I’ve been getting the “oh, you’re nesting!” comments from friends and family a lot lately, and maybe it’s true. I’m organizing closets. I’m arranging and rearranging and then rearranging some more. I think I’ve kind of hit on a good arrangement in the library though (and identified a key missing piece!), so I thought I’d snap a few photos today.
I don’t know if the rug is going to stay. I like it, but I think it’s a little too sweet in the room and the library is either calling for bare floors or something with an entirely different feel. It’s a little too small anyway.
I like the black and white sofa in front of the bookshelves. There is room for the library ladder to roll behind there, so it’s not blocking any access, but I don’t know if I’m crazy about lining up that sofa with the blue one facing the same way in the next room over.
And then there’s that missing piece the room needs: a secretary desk! Yes. This side of the room needs something with some height, and a desk would be useful. I’m thinking it should be black, with masculine lines to offset all of the pink and girly going on in there. Something that won’t compete with the bookshelves, but that can hold its own in the space.
All right, back to nesting! Today’s my birthday, but I don’t think the baby’s interested in making his debut today (though there’s still time, eh?). I’m angling for tomorrow so he can share the date with my grandma, but I’m not due until Friday.
Rebecca
September 22, 2014 at 1:43 pmHappy Birthday!! (by the way, I think the 2 sofas facing the same way looks good, especially because of the contrast in color… Now I want to rearrange my library! ;) )
Ariana
September 22, 2014 at 1:49 pmHappy Birthday!!! If he came today you’d have the best gift ever! Mine is tomorrow just like your grandmother (autumnal equinox ain’t bad!) Love the stripey sofa in front of all the books! Do you have a pocket door in-between
those two rooms? Might break up visual of 2 sofas in the same direction if door was there slightly pulled out… You have lovely space to work with! Yes to
the secretary –absolutely :)
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:40 pmIt’s the next day, still no baby. Happy birthday to you, though! And yes, there are pocket doors between the two rooms. We like to leave them open for flow, but they do break up the visual of the sofas a bit.
Saval
September 22, 2014 at 1:56 pmHappy Birthday!
I kinda want to see that room fuchsia. I think it would look awesome with the wood. Which I’m sure you have plenty of time to due before the baby comes.
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:40 pmLet me break out the paint roller — I’ve got plenty of time (and energy) to do it!
Katy
September 22, 2014 at 1:56 pmHappy Birthday!!!! And I think the sofas look good- they create a flow. But then again, I have a limited view of the set-up. Good luck with the birth!
karla
September 22, 2014 at 2:02 pmhappy nesting! happy birthday! today’s my birthday, too!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:41 pmHappy birthday!
jenn aka the picky girl
September 22, 2014 at 2:06 pmHappy birthday!!
I vote keeping the sofa there – it looks AMAZING in front of the shelves. The whole room is coming together so nicely. You’re making me rethink my bookshelves. Right now they’re styled, but they’re stuffed, and yours look so nice and neat just shelved the way they are. Hm.
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:42 pmI love nicely styled shelves, but then I also love them packed full of books. Ours are not really organized in any way yet — we just unpacked all of our boxes and started putting them away as we got to them. I joke with people when they come over and start looking at the titles that the more impressive ones may well be at the top!
Glenda
September 22, 2014 at 2:20 pmHappy Birthday!
LOVE, LOVE your library!!!!
and happy nesting to you!
Staci @ My Friend Staci
September 22, 2014 at 2:24 pmHappy Birthday, Nicole! It’s my birthday too! I love the idea of a secretary desk there. I am constantly reminding myself to balance out the height of objects around a room, even if it’s putting art on the wall or hanging a lamp or plant. :)
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:44 pmI’d been thinking of a desk down there, but yes, one with some height would bring a bit of balance. It’s so easy to end up with everything being at the same level (or close to it). And happy birthday to you, too!
april
September 22, 2014 at 2:52 pmHappy birthday! And I love the striped sofa in front of the window but seeing its matchy blue twin next door might drive me insane as well. But you’ll figure it out-you always do!
sandi m
September 22, 2014 at 2:57 pmHappy Birthday Nicole!
Love sofa in front of the book cases – something about the vertical likes of the books on the shelves and the stripes in the sofa.
Definitely, yes, for the secretary. Love the artwork next to it. Not sure about the chair – maybe add a cushion of the sofa fabric?
I agree about the 2 sofas facing the same direction – maybe the blue can be moved around in that room?
So fun – wishing you a speedy delivery!!!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:45 pmThe rocker doesn’t really fit, style-wise, but with a baby on the way it will be nice to have downstairs. We spend so much time in the two parlors, and I love being able to rock my babies. :)
Celeste
September 22, 2014 at 2:59 pmHappy Birthday! How wonderful it will be to have your birthdays so close whether tomorrow or later in the week.
