Sometimes I can’t come up with a snappy title. Sing it to this.
Hey, I can finally share more pictures of the library! I took these photos last month, shortly after adding the new coffee/play table to the space. Then my computer died and the little laptop I bought to work on while traveling (since I was doing so much of that last year) wasn’t powerful enough to edit RAW photo files. Luckily, my old computer was still under warranty, and I’m now working on a brand new replacement. It took a while to get it, but it’s here and it’s zippy!
Anyway, wide angle shots.
Got your bearings? Good. Let’s get closer.
Eleanor and August each have toys in their rooms, but we also keep a fabric bin full of stuffed animals for both of them in the library. It eliminates some of the “mine!” dibs to have them on neutral ground. That’s why it’s so good to have the castle out there too.
Clearly I put the cutest toys on top.
The fiddle leaf fig is still doing well. We had a rough first couple of weeks, but now it’s thriving.
I’d wanted a Michelle Armas painting forever, and when the one I really wanted sold out before I could commit to buying it, I was disappointed. When I spotted that smaller pink and orange one, I bought it right away, even though I wasn’t sure where I’d put it. Turns out it was just what I needed for the library. I also picked up one of those cube sculpture things I featured here.
And look! Decorating with books, in a library! What will I think of next?
39 comments
Erin
We are thinking of copying your library and doing a wall of Billy’s like yours. We are debating between the glass doors and the half cabinet doors. My husband likes the idea of hiding a few things behind the doors and is worried about our two boys (ages 2 and zero) hurting the glass doors. However, he has SO many books (and we don’t have much clutter to hide in those cabinets) and the glass doors are so pretty. So my question to you–how did your glass doors hold up with two little ones and if you were to do it again, would you do the same doors?
Making it Lovely
I’d definitely do the same setup again. We’ve had the doors long before we had the kids, and they’ve held up fine. There were a few times when they would roughhouse a little, and we just explained that we don’t want them to bump/run into the doors because they were glass and they could break. (The glass is tempered, so it isn’t a safety issue — we just don’t want them to break.)
Justine
Ha ha! I laughed out loud with your last comment about the stack of design books. Though to make it a really fresh and original look you should probably have the Domino book and Undecorate in there. ;)
Good luck in your house selling/house hunting/moving! How exciting! I can’t see what happens next! :)
Kim
Hi, I love the fiddle leaf fig, but read they are toxic to dogs and cats. Have you had any problems keeping your pets away from it? Thanks!
Making it Lovely
They haven’t touched it. Our dog isn’t interested in plants, and our cats only try to eat plants with more delicate leaves, like grasses or ferns.
Julie K.
So beautiful! I love the painting. I just probably wouldn’t have the glass bookshelves, but the room looks amazing. If I was your kid, I definitely would spend my days there! You really made it lovely.
jennifer
Beautiful library, Nicole! I have the same Billy bookshelves, but I love the contrast of the deep brown walls with your shelves. Feeling inspired! ps…Great castle! Do you mind me asking the brand?
Making it Lovely
It’s a Playmobil castle. There are lots of working parts and secret passages. The kids love it!
Dee Wilcox
I love the library! You’re inspiring me to turn a corner of my home into a library, too. I just finally unpacked all of our books after nearly three years in this house, but at least we’re getting started. ;-)
Christina | Little Victorian
So pretty, as always.
And I spy Courdy Roy the lion! We saw him at Anthro last year and couldn’t resist. :) In case you ever need to, it will stand up to many, many machine washings.
emily @ go haus go
Looks so good! I also have those fabric round bins with the wooden ring top. They look so nice anywhere and have held up great.
Sharon
I love the black and white color combo. Especially with the green of your fiddle leaf fig. I just painted the inside of my white bookcases black and I’m loving it! How exciting that you’re looking for a new house now. Can’t wait to read more about that.
