Los Angeles-based designer Pamela Shamshiri to highlight the unique architectural elements of the chic, rustic space. Shelving has been built up to the exposed wood ceiling along the beams and nestled into the A-frame roof. Along these shelves, Shamshiri has lined up a curated selection of antique books, ceramics, and art pieces. The interiors feature peach-colored walls, plush textiles, and a rich jewel-toned carpet.
Though the entire space is a stand-out, the clever use of vertical storage is especially striking to me. As someone who is obsessed with design but lives in a small London apartment, vertical storage is something I think about a lot. This type of shelving is an excellent way to integrate art and decor into your space without adding furniture or taking up any element of the floor plan. Further, it makes the room feel bigger by drawing the eye up and around, turning every aspect of the room into a design-led experience.
I also love the way the rustic wall decor idea in Hathaway's home places the perimeter of the room in conversation with the design elements at its core. Oftentimes, the flooring and wall choices in space become the backdrop to more eye-catching furnishings at the center of the room, but Hathaway's space defies this condition. The colorful artifacts lined up the ceiling tap into the colors of the sofas, rugs, and armchairs in the center of the room. This gives her space a cohesive and expansive feel.
Additionally, I like the way this shelving choice transforms Hathaway's living room into a personal museum. It gives her space to show off her favorite vases, bowls, and antique books while making them a part of the fabric of her home.
Shop H&G's Vertical Shelving Edit
Though not everyone can build shelving into the sloping arch of their rustic modern home, everyone can curate a selection of stylish personal effects as Anne Hathaway has done. These wooden bookshelf ideas provide the perfect opportunity to emulate the look without any construction. Each can add a hint of warmth, and a lot of vertical storage, to any room.
If you are hoping to recreate the actress's bookshelf wealth technique in your own home, restraint is your friend. Though it can be tempting to show off every book you've ever read and every souvenir you've ever collected while traveling, the best bookshelf styling features a more curated selection. Not only does this distill your decor down to its best pieces, but it also allows empty space to shine just as brightly as the spots that are taken up. By carefully choosing which items to feature and which to tuck away, your walls can become an organized and intentional art piece.
Anne Hathaway's living room is a great place to start looking for inspiration for interior design. It's clever, stylish, and completely unique, as I hope you agree.
