Tag: Library

Pink in the Library

The day after I got back from my trip, I figured I may as well paint a room. Then I realized what a dummy I was for pushing myself too hard, and I took a few more days to rest before putting on a second coat of paint and finally finishing up. The library is now the most perfect shade of pale pink (Pink Ground from Farrow & Ball).

I tried to make the boy do most of the work, but he gave up about two minutes in. Thanks a lot, kid. I know three-year-olds are not the most reliable when it comes to manual labor, but can you not see the state your poor mother is in?

I was eager to see some payoff after all of that painting, so I laid out one of the rugs I brought back from Morocco in an effort to create the illusion of a finished room. (Tricksy bloggers with their vignettes!) Eleanor went ahead and set up the pink stools around the table in preparation for a tea party — appropriate, since I drank mint tea while rug shopping.

I like the rug and I love that it would have the memory of picking it out in the Marrakech souk attached to it, but it’s not working in the larger context of the space right now. It’s too near the entryway and its vintage Persian Koliaei runner, and the two clash. The Persian can be used in the hallway upstairs though, which gives me a couple of options. Either I can find a runner to compliment the Moroccan rug, or just move the rug into the entry instead of the library. It’s a funny size (4’6″ x 8’6″), and it would actually fit pretty nicely, but I don’t know how well it would hold up to heavy traffic. Chicago winters are not kind to entryways with all of the salt and snow that gets tracked in, and the dense wool Persian is fairly impervious to all of that. I’ll have to play around with my options a bit more.

I am loving the pink walls though! I’d been missing my favorite color.

July 7, 2014
Would You Like a Sample?

I’ve been feeling a little better (finally, five months into this pregnancy), and so with increased energy and mobility comes more decorating gusto! I’ve been on a sample kick lately, getting test paints and wallpaper swatches.

I’ve been testing colors for the front parlor (the library), and was interested in Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball after seeing it in action here. I ordered two new paint swatch books because I like to have a backup for showing to clients (p.s. Working with clients again! Contact me if you’re interested.), and I received five in the mail. Eleanor and August were both interested, so I told them they could each have one. The next morning, they personalized them while I was getting breakfast ready.

August was especially proud. “See mommy? I made it nice for you!”

Well, they can tell their swatch books apart now.

I looked at samples from Farrow & Ball, Glidden, Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin-Williams, and with each color, I would think ‘I wish it were a little less lilac/more peach/more muted/less intense, etc.’ Pink Ground was that perfect color that none of the others quite were. The lone wallpaper sample up there is from Hygge & West and I love it, but I think paint is the way to go in that room. Let the dining room get some crazy wallpaper instead.

Benjamin Moore’s Queen Anne Pink was a close runner up — and so perfectly named for use in our Queen Anne — but it was slightly too peach. So now I either have to head over to the Merchandise Mart to pick up a gallon, or just order it online. I’m heading into the city for a haircut today, so maybe a quick detour before coming home is in order. Plus, you know, I might need a few more wallpaper samples…

June 4, 2014
The Built-in Library Shelves, with Books

The library isn’t really finished, but the shelves have books, the house is neat, and I took photos. So? Photos!

Definitely loving that ladder. I’m also loving the play of color from room to room, but I plan to paint the library walls and both ceilings at some point. They don’t look terrible here, but depending on the lighting and time of day, the color can go pretty yellow. I do like the contrast, and I’m thinking I might choose white, or very pale peachy/coral/pink.

We’re only borrowing the gate leg table from a family member. I wanted to see if it would be a pain to sit around, and the answer is yes. I love the look (like so), but it isn’t very practical for us, and I want to be able to play games there with the kids.

What is practical though, is the shelving. A few people have been eager to see how the built-ins look “once they’re styled,” so I hope I’m not disappointing you here. The shelves are adjustable and we moved a couple to fit large art and photography books, but that’s the extent of the styling. Brandon and I have a lot of books, and these shelves were intended to be used fully for book storage from the start. We actually still have more, but I think we can whittle down what’s on the shelves a bit to make room, and only keep what we really love. We had so much book storage in the last house that we didn’t need to pare down much (though we did some before we moved).

The layout is not final. I think the rocker looks a bit out of place, but I would like to make it work somewhere downstairs. We’ll have our cushy upholstered glider for the nursery, but I’d like to have the Eames rocker out where I’ll be able to rock the baby while sitting with friends and family.

Having a dedicated space for all of our books feels really good. It isn’t done (or “Pinterest Perfect”) yet, but I like where it’s at right now. There are a million little things to change and tweak, but that’s part of the fun of decorating, isn’t it? My last house came together over seven years, always changing a little at a time. I’m eager to see how this space grows and changes too.

May 12, 2014
The Built-in Bookshelves and Rolling Ladder in the Library

The library project is done! The shelves are in! The ladder is up!

Well, it’s 95% done. Those three panels beneath the window seat are placeholders until the ones that match the rest are ready, and we need a cushion for the bench top. I haven’t decided whether I’ll add hardware to the doors yet (they have magnetic push latches inside), and I’ll probably switch out the outlet covers for wooden ones. The important thing though is that the shelves are in! The ladder is up!

Our carpenter did great work and has solid craftsmanship, but I made some stupid mistakes by not being as hands-on during the design process as I should have. It was not a fun learning experience. I can get nitpicky and tell you what I don’t like — mainly proportion/scale issues that I should have been more mindful of — but overall I’m happy.

The rolling library ladder was provided by Custom Service Hardware, and it definitely makes the shelves. Brandon and I love it! Even our carpenter was impressed by its quality. The wheels brake automatically, and each kids’ weight is enough to engage the mechanism. August likes rolling the ladder, but he won’t climb. Eleanor would go to the top if we let her.

