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Over the course of his so far short but successful career, Shapiro-Barnum has spoked to 5,000 kids in the past three years. He’s also had the opportunity to host the red carpet at the Golden Globes with two kids he knows, work with some amazing public schools, collaborate with some fun actors and artists, and travel.
“It’s been a really cool thing that I started on a whim and that’s turned into a very fun adventure,” says Shapiro-Barnum.Although Shapiro-Barnum is undoubtedly a people person, he’s at a point in his life where he owns his own apartment and is in the process of making it his own. When Shapiro-Barnum moved into his Brooklyn apartment in November, it had a large, empty wall in the living room. He thought the space would be perfect for shelves and set out to find the perfect set.
Through his online searches, he found a lot of great shelving options but no custom shelves. When he stumbled upon Modern Shelving, he was excited about the customization options as well as the fair pricing.
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“I couldn’t find anything that was working for the space, so I thought custom shelves would be perfect,” says Shapiro-Barnum. “I liked the way [Modern Shelving’s] stuff looked and it was affordable.”
Shapiro-Barnum drew a sketch of what he envisioned for the shelves and despite it being a self-proclaimed terrible drawing, the Modern Shelving team drew up a proposal. Shapiro-Barnum had a lot of questions and after some back and forth with the team, they had a plan that he was excited about, and he placed his order.![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0052/8952/files/IMG_6066_1024x1024.heic?v=1721076300)
Shapiro-Barnum hired someone recommended by Modern Shelving for the install and everything went smoothly. Shapiro-Barnum got to work stocking his shelves with an assortment of items including some puppets, books, dinosaur toys, an award, board games, and some camera equipment – a lot of fun stuff.
“[The shelves] bring the room together and they’re very slim and close to the wall, so they don’t intrude too much into the room,” says Shapiro-Barnum. “Whenever people come over, they’re always drawn to seeing what is on the shelves so it’s always a conversation starter. They definitely complete and enhance my space.”
Incorporating wall decor in living room spaces can transform the overall vibe of a room. The shelves also serve as a TV wall design element, providing creative TV wall ideas for those looking to integrate a TV into wall spaces efficiently. Shapiro-Barnum's choice not only filled out the empty wall but also served as a practical stylish bookshelf TV stand.
Explore the Modern Shelving Media Unit Builder to enhance your own space here.