Our library is done! Well, it’s as “done” as anything around here ever is (curtains, I’m looking at you)…
I must point out that the whole library idea was Brandon’s.
Brandon and I had both worked for Barbara’s Bookstore in Oak Park (that’s where we met and fell in love!). I was there for six years and he was there for five. Well, as you may imagine, we both have a lot of books.
See, the landing at the top of the stairs is huge (perhaps you remember that we had our bed out there when we were laying floors in the bedroom), so we knew we should take advantage of the space. It was Brandon’s idea to line the walls with bookshelves, and I must say – it was a fantastic idea. We had always talked about having a home library someday, and this way we were able to create one.
The rug that was already there was staying since it wasn’t terrible. The paint though? Even I had second thoughts about going that dark. I love it now though, especially with the soft green ceiling color. Plus the white everywhere keeps it from feeling too overwhelmingly dark. And yes, I did paint the wood trim white. It wasn’t nice wood (it was about as cheap and generic as you can get with trim), so I don’t feel bad about painting it at all.
We bought the bookshelves and glass doors from IKEA. I don’t want to fill the home with IKEA everywhere, but we didn’t exactly have scads of money to do built-ins. I think we were able to get all of the bookshelves, doors, and lighting for about $700. Not bad!
We both love our “library”. It feels so luxurious to even be able to say that!
51 comments
Alice
This is exactly what I have in mind for my home library, if I ever get lucky enough to buy a house. It looks perfect!!!
Amy
Absolutely beautiful! May i ask which bookshelves these are from Ikea? Im trying to find them on the website.
Making it Lovely
They’re the standard Billy bookshelves in white, with glass doors.
Jennifer
Found your blog via HomeGoods and gasped when I saw your library. We have a large formal dining room/living room combo that is currently our “room of requirement” with a hodgepodge of toys, furniture, and a piano. After seeing how we truly use the room, I’m going to take my husband’s advice (and inspiration from your room) to turn it into a library. Thank you for sharing your home!
Zehra Zaidi Azam
Hi! Great job! I have two questions: which lights have you used above the shelves? and did you add the little silver knobs to the ikea doors? Because I am doing this and all the doors do NOT have hardware- they just click open and shut. Thanks!!
Amy
Hi – I love the library. Can I ask a question? We have Billy bookcases now, and when we installed three next to each other, I found that I had to screw them together in order to get a nice tight and even space between the bookshelves. Did you have to do something similar? If so, how did you do that with the corner shelves? I looked on Ikea’s website, and I saw that it is just three regular, straight shelves, with corner hardware. Did it look good right away, or did you have to do something to get them to line up?
Thanks!
Mikki
I’m one of those people who refuse to get into the Kindle and Nook era. I love BOOKS. Really books. Carporial, Smelly, Rustic BOOKS. I say avoid the ” “Nook” and turn a nook into a library corner. Great Idea. And Ikea is amazing… my home is all either reclaimed finds from antique dealers or flea markets, or from ikea.
How did you do the lighting? Are they eletric or battery? Were they also ikea?
Margot
Love it!!! So sad that Barbara’s is now a Potbelly’s :(
Mocha
WHOA. I’m so glad Karen mentioned this wonderful room!
Jessica
Just lovely and so inspiring! One of my “Life List” items is to have a library in my house.
Kudos, my friend! Simply wonderful.
Danielle
One of the first things I had my husband do after we got married and I moved into our three bedroom house was make me a library! I had wanted one since I was a little girl. 6yrs and two little boys later and it is still there! The only problem is things keep getting stored in there, I am really wanting to work on the space to have it function more as a retreat instead of a closet! I love your! It is inspirational and makes me want to get to it!
Allison
Interesting. I was perusing your old posts after receiving an email and I thought this library post looked very familiar. I found a September 2008 issue of Home magazine and there on page 48 a story about your library remodel.
Melissa
This room is so inviting! I am thinking about painting our wood trim white, it’s not the nice wood trim either and the previous owners already did a good job of getting paint on it. One question though, how did you protect your carpet when you painted your trim? That is my only concern.
Melissa
Love it. I have a spare bedroom that I use as a library, and I’m planning to buy all new black-brown Billys (the walls are knotty pine paneling and that’s the best match).
