More Library Inspiration | Unusual Library Spaces

My last Library post was all about Double Duty rooms and how to create a library space within another room. Those were primarily in Family/Living Rooms, Dining Rooms and Bedrooms. In my look at Home Libraries, I've come across even more creative and adventurous types; avid readers who've carved a home library out of rather unusual spaces. Enjoy!

Hallways

Hallways are a great space to locate your library, particularly if you've got a wide area, or landing area. The walls of a hallway are an otherwise unused space, which make it a great spot to store your books. But don't force it. If your hallway is too narrow, the library addition will feel cramped. Worse, you may damage the shelves, books or other objects trying to squeeze new furniture or other large items down your hallway library.

 

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Stairways and Landings

Stairways and landings make a great library. It's a functional and interesting use of an otherwise empty pass-through space. And it's made even better if you have the luxury of a window and a window seat.
 

 via At Home Arkansas

I love the two libraries below. It is a creative use of stairwells.

Modern Staircase by London Photographers David Churchill - Architectural Photographer

Industrial Staircase by West Vancouver Architects & Designers PLACE architect ltd.

I had a hallway/landing library in my old home. I had photos of this space, from about 7 years ago. I've searched my PC for those photos to share with you and I cannot find them. I think this is what happens when you change computers a few times...

Bathrooms (that's right, I said bathroom libraries)

Perhaps the most unusual library space that I've come across is in the bathroom. What is even more surprising is that I found several of these bathroom libraries!
 

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If you don't have a bathroom that lends intself to building bookcases into the wall, this bathtub may solve that for you. It's a bathtub with it's own bookcase builit into the side. Clever.

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 Do you have an unusual home library? Have you been inspired to create one?Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design and Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Double Duty |Creating a Home Library in Another Room

I recently posted an article about the future of home libraries in our digital age. This was sparked by my work on a home library interior design project. Much of the feedback I received was that the Beautiful Habitat readers wished they had a home library. You can have a library, even if your home wasn't built with a dedicated library space.
Make space for your home library in another room. One of the easiest transformations is in the formal living room. As the formal living room is becoming a less used and less desired space in the modern American home, this is a great opportunity to create a home library. I did just that for a client recently.  My clients are not formal people, so a formal living room would have been an unused space. My clients were also downsizing. Wasting space in their new, smaller home, was not an option. They are avid readers and had a large book collection. A library was a far better use of the living room for the clients in this home.

We started with beautiful bookcases. Next came comfortable seating, arranged to take full advantage of the books and the cozy fireplace.

via Beautiful Habitat Interior Design & Decoration

The room is a soaring two-story space. Adding colorful artwork not only adds more interest, but also helps to fill the tall space above the bookcases.

A window seat offers another comfortable nook for reading.

While this living room was redesigned to be a dedicated library, you certainly don't have to go that far with it. You can add a library into a living room  or family room space with the addition of some lovely built-in bookcases. If you have a fireplace centered in the room, this is an easy addition. Now the room is dual purpose.
 

Eclectic Living Room by Tiburon Interior Designers & Decorators Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc.

  If you don't have a formal living room to convert, there are still many opportunities for a library space. One clever option is to convert wall space in another frequently used room. The family room is a great option - you already spend quite a bit of time there and the seating is usually comfortable and inviting.
 

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Dining Rooms are another opportunity to create a home library. Like formal living rooms, dining rooms aren't used as often as they once were. Going double duty by using the dining room as a library makes the space more functional and maximizes the square footage and purpose in your home.

Midcentury Dining Room by Weston Interior Designers & Decorators d2 interieurs

Farmhouse Dining Room by Chatham Architects & Designers KATE JOHNS AIA

Your dining room library can be one wall, or the whole room, depending your book collections to display.

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Bedrooms are another opportunity for a home library. Bedrooms, particularly the Master Suite, are far more used than a formal living room or dining room. This option is less about adding value to unused rooms in your home. Most people like to read in bed. Turning your bedroom into a double duty bedroom library adds an interesting feature, while also creating convenience in nighttime reading.

Midcentury Bedroom by Austin Architects & Designers Weiss Architecture Inc

Adding a window seat and bookcases to an otherwise blank wall is always a nice touch. The window seat becomes a beautiful architectural feature. It also gives you a place to read other than the bed.

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The bed is already the focal point of a bedroom, but why not really emphasize it with a bookcase surround? This makes a dramatic statement, while also being functional.

via Elle Decor

Have you carved out a home library space for yourself? Has this post inspired you to create one?

Form more library inspiration: Libraries

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Love it or Leave it | Lacquered Wood Paneling in Bold Hues

I'm seeing lacquered walls and wood paneling everywhere these days. The beauty of lacquered walls is that they fit equally well in modern and traditional room decor. Lacquering a serious library in a not-so-serious color can modernize and relax a space, making it more inviting a family friendly. On the other hand, lacquered rooms can create a traditional and sophisticated design. Lacquered walls are definitley on trend right now and I want to know - do you love it or leave it? While all lacquered spaces are hot right now, I'm seeing these rooms primarily in blue tones. Blue is hot, lacquer is hot... makes perfect sense to meld the two together.

 

via House Beautiful

via HGTV

via Better Homes and Gardens

via Veranda

via Architectural Digest

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While blue seems to be popular everywhere, and especially in lacquered walls, I am also seeing lacquer in other bold colors with stunning results. Blue is a little more serious. The following rooms, however, and bold, relaxed and FUN.
 

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via The Painted Furniture

  And finally a gray tone is a bit more calm, but still equally breathtaking in result.
 

via Twelve Chairs

 What do you think of lacquered paneling in place of stained wood? Do you love it or would you leave it? Do you have wood paneling that you would lacquer? What color would you do?
 I'll admit, I absolutely love this look. We have a library space in our new home and I would love to lacquer the whole room. I'm not sure if I can squeeze that out of my remodel budget... Stay tuned for more on that. 

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Design Inspiration | Future of the Home Library

I'm working on a Home Library design in a beautiful, traditional home in Denver. Few homes have these beautiful, inviting, bonus rooms, and I fear that even fewer will in the future. Libraries, public and private, really are a treasure. I was recently in New York and had a chance to admire the public library building. How could I be anything but inspired by this beautiful architecture and detail? The woodwork, the windows, the chandeliers... all adding elegance to a highly functional space.

What is the future of our printed word? E-books have outsold printed books since 2010 and the margin grows each year. Will our printed books really go away? I think not. Most people still prefer the touch and experience of reading a real book. What is the future of our libraries, public and private? Whether your library is a proper separate room, or a bookshelf in your office, bedroom, or living room, most homes do have a library. Those shelves tell a brief story of who we are, our hobbies or interests. In some cases our books are artwork, or nostalgia. What is the future of these cozy spaces once designed to house our reading treasures?
  What do you envision when you hear the term "library"? I envision warm enveloping chairs and a cozy environment. The kind of place you really want to curl up and read. Good lighting is essential. Some might prefer a table or work area. And some may require a place to put your feet up. Following are beautiful Library Spaces that are inspiring me today.

 

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Contemporary Living Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Lizette Marie Interior Design

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Contemporary Dining Room by Laguna Beach Interior Designers & Decorators Michael Fullen Design Group

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Libraries are so often traditional in design, decor and feel. The space below is a fabulous library of bold and modern design.

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Do you have a library or reading nook in your home? What are the essential elements to you? Share with us here, or on Facebook.

For even more library inspiration, check out my board on Pinterest: Beautiful Habitats - Library & Workspace, or my Libraries Ideabook on Houzz.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com