Feeling Shelfish

Not selfish, or shellfish, but shelf-ish. Cornerstones only has one 'built in' shelf- which is the the space in the atrium* which was the bathroom windowsill [before the previous oiweners built the extension] and is now on an internal wall. 

It is particularly useful at Christmas for displaying my Willow Tree Nativity Set. We have 5 'Billy' shelving units holding books and DVDs, and some 'Gorm' shelving [also Ikea] in the study holding sewing stuff, and office equipment [the laminator etc]

Bob has put up small shelves for specific purposes - by his record deck there's a long narrow shelf, so he can display the sleeve of any LP he is playing.

Years ago he put up a little shelf in the atrium to hold the WiFi router. But that isn't needed any more. Over Christmas I used the shelf for decorations. 

Now it has been repurposed again. At one end Bob put a motion sensor. I thought this was unnecessary - but it has proved invaluable as it means that if you pass through the atrium when it's dark, a small lamp comes on. 

So helpful if we [or guests in the back bedroom] need the loo at night. Or if grandchildren on sleepover wake up and need us. We can have a gentle light on instantly [without flailing around trying to find the switch in the dark] - but we do not need to leave the light on all night.

The phone base has been fixed to the other end of the shelf - and in between is a good space to display greetings cards. Now Christmas is over, I am sticking to my fortnight rule for cards on display. After that they are repurposed or recycled. Many become placemarkers in my cookbooks - tio the frustration of the rest of the family, who pick up a book to flick through the recipes and end up being showered with confetti [birthday greetings, thank you notes etc]

And finally I tidied all the shelves inside the bathroom medicine cabinet. A long overdue task, discarding random medications, much old suncream**, and ancient sticking plasters which no longer stick!If things are going to be on display, on an open shelf, they must justify their position. I love Sue-in-Suffolk's seasonal display on the top of her bookshelf, which she changes regularly. All my shelves are now tidy and dustfree and proving useful.

* we call it the atrium after the manner of the Romans who gave that name to the space in the centre of their villas. It's not a room as such - but the other rooms open on to it, and there is an arch through to the hallway. Since retirement it has been our dining area.

**please don't comment on the many uses for suncream, I have regular body lotion, and brass polish, and I don't need shaving cream [there was more than enough to depilate an army of wookies]