<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-006.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-914" alt="culinary library" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-006.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">For years, we have been dreaming of our very own library.  We purchased hundreds, if not thousands, of cookbooks over the years and stashed them away in our tiny apartments.  We lined up 6 to 7 mismatched shelves along one wall and jammed them full of books.  It got so bad that I thought about calling the show "Hoarders" on myself.  We paid to move the books from Chicago to Boston, to another apartment in Boston, to storage while we were in Argentina, to San Francisco, back to Chicago, and now out to the burbs.  After 10 years as a couple and 10 years amassing quite the collection, we finally have a house and a place to put all of our treasures.  Not only that, our library in our home is so inviting that you just crave a cup of tea (or whiskey) and time to spend on the big fluffy couch paging through classics and newbies alike.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-015.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-918" alt="baking books" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-015.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">When we moved into our house, the books sat in milk crates and boxes until our housewarming party in October.  Not wanting to leave them in shambles but also not ready to make the big investment, we stacked them along the wall.  10 months into our new home, and we got our shelves!  I think we did pretty well.  This has been the biggest improvement on our home so far and went over far better then the fence we put up (if you don't know the story, it is gorgeous, but our neighbor hates it).  My favorite part about the custom unit are the cabinets below.  Not everything is aesthetically appealing enough to be on display at all times.  This way, I can hind the dozens of hideous recipe binders that I have used to house all of my restaurant recipes and countless mismatched photo albums containing my cherished memories (I think I have 12 from O's first year of life!).  There is space for a TV, but I'm not sure we will ever use it for that.  I think we just need to start traveling again and find some amazing tchotchke to display in the large open shelf.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-019.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-919" alt="wine library" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-019.jpg" width="500" height="309" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Our collection is wine-heavy, given my graduate studies at Boston University and the <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=23567441">thesis</a> I wrote on Argentine malbec.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-917" alt="julia child" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-012.jpg" width="500" height="323" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">No culinary library is complete without a Julia section.  I will admit to having stolen those vintage copies of "Mastering the Art" from my mom (whose library might even be larger than ours).</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-916" alt="larousse" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-010.jpg" width="500" height="497" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Our books come in French, Spanish, and English.  Some of these were purchased when I ran the Bordeaux marathon with my parents in 2004.  Many others came from <a href="http://www.rabelaisbooks.com/">Rabelais</a> in Portland, ME, <a href="http://www.kitchenartsandletters.com/">Kitchen Arts &amp; Letters </a>in NYC, <a href="http://www.amberunicornbooks.com/">Amber Unicorn </a>in Vegas, and our favorite <a href="http://omnivorebooks.com/">Omnivore Books </a>in SF- only blocks from our cramped apartment and a real danger to our bank account.  Why doesn't Chicago have an equivalent store?  Maybe I should open one...</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-007.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-915" alt="classic culinary books" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bookshelf-007.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The talented artisan who made our shelves is Andy Andrews.  He is based in the McHenry area, but he will travel to anywhere in the Chicagoland area.  I highly recommend him.  He is not only a sweet and personable guy, but his work is impeccable.  He was timely, clean and gave us exactly what we wanted.  He can be reached at (847) 833-1168.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">(It should also be noted that this is not even all of our food-related books.  We have 2 more bookcases on either side of the fire place!)</p>