Saturday, January 14, 2012

Basket Case

I've just about become a "basket case" trying to organize my entertainment/media center...what ever it's called these days.
I hoped to make it look and be more organized, so I decided to add a few baskets to hold some of the clutter from around the house...but mostly from the family room. 
I've been working on this, off and on, all week, and I'm still not quite happy with it. But, I thought, oh what the heck, I'll show it to you anyway.




This photo isn't the best because the sun was streaming in through the curtains.  Another New Year's resolution for me:  Learn more photography skills this year.


Anyway, here are a few close-ups to show you what I did.



Ok, no baskets on this shelf...I'm trying to use some of the "library" of books we have all over the house.






Just for fun, I added shipping tags with numbers to three of the baskets...sort of a PB-ish look. :)  
The #1 basket holds miscellaneous old books and some papers.





I put three silver vases on the cable box. It always stays warm, and Hubby say's "it has to breathe"...so, no books or baskets on top of the cable box. I figured the vases couldn't hurt...could they?
The #2 basket holds Christmas books.






Candles and a roll of string are in this basket. Yes, I know this one doesn't have a number. The one in the center, top shelf doesn't either...don't want to over do it, right? 




Basket #3 holds more candles...and yes, I'm a candle nut.
Next are more books.
The chess board and playing pieces are on the bottom shelf, along with two Shaker boxes that hold checkers and playing cards.




A little galvanized basket holds 97 of the 100 tags I bought yesterday...I'm sure I'll use them later for another project...let me know if you want to borrow some.




I won't show you inside the doors, because there are lots of Christmas dishes on one side and photo albums, maps and misc. junk on the other. I didn't want to straighten everything to take a photo. That's for another day week.


I'm sure I'll do a lot more tweaking in the next few days. Now that slim profile tvs are the thing, I hope entertainment/media centers don't go out of style any time soon...where would I put all my stuff?
If you have any ideas how to make it look better, let me know. I'd love to hear them. 
Thanks for visiting, and hope y'all are having a great weekend.
Hugs,
Babs



30 comments:

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Your media cabinet looks so pretty. Love those baskets, Babs! The tags are a great idea. Hang on to the extras, though. I bought 100 of them a year or so ago and I have used about half or them...not all for blog projects, either. Hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

love the lanterns on top..and those silver cups too!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I think you did a grand job. I love the galvanized basket and tags. Great lanterns on top.

Olive said...

The tags are brilliant. I would not show my bookcase for no amount of money. Yours is great.

Pat said...

OH Oh! Silver envy here. Those cups are so great, and look so good all lined up. You did a great job on arranging it all.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Great job Babs! Your displays look so pretty and I love those lanterns on top!!

On Crooked Creek said...

Babs,
I'd say your case of baskets is one that should be catching all over blog land, soon! Lovely use of baskets for everyday items! I adore your tags...hang on to them...you'll be surprised how many uses you'll find for them! Thanks for sharing your lovely entertainment center with us.
Fondly,
Pat

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

Oh I love the cabinet. I wish we had a media cabinet, but hubby had to have the behemoth 60" tv and we couldn't find a cabinet to fit it. :-/ I love your tags, and don;t think you overdid it at all. Good job!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Your entertainment center looks great Babs. I have one too and never know how to organize it.

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Ha...not happy? I think it's perfect. Love the number tags, love the lanterns on top. I think the 3 silver vases on the component are perfect. I understand about tweaking but honestly I don't think it needs a thing. Have a great Sunday...Ann

Unknown said...

you've organized everything so well and I love what you did with teh tags! Fellow candle nut here! :)

Hugs,

Toni said...

Great job on organizing your media center, it looks great. Love the number tags. I don't think media centers will ever go out of style - where would we put all the decorative pieces we must have?!

Mary said...

Babs~ You media center looks so organized, tidy & stylish! Love the baskets & tags! I could use some myself to stash & conceal!

Anonymous said...

stop tweaking.....it's perfect and I love how you included the leftover tags in a container. Definitely a magazine "look". :) Maybe you could put something on top of the unit. Got anything like a great yard ornament outside you could bring inside? Hope you are having a fabulous weekend. :)

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

You did a great job of laying it all out. I like your combinations of different elements. It's not as easy as it looks to do that! I noticed the atrium styled lanterns on top immediately! That's a great look for your cabinet! I think you have just the right amount of elements! I'm quite certain the cable box has more than enough breathing room! The three silver vases lined up grab your attention rather than the box! Smart idea!

Diann said...

I think your entertainment center looks wonderful. A love all the different textures. But, I know what you mean, you will keep "fluffing" until it feels just right to you. Have a great day!

Savannah Granny said...

Babs, you are about the sweetest "basket case" I know.

Love the entertainment center. I was reading to see if you knew what was in the numered ones.

Hubby was correct about that breathing thing. I start getting short of breath everytime someone stacks books and baskets on me. Be sure to watch that.

Seriously, I love you center. I do hope they don't go away. Love the idea with the game stuff in the shaker boxes. Looks better than them just stacked somewhere.

Blessings, Ginger

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Babs,

Loved your Upstairs Downstairs 'first' post for me! New follower too and your organized media cabinet looks great. Don't ever try to pretend that no-one actually 'lives' in the home. A home cannot have a sterile look. This is perfect!
Love to you and wishing you luck for winning my Worldwide GIVEAWAY!

Mariette

Carlene @ Organized Clutter said...

I like the books and baskets and the clever post title too!

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Love the entire look!

A Few Pennies said...

Looks like a magazine shoot at your house! Amazing--my tv center is almost like yours but mine is cherry wood color (I'm gonna paint it--I don't know when either)--love how you've decorated with the books.

Heirloom treasures said...

It all looks very neat,but artistically arranged. Nice. x jeanetteann

Betsy said...

I like it, especially the baskets.
I need to do some decluttering myself. You've given me some ideas here.
Betsy

Debbie said...

You have the eye for this! I love the way you display things, and I really love the baskets. Wish I had a nice entertainment center like that. All I have are a few measly bookshelves. They don't quite have the same flair.

Chubby Chieque said...

Very clever, Babs? I absolutely would have to copy your idea in my laundry area *wink

TY a mill for sharing.

Happy TTT,
/chie

Unknown said...

Love your cabinet! Love the baskets! Joann

Sarah said...

Looks great, Babs. Love the basket idea. Want to come get me organized? ~ Sarah

Lesa said...

luv, luv, luv it...AND i will copy some of your ideas for sure. SO WELL PUT TOGETHER. I'm having trouble finding tags to buy.....Whats a good source? THANK YOU,
p.s. totally luv your blog

Babs said...

Lesa, Thank you sooo much. You can find them at Staples or Office Max or Avery.com. They're made by Avery and come in different sizes as well as strung, unstrung, or wired. Avery.com also shows you the stores near you, which carry them. Good luck, and let me know if you have any luck.

Patti said...

Babs, It looks so good and organized. You don't need to tweak another thing.