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A Room for People Who Really Love Books
This family loves books. And I mean actual books… with pages. 😉 They had books tucked everywhere throughout the house, so when we designed this addition for their family of four, we knew we wanted to give that collection, and their love of reading, a home of its own.
The goal was to create a true library, but also a place to slow down. Somewhere the family could curl up, read, spend time together and just decompress.
One of our biggest decisions was how connected we wanted the library to feel to the rest of the house. We considered completely closing it off from the adjoining family room, but ultimately left the windows in the living room wall. They wanted to see and enjoy the space as part of their everyday home, while still having it feel like its own special enclave.
And because this room needed to work just as well for four people as it does for one, every inch mattered.
Those oversized swivel chairs were chosen intentionally. They’re generous enough for a parent and child or two kids to curl up together. The curved upholstered bench adds even more seating, especially because this homeowner hosts a book club. When everyone gathers, we wanted plenty of places to settle in.
We even incorporated individual reading lights on the side the bookcases. Each can be switched on right at the fixture, so someone on the bench can turn on their own little pool of light. It’s a small detail, but those are often the details that make a space really work.
We maximized storage for their incredible book collection without sacrificing all that beautiful natural light. Then the homeowner and her kids added one of my favorite finishing touches: they color-coded ALL the books. She has such a great eye for styling, and those shelves came to life!
And this mama may love her plants almost as much as she loves her books. The greenery mixed with all those greens and blues makes the room feel even more peaceful and alive.
One of my favorite textural details isn’t on the walls at all.
Look up.
The wood-paneled ceiling brings so much warmth, adding an organic, slightly rustic element that balances the blues and greens and (makes the entire room feel) enhances the cozy feel of the space.
In the end, we didn’t just create a room to store books. We created a room for reading them, sharing them, book club nights, quiet afternoons, kids piled into chairs, and those rare moments when everyone gets to slow down together.
For a family that truly loves books, I can’t think of a better use of space.