It arrived in pieces and unfinished (in our choice of wood, oak), but smooth and ready to finish. Those pieces, along with the rest of the wood for the library, were stained with Minwax Wood Finish in Early American to match the home’s existing trim.

I chose vertical roller brackets so that the ladder’s hardware could be supported by the vertical supports of the bookshelf, since the shelves are all adjustable. For finishes, I was between the hammered antique brass and oil rubbed bronze options. Brass would have been a better match to the existing metal finishes in the house, but I’m not a big fan of the hammered look so I went with bronze. Mixing metals doesn’t bother me when they’re complementary, and I think the almost-black color looks nice and is more understated than brass may have been.

Our ladder is nine feet tall. It doesn’t stick out too far into the room and I like the look of the ladder in the climbing position, but its rolling hardware gives us the option of storing it upright when not in use.

The shelves were finished on Friday and on Saturday morning, we quickly unloaded about 40 boxes of books onto the shelves. We had two parties this weekend so I haven’t had time to take more photos yet, but just like that, this house felt much more like our home. I’m so glad we put these shelves in, mistakes along the way and all.

May 5, 2014
Looking for a Round Table for the Library
I want to do something like this in the front parlor/library. Not the style, but the idea of a table with four chairs in front of the bookshelves.

We’re planning on storing board games and some toys in the closed storage of the built-ins, and because one needs an aesthetically pleasing place in which to play Hi Ho! Cherry-O and build LEGOs, I’ve been on the hunt for some furniture. I’ve wanted a round table from the beginning, to echo the round wall with windows, so that’s what I’m focusing on.
1. Dawson Pedestal Side Table, Pottery Barn
2. Deeda Chair, Jayson Home
3. Milo Baughman 1188 Chair, DWR
4. Saddle Dining Chair, West Elm
5. G-Plan Teak Dining Chairs, Chairish
6. Stockholm Chair, IKEA
7. Docksta, IKEA
We already have a Docksta (IKEA’s ubiquitous knock-off of the Saarinen tulip table) — it used to be in my stationery shop’s studio. I tried it out in place here and while the size is great, the style isn’t the best fit with the rest of our furniture for the space. Something dark, to tie in with the black walls of the adjacent room, and something with a bit more heft to it would be better. Either that pedestal table above, or something like the antique gateleg table below.

I’d like four chairs around it (and we can pull up either a stool, occasional chair, or dining chair if we need a fifth for our soon-to-be family of five), but I don’t want the set-up to look like a randomly placed dining table. I think upholstered chairs would look and feel best, and I’m not so worried about the combination of fabric seats and little kids since we won’t be eating there.

Of course I like the two most expensive chairs of the bunch (#2 and #3), and both would work with the color palette I’m going for. So perfect! So not in the budget! I’m going to concentrate on getting the table first — one that I know will work with a variety of seating options — and then new chairs can always come later. Which would you pick though, if price didn’t matter? One of the ones above, or do you have a different favorite?
April 23, 2014
The Color Palette Inspiration
You’ve seen the built-ins starting to take shape, but what I’m really looking forward to is painting the front parlor and getting everything back in place. I came across the top two floral images below on Pinterest the other day, and they’ve stayed with me. This is the direction the color palette is heading, I think.

Images: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4

You’ve seen that bottom image below here, and I’ve been thinking of picking up a few blue and white porcelain jars or vases like this since using a similar one in the design of this room.

I haven’t really made a conscious effort to keeping things to a palette yet (although it’s been kicking around in my mind), as I’ve been enjoying the process of collecting and taking my time. Happily, everything does work pretty well with the above inspiration, and here’s how the furniture and accessories between the two parlors are looking so far.
1. Black Beauty Paint, Benjamin Moore
  You can see the second parlor from every other main room on the first floor, and the black walls give fantastic contrast to the surrounding spaces
2. Pink Ikat Polka Dot Pillows, Jayson Home (Warehouse Sale)
  I picked up two of these pale peachy pink pillows.
3. Gold Suzani Pillow, Jayson Home
  Expensive, but huge and luxe and worth it.
4. Twin Beacons Brass Lamp, Anthropologie
  I waited and waited, and was able to finally grab it on clearance. It’s a heavy, substantial lamp that looks vaguely insect-like, and I love it.
5. Winifred Sofa, Anthropologie
  The most expensive piece of furniture we’ve ever bought (even with it being on sale when we got it), but it’s perfect. It’s also the most comfortable we’ve ever had.
6. Dog Rose Botanical Poster, The Evolution Store
  I cashed in some credits on Fab to get mine a couple of years ago, and now I think I like it even more in this house than I did in the old one!
7. Built-in Bookshelves, Krieger + Associates
  Those are fantastic. I hope mine will be, too.
8. Antique Striped Sofa, Chairish
  I was looking for a smaller striped settee, but this sofa was so perfect that I went for it.
9. Tufted Pink Ottomans, Target
  I like the dash of hot pink these bring.
10. Pale Pink Table Lamp, Robert Abbey
  I used to have two of these, but alas, one of the kids broke one shortly after we moved here.
Of course there are a few outliers that will probably show up in the two spaces too, like my Emily Rickard painting and the crazy floral Blythe chair.

Our carpenter did a lot of work installing components yesterday, and the bookshelves in the front parlor are up on both sides of the window now. He’ll be taking next week off and returning the week after to finish up some of the details, but the bulk of the project is in place! I’ve been trying to stay mindful of the sightlines in this house, and the wall of shelving looks good in context and in relation to the other rooms. The house is an oak-stravaganza (shall I never use that word again?), and I’m good with that.

Now, what color should I go with for the walls in there?
April 17, 2014