Bedside table and lighting: the right size

Southern Living says the bedside table should be as high as the mattress top and the sconce at eye level

http://www.southernliving.com/m/home-garden/decorating/bedside-table/table-height

And Tidbits and Twine say the ideal height for a bedside table is 61-68 cm and the bottom of the shade of a wall sconce should be about 50 cm from the top of the mattress...

http://www.tidbitsandtwine.com/my-secret-cheat-sheet-of-measurements/

I wonder if this applies to canopy beds as well, they take up a lot of space visually.

I also read that wall sconces should be just above shoulder height.

Drugstore-cum-Restaurant

I want my living room to look like a drugstore and my dining room to look like a fish restaurant :-)

With a palette inspired by the sea and a feel inspired by Brussels (grey with shabby touches) and by Hamburg (some industrial furniture pieces).

Bring it onnnn...!!! :-)

Photos: Austin bookcase and Brocanteur lamp by Maisons du Monde.

Latest living room ideas... Beachy ethnic scandi

Big white credenza from Maisons du Monde, grey small credenza from Bonprix.

The rest of the furniture is already there...

My faux MDF Random bookcase... In the flesh!

Antiques in a contemporary room

This article (in Italian) says you can put an antique in a very contemporary all grey and white room:

- by placing the antique piece very centered or very visible as you walk in

- by hanging contemporary looking art next to it in frames in a similar colour to the antique piece

http://www.cosedicasa.com/mobile-antico-o-in-stile-come-inserirlo-in-un-contesto-moderno-59923/

How to mix patterns

Now this is super cool

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/lessons/basics/mixing-patterns/#page=11

Bookcase: Wally / Random lookalike

I really like bookcases with shelves of different heights, like the Wally by Cattelan. It's cool and modern and fresh and less deep than 27 cm (I have an annoying niche thing going on in the lounge):

Or the Random by MDF:
 

Thing is, I don't have the right budget...

I have then thought about getting the Osaka by Maisons du Monde, a lot cheaper

And if I place three next to each other it would look something like this (yes I'd like to get a Fornasetti plate as well...):

which I think is quite cool and has texture and movement... And a fifth of the price as well :-)!!