Hi, thanks for your message. I think the best approach for the shelf layout is to go with a staggered design rather than a straight grid. That way it feels more organic and you can fit larger items like the mixer and the cookbooks without everything looking too uniform. I measured the wall again and it’s 72 inches wide, which gives us plenty of room for three vertical sections. The center section can be slightly taller to accommodate the taller jars and the vase. We’ll need to sand the edges well before finishing and use a good quality primer since the wood is a bit rough. I already ordered the brackets and they should arrive by Tuesday. Let me know if you want to pick out the stain color together this weekend. I’m leaning toward a dark walnut because it matches the dining table. Also, I found a great tutorial for attaching the top piece securely so it won’t wobble. I’ll send you the link later.

Thanks for asking about the table arrangement for Saturday. I think it would work best if we set up two long tables in an L‑shape along the living room and the dining area. That way everyone can see each other and there’s still room to walk around the buffet. We can use the folding tables from the garage and cover them with the white linen that’s in the hall closet. Let’s plan to set everything up Friday evening around 6 and then do the final decorating Saturday morning. I’ll bring the mason jars and the fairy lights. Also, I can make my grandmother’s dip and some iced tea if you want. Let me know what time works for you and if you need me to pick up anything else from the store. I should be done with the office work by 4 so I’ll be free after that. I’ll also check if Mark wants to help with the chairs. He said he might have some extra ones from his last party. We could use about four more.