By my calculation the 15″ with corner hardware would come out 22″ from the corner to the point where it matches up with the bookcase next to it. Is that where yours ended up? I’m playing around with different layouts for the 15″ and 31″ Billys and can’t decide what to do.
Jen
Love your library. My husband and I are going to put the Billy bookcases in our new house soon. What color did you use? The foil white? Or did you paint them?
me
i LOVE it! and i love how you used the space. if u ever want to get rid of those curtains, i’ll take them off your hands! i’m so in love with them!
Anonymous
Ok. I admit it. I don’t get it. It’s very pretty, but it’s bookshelves with a chair. If that’s a ‘library’ then I know LOTS of people with a library.
And to the person who commented about the ETC giving them an idea? I’ve seen that at every Barnes and Noble I’ve been to. You should get out more.
marbargarbo
I love the shelving, it looks great :) I’d like to do something like that in our office someday. Can you buy the doors separately?
michelle
Ah, I love it, and I followed your progress through it too! So, is that chair comfortable? I have been eyeing it for a while…it looks fabu.
Jennifer
i love the etc on the bookshelf, too cute! giving my ideas!
beachbungalow8
this is sooo beautiful, warm, rich and just i want to curl up and read in here..or take a nap
becoming-home
WOW.. its so perfect. As usual, I’m totally jealous of your furniture (what an amazing chair!!)
What’s wrong with those curtains? Their just the right combo of fun and appropriately “calm” for a library.
drey
this is fabulous. fabulous. i’m so gonna have a library when i grow up and buy my own house :P
it’s fascinating how a bright place (before photo) is transformed into a moodier place by dark walls and well chosen lighting!?
i really like it. *this is going into inspiration files*
casapinka
You did a super job. Husbans would be so jealous – he’s wanted a library forever. I like how you showed us how it’s possible on a budget (space willing, of course.)
Liz
Ah…. a real library. So they arent just a myth! It looks absolutely wonderful.
Jessica
That is absolutely gorgeous!
tricia
absolutely beautiful!
Alicia
this is gorgeous!
girl meets glamour
wow…it looks great! I am at the beginning phase of a remodel as well…I’m just so eager to get through demo to completion :)and happy to see pics of completed projects.
Peggy
Absolutely gorgeous. What a team.
Nicole
So great! Love the dark wall color, I just showed this to my husband and I think we finally agree on what to do with our front room. I also second the comment on the curtains, like them alot, so fun and flirty, but modern. I want to lounge like your kitty on that chair, surrounded by books and good light.
Amy Awesome
I am a lurker, sorry! Anyway I am so in love with your library it’s not funny.
Boots
This is beautiful. I love it! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and things are looking fabulous. I think I am kind of confused how your house is set up though. Do you think it would be possible to do like a sketch overhead layout so I could better understand how things are set up. THANKS. and keep blogging!
Claire
That really looks amazing. I’m suffering from severe library envy at the moment.
Jenny
It’s lovely! Congratulations on a really cozy space. Love the dark walls as well.
Julie
Hi! I’ve been a “lurker” for a while now, but I had to comment since you’re writing about having a home library. I love the space and am completely jealous! :-) Your design inspires me so much, and it’s wonderful that you’re willing to share the process of making a new house a home.
Jennyology
Wow, this is beautiful. I want to be in that room! I’d love to do a library with the Billy bookcases. Right now we’re using IKEA’s Expedit, but it’s so hard to organize books by subject when you’re limited to these little 12″x12″ cubicles.
Anonymous
Gorgeous! Love the paint color and the c&b chair is perfect for the space.
Melissa
What a wonderful area! You’re seriously making me consider brown paint. And doors for the Billy bookcases I already have.
Jaime
congrats – looks fabulous. your vision is amazing. i would never have been able to create that from such a blank slate!
katiedid
Great job! What a great way to capture some unused space!
kim.
Looks amazing! Gotta love billy (that’s Ikea’s billy). I too am a bit sick of Ikea in my home and am weeding it out, but with those, you can’t go wrong.
Julieta
Fabulous! And I don’t think those curtains are bad at all!!
Sarah
Looks great! I envy your ability to have a library. How high brow.
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