Home Library Inspiration

I am obsessed with books. I have a "to-read" list of books that has no less than 20 titles on it. And yet, I compulsively buy more books that I don't need, and may not read for years! I am waiting excitedly for the day when we have a house with room for a wonderful library. A real, grownup, beautiful, inspirational room that people just want to be in. Following are some beautiful library inspirations I've found around the interwebs, but first, a look at our current library, which is also in our dining room. 

The scary part? I have boxes of books at my dad's house, waiting for a bookcase to fit on!!

We have some games on one shelf, photos and knickknacks interspersed throughout the books. I'm very happy with them--especially how we got them to fit on the strange curved walls. In the middle on top of the shelves is the sand we poured together from our wedding, and a framed photo of us pouring the sand together during the ceremony. I really like that it's up there on display (and so brightly colored--blue, green and plum) and especially that it's safe from the kitties who destroy everything fragile in their paths. (P.S. the bookcases are from IKEA. Fairly economical and endless combinations / colors / fun!)


Now on to the REAL inspiration you've been waiting for. This is the most beautiful and impractical way to organize a library I've ever seen. You'd never be able to find anything you were looking for, but I'd almost rather sit in the room and stare instead of read anyways. 

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I really appreciate creative uses of space (especially small ones). Have bookcases built into areas of your home that would otherwise be lost or unusable: under staircases, in oddly-shaped bedrooms of older cottage homes (you know, the ones with the sloped, awkward walls in the gigantic second-floor bedrooms?). This bookcase just seems to be an extension of the wall; something that has always been there and feels just right. 

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I really like the idea of a room that feels Victorian, sumptuous, elegant and regal. (Maybe I read too much historical fiction?) This room comes pretty close to my visions of that! I think it's the light fixture that does it--chandelier in my library? Yes, please! 

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Along the same lines as the photo above, this amazing study is from designer Badgley Mischka's home. At first, I thought it was a dining room (The table has place settings...I'm still not convinced it isn't a dining room). The photo is from the book American Fashion Designers at Home. What a fascinating thing, to see how fashion designers translate their style into home decor. Look at the little antlers hanging on the wall! What on earth are they from? A jackalope or something? :) 

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So since I was convinced this was a dining room, it got me to thinking how nice it would be to actually dine in a library. Maybe like this, with a more rustic feel. Then I'd get my chandelier in the library for sure! The blog where I found this photo has now decided that they must have their dining room in a library, and I can't say it's a bad idea. I've even played with the idea of adding more shelves to our dining room.

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I think that libraries can and should be places where work is accomplished. Whether it's a small desk or writing surface, or an easy place to put your laptop when you're feeling inspired, there needs to be some functionality to the room. This designer took it one step further and created a beautiful workspace--for many people at once! Doesn't it make you want to do some research out of old texts? Or maybe some experiments?

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Now this next one is a little bit out of the realm of my personal design tastes, but it's so visually pleasing anyways I had to share. This blogger might want a home library even more than I do. I believe there are no less than 3 separate posts on her blog about different library designs. What is really neat about this ultra-modern library is that the bookcase isn't one continuous unit--the top part is in a loft area! You may have figured that out right away, but it wasn't until I noticed that there was a desk "floating" in the top right of the photo that I realized that was a second floor! What a great idea to have something visually line up for two stories--even with a separation of floors in between. 

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And finally, the library room that may have all my favorite things in one photo.

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I'm right in line with the blogger whose site I found this on: I love libraries, spiral staircases, lofts and little cozy spaces. And this one has it all. I like the idea of having a guest room tucked away in the library. Can you imagine what it would feel like to visit someone's house and sleep in their awesome library? The pillars are beautiful and make the space feel grand. The clock hanging from the ceiling adds whimsy. The lights in the loft are industrial. How could you ever get bored here with so many elements to look at and process? I'd add more touches of color (maybe with paint to the backs of the bookshelves in the loft and in the curtains and bedding in the nook area?) and then we'd have perfection.