Tag: Library
Can you believe this library was once all pine? The magic of paint!
Artwork from Zios Bios Creative.
Library Design: Before and After
This particular library design, part of a whole-house remodel, involved a dramatic transformation that completely changed the mood and feel of the space.
The journey of a project from start to finish always fascinates me. This particular library design, part of a whole-house remodel, involved a dramatic transformation that completely changed the mood and feel of the space. The library originally had knotty pine ceilings and walls that darkened the room and detracted from some of the more desirable features, such as the built in shelves and the fireplace. Here’s what the library originally looked like:
We lightened up the library by painting the walls a light grey. We chose a custom medium charcoal grey lacquer for the ceiling, reupholstered the furniture, and updated the lighting. For the floor, we chose a rug with an all over pattern that mirrors the hue of the ceiling. Complimentary artwork and carefully edited accessories round out the finished library.
This project is a great example of how a room doesn’t need a complete remodel to achieve a new look!
A Library in the Dining Room
I’ve seen a few examples lately of built-in bookcases creating a library in a dining room, and it’s an unconventional concept I really like.
I’ve seen a few examples lately of built-in bookcases creating a library in a dining room, and it’s an unconventional concept I really like. Incorporating an idea like this into your home works for a few different reasons.
First, everything is integrated. You have one space to inhabit in different ways, whether it’s enjoying a meal together as a family, relaxing with a book while you wake up with your morning coffee, or entertain friends against a cozy backdrop of books. Or, incorporating something like a wine fridge into the bookcases introduces another really cool concept.
Including bookshelves in a common room of the home is a lifestyle idea that’s great for families with kids. With so many of our media choices now relegated to computer screens, TV screens, iPads, and electronic readers, placing books in a position of priority in your home, within easy reach of little hands, sends a powerful message. It also encourages parents to read in front of their children and talk to their children about books. What’s not to love about creating a book-centric culture in such an important room in the home?
The idea of a library in the dining room is also great because it works in so many different ways. Whether your home design style is rustic, traditional, modern, or more hip, stocked bookshelves can easily be incorporated into the dining room. You don’t have to commit to a specific look to make this concept work. I think David Kleinberg, in particular, has designed some really great spaces by incorporating a home library into the dining room.
