Organizing books

So you have a bookcase.  How do you organize it?

I must say that I do not like the arrange-by-color trend:

My inner organizer (yes, it's in there somewhere, though buried a bit deeper than A.'s) hates the thought of organizing them by anything other than alphabet or subject matter, or both.  Plus, I just don't like the look of rainbow books (though I do like real rainbows).  I like the way the spines create a perfectly random scattering of color when organized normally:

I admit I do like the way literary French books, which are predominantly white, have a creamy minimalist uniformity to them—but in this case it happens naturally.

 
Nothing, however, could be worse than forgoing all organization like this:

Yes, the books are backwards.  It's like saying "f*** you, books, I'm never going to read any of you.  I don't even want to see your faces."  How awful!  I guess there's nothing wrong with using books purely as decor, but it seems quite soulless.

Bookshelves

We have a lot of books.  Right now, in NYC, we have the short Sapien bookshelf from DWR...

...but it is full, and the books are piling up in every nook and cranny in the apartment.  So the obvious solution is to get a bigger bookcase.  As it happens, we're going to get a built-in bookcase because it will be practical (room for so many books!), it will be decorative (room for photos and vases and other nice things), and it will expand the space (by drawing the eye to the end of the room).  And though it is a bit $$, it's not like blowing money on a truffle-infused-Champagne toast in a hot-air balloon or anything like that.  (Why did that just pop into my head??)  I'll be able to take my books out of storage, and A. can take the Sapien to Northampton to address the overflowing book problem there.  Progress.

The bookshelf will be on the simple side, but it's fun to ogle really beautiful and dramatic ones like this set of shelves from Fawn Galli:

The divided, offset shelves are unusual but still practical, and though they are unmistakably a contemporary addition to the space, they fit in well and compliment the ornate fireplace.  The whole effect is pretty great.  Speaking of Fawn Galli, I might as well share the lovely room that we took as inspiration when renovating the living room a couple of years ago:

So nice.  I like the way she mixes styles—she manages to create rooms that are interesting, elegant, and fresh.  If I had the moola, I'd hire her.

Also pretty:

Then there are the innovative bookshelves I find very impressive and interesting but wouldn't actually want to use:

Wine racks?

Really impractical.

The much-blogged staircase + bookcase.  Or (case)(stair + book).

Our new bookcase will be installed this week.  It won't be nearly as attention-grabbing as these, but it will be a most welcome addition.  Photos to come!