Mert Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I was just reading some old threads about using plastic gutters as bookshelves ala Jim Trelease. I was wondering about what age range this is suggested for. I know we displayed books cover out when I taught preschool, but I didn't really think of it for elem aged kiddos. I'm guessing it would work as long as they're reading picture books. I just don't want to do this and then not need it in a year. What has your experience been? TIA :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 We have 2 5' shelves in our biys' room & really love them. My oldest is ten & loves displaying his chapter & series books on his! Our almost 3 year old loves that he can go get exactly what book he's looking for. I've found that each shelf alsoholds a TON of books, way more than I originally thought they would hold! Hope this helps some! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I am about to use a similar idea (but with Ikea angled magazine display shelves) for my dd9. The idea though is to display the books she needs to work on that day - a visual reminder of what she needs to schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I am about to use a similar idea (but with Ikea angled magazine display shelves) for my dd9. The idea though is to display the books she needs to work on that day - a visual reminder of what she needs to schedule. Please, can you post a link to the Ikea shelves -- I can't seem to find them on the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I think we will use those on the top bunk of the bunk beds! Those would be great. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 That is what we did. He put them over an Ikea low bunkbed he made. You can see here. http://ournestof3.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-wonderful-husband-part-2.html I think we will use those on the top bunk of the bunk beds! Those would be great. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 My Kids have some in each of their rooms. We don't use them for books though, they put their smaller stuffed toys in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I was wondering about what age range this is suggested for. I don't know. I love the open shelf displays like these that our library uses for the new adult books they've just got in! :) I think they'd be great for prek-8. I have book shelves on all our walls, so I can't do it. I do 'strew' good books on the living table and chairs for the kids to "find," but a display shelf would be even better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmom Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I made a set of similar shelves for about $13 (blog link here) for my 2 year old. My older girls (ages 9 and 6) are now begging for some of their own. They want to use them to display art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truebluexf Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 OMG I love these! I had trouble picturing what everyone meant before. I can see a bunch of these going up this week in both the school room and the kids' rooms! How perfect for next to each bed!!! DS throws them all over the floor...maybe this would be helpful for that problem LOL! Plus I love seeing books cover out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 (edited) I was just reading some old threads about using plastic gutters as bookshelves ala Jim Trelease. I was wondering about what age range this is suggested for. I know we displayed books cover out when I taught preschool, but I didn't really think of it for elem aged kiddos. I'm guessing it would work as long as they're reading picture books. I just don't want to do this and then not need it in a year. What has your experience been? TIA :D http://welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175280 I posted this thread a while back about the ledges I bought at IKEA. In that thread, someone had a fantastic idea for correlating their books to their timeline using the shelves. I am strongly considering that. My dc love the shelves and I don't see them ever growing out of them. If I had the space, I would display my books cover out too. I seem to always forget what I have. In fact, isn't the cover-out position a huge gift to an author in a bookstore? I read SWB saying thanks to a bookstore for showing her medieval history book's cover on it's shelf. It moves books! I want the books I have purchased to move! :D Edited July 25, 2010 by Alte Veste Academy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mert Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 Thanks for all the replies and ideas, ladies! We're just about to fix up ds's room, and I definitely want to use these in there. I kinda passed over the time line idea in the first thread, but it's a really neat idea. Again, thanks for all the suggestions!! More ideas are welcome!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I made a set of similar shelves for about $13 (blog link here) for my 2 year old. My older girls (ages 9 and 6) are now begging for some of their own. They want to use them to display art. Those are very nice! I also love the little recessed display shelf behind her when she's seated. Did you tear out a bit of drywall between 2 studs for that? It looks like a little window. What a nifty idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmom Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Those are very nice! I also love the little recessed display shelf behind her when she's seated. Did you tear out a bit of drywall between 2 studs for that? It looks like a little window. What a nifty idea! The sweet shelf is what was once the room's only window. The previous owner of the house closed in the porch leaving that window with a view of drywall. My sweet husband painted it all in and added the shelves when we turned the room into a baby room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 The sweet shelf is what was once the room's only window. The previous owner of the house closed in the porch leaving that window with a view of drywall. My sweet husband painted it all in and added the shelves when we turned the room into a baby room. That's a clever solution. I would have thought you did it on purpose. I grew up in a bedroom with a "view" of a room in an addition my parents added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQmom Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Can someone explain how you made these rain gutter shelves? Do you have to paint them? Cut them? How easy/difficult is it to prepare them and hang them? Also, how much weight can they safely hold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Can someone explain how you made these rain gutter shelves? Do you have to paint them? Cut them? How easy/difficult is it to prepare them and hang them? Also, how much weight can they safely hold? This is a great tutorial -also check out her chalkboard wall. Enjoy! :D http://raisingolives.com/2009/07/raingutter-book-shelves-tutorial/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellalarella Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 That is what we did. He put them over an Ikea low bunkbed he made. You can see here. http://ournestof3.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-wonderful-husband-part-2.html This is great!! Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQmom Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 This is a great tutorial -also check out her chalkboard wall. Enjoy! :D http://raisingolives.com/2009/07/raingutter-book-shelves-tutorial/ Thanks for posting this link. A great tutorial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Using the basic design from this blog, frugalhomedesigns.com ,my husband made these shelves for Doodle's room. Faced out book shelves are great for any books, not just preschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cheryl in SoCal Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I bought the Ikea picture ledges posted about in another thread and did my entire family room, hall, school room in them and one kid's room. I organized most of them by Five in a Row Volumes and had a couple of others for books we love :) I used the Ikea picture ledges so I could convert them to picture ledges when the kids are grown ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Love it! (swoons) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mert Posted July 27, 2010 Author Share Posted July 27, 2010 Wow!! Thanks for sharing the blogs and photos of your gorgeous shelving. I am soooo inspired! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 (edited) I really love those Ikea Picture ledges. I'm heading there tomorrow, maybe I'll pick some up. When I started, I only had a few pictures to go by, no blog had it all detailed out. So I used the rain gutter idea. They hold tons of books, I can overlap quite a few if I wanted. Here's mine, with the wall of FIAR books. :) Edited July 27, 2010 by Satori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Here are our rain-gutter shelves... I LOVE those ikea ledges and want some in my kitchen! The rain-gutter ones jut too far out for a really confined space but the ledges look like they would work perfectly!!! DS9's set: DS2's Set: DD1 sooooo excited that even she can reach them! :001_wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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