Lynn cicchetti
Love the look of the painting in your library. It’s beautiful. I learned from an old housekeeper to clean the fiddle leaf fig leaves with beer a couple of times a year. They really polish up.
Fizzy
Love this room! Would you mind sharing how you think the Billy shelves have held up? And, do you ever regret not getting one of the more expensive Ikea models (like the Hemnes glass bookcase?) I am asking because I have been back and forth for MONTHS about which ones to get. I absolutely cannot make up my mind and our books are languishing in boxes since our move (last summer!).
Thanks so much!
Gilit
I love reading your posts after doing the online alt summit course because now I feel like I can hear you saying it. It looks beautiful: cozy, stylish, functional- love it!
Holly
I love the brown on the walls! I recently sampled several browns on my walls but none looked as great as yours.
Making it Lovely
I love this brown, even though all the cool kids are going with gray these days. It’s “Afternoon Tea” by Pittsburgh Paints.
Kathy
Hi Nicole,
What is the name of the design book with the stripe binding?
The library looks lovely. :)
Making it Lovely
The book is Eames: Beautiful Details. It’s a good one!
Elisa @ What the Vita
Love how everything looks like right now. Cozy, just how a library should be. I have a question – I love love love the handles on your cabinets. Where did you get them from? I’m assuming anthropologie… recent? 50 years ago? Thanks!
Making it Lovely
Yep, Anthro, 50 years ago. (Or probably 8 years ago, but same result: no longer available.)
Elisa @ What the Vita
Darn it… Thanks anyway! :)
Sarah from a fine line
I think soon you’ll need to change the name of your blog to “officially lovely,” or “all done making it lovely.” Your looks gorgeous.
Making it Lovely
Well, we’ve just started looking for a new house, so hopefully there will be a whole new place to make lovely soon!
Kristin
Everything looks great. I have a quick question for you – the leaves on your tree look really shiny. Do they ever get that sort of milky look on top, and if so do you clean them?
I received mine as a birthday present, and so we’ve had in for a couple of weeks. It seems to be settling into its new home pretty well, but I was just curious about the leaves.
Cute toys should always be on the top.
Making it Lovely
They’ve gotten dusty, not milky, and so I wiped them down with a damp washcloth. I think I’ve only done that once or twice since we’ve had it though.
Kristin
Thanks – I’m starting to think maybe it’s just residual rain spotting from being outdoors in a nursery. I’ll try dusting it, or maybe wiping it down with a damp cloth and seeing if it comes off. I looked around and found a lot of images with leaves with brown spotting, but nothing like this, so it must not be too serious.
kristi@SimplePrettyThings
I really want a fiddle leaf fig but I hear they are fussy and I have NO green thumb! That painting is wonderful! I just love the library! Speaking of which I’m going to start taking my two year old daughter to the public library every week for a few books. Something to do and we love to read…or make up stories. I always think of you when I think of the library hahaha
Making it Lovely
Oh, nice! That makes me happy.
Heather
This room looks gorgeous as ever! I know you mentioned once that the bookcases are from IKEA… do you happen to remember the style? (I’m so sorry if you’ve already answered this!)
Making it Lovely
They’re the ubiquitous Billy bookshelves. They look much nicer once you put the doors on them!
Heather
Thank you so much!
jenn aka the picky girl
I love it, absolutely love it. I pinned that structural sculpture a while back and really want it for my own library.
Jill Browning
I saw the title of the post and thought it was going to be this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooiUDXLw__g (listen closely to the first few seconds). Had you referenced Suicidal Tendencies on a home decorating blog (on top of your previous reference to “Rock and Roll McDonalds”), I would have personally crowned you Queen of the Internet Forever! ;)
Making it Lovely
Ah, missed opportunity!
Jackie
So lovely! I love the glossy cabinets. I am totally jealous of your Fiddle Leaf Fig. I bought the little one from Ikea and it’s been a rough road. They are so fickle. Yours is gorgeous!
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