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:46 pmYes, it will be close either way! Eleanor and Brandon are only three days apart.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
September 22, 2014 at 3:10 pmWhoa …. getting verrry close, ha! Any day now for sure. Can hardly wait! (Isn’t that a name of a movie?) In the meantime, Happy Birthday Nicole! If possible, relax (as if) have a nice meal or two, and oh yeah …. then, there’s birthday cake!
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
September 22, 2014 at 3:11 pmP.S. No opinions re sofa. Kinda difficult to see the entire floor. For sure, you’ll make it lovely. Keep entertaining us!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:46 pmI should take a photo of the entire space at once. I pulled up the rug last night and I like it better already.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
September 22, 2014 at 3:18 pmOh. I’m back. Idea: What would the sofa look like (everything else included) if it was placed in front of bookcase? So you could grab a book, then sit down. Maybe a table in back of couch. A (pink?) lamp might work. Could be okay. I can imagine it from the other photos just glanced at. The rooms are gorgeous. Wow. Beautiful. With thoughts of adding a secretary …. more lovely!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:48 pmBrandon likes that placement too, but I feel like it isn’t as welcoming to walk into the house and see the back of a sofa from the entryway — even with a nice sofa table.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
September 23, 2014 at 2:24 pmMaybe one day, when you have some extra time (yeah right) we can see a photo of striped couch facing books. Just for the hay of it. Closing my eyes, it seems very cozy. Ohwell. Graduated from Ray College of Design too long ago obviously, so out of touch. Haha! Loving all the suggestions. Lots of cool fans Nicole!
itziar
September 22, 2014 at 3:26 pmWOW!
You are amazing girl!
Love how you draw on the photo ; )
Sasha
September 22, 2014 at 3:48 pmHappy Birthday! I hope you’re having a wonderfully blessed day! And best of luck on the birth, whenever your newest little decides to arrive. :)
Laura @ Rather Square
September 22, 2014 at 4:13 pmHappy birthday and upcoming due date! I agree with you about the rug – it doesn’t seem to have the right boldness, and for me the color also competes with the walls (or gets lost next to them…). What are you thinking to replace it?
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:49 pmI took the rug out last night, and even just the bare floor is better. I think that if I was going to add a rug back in, it would be something dark.
Deb
September 22, 2014 at 5:29 pmLove the wall color of your library! it looks amazing although not sure about both sofas facing the same. Where did you get your floor lamp…love the black and brass. Best wishes for a smooth, healthy delivery…I am a L&D RN, so that is where my heart lies. :)
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:49 pmThank you! The floor lamp was from Crate & Barrel, a few years ago.
Laura Gaskill
September 22, 2014 at 7:12 pmHappy birthday Nicole!!! I love your library! I’m dying to have a library room of my own…maybe in a future house. :)
A secretary is a great idea! What about black lacquer with a bright (red? raspberry?) painted interior?
Hugs! Laura
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:49 pmOoh, I LOVE that idea!
Victoria
September 22, 2014 at 7:24 pmLove the prints! Everything looks absolutely beautiful!
Emmie {Blue 11 Interiors}
September 22, 2014 at 8:08 pmHappy Birthday! The library looks great, but I think you’re right with the new rug and a secretary on that wall. Can’t wait to see the finished room!
Melissa @ HOUSEography
September 22, 2014 at 8:18 pmQUICK – check the Arhaus clearance sale going on right now. I think they had a tall black secretary!!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:50 pmYou’re right! It’s gorgeous.
Amy
September 22, 2014 at 8:34 pmHappy birthday! September birthdays are the best. :) Your built ins are so beautiful. Your ladder reminds me of Jenny’s of littlegreennotebook, who you probably follow too! Good luck this week – hopefully the third delivery’s no biggie. :)
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:50 pmYep, we both built libraries and put in rolling ladders around the same time! I love the way hers turned out.
Dajana
September 22, 2014 at 8:45 pmSretan rođendan Nicole!
P.S. I’m diggin’ where the library is going.
Nitya
September 22, 2014 at 8:59 pmHappy Birthday Nicole and best wishes to you for a safe delivery.
Jess
September 23, 2014 at 7:51 amI know the built ins created some understandable angst during their construction, but I have to say, they look AMAZING filled with books! They truly look like an original feature of your lovely house. And I’m so happy to see them actually filled with books — What a concept! So many designers/stylists do that weird, airy knick knack decorating on their shelves, so it’s so refreshing to see what you’ve done here. Looking great! And HBD!
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:51 pmThank you. It was a learning experience and I would have done things a bit differently, but I am pretty happy with them overall.
Amanda
September 23, 2014 at 9:22 amThose shelves! I know they caused so much stress but they really do look so perfect, and like they were always, always there in that spot.
Making it Lovely
September 23, 2014 at 1:52 pmThat’s what I had hoped for!
Alissa
September 23, 2014 at 10:08 amHippo Birdie two ewe!
I had to chime in on the comments :) It was seeing how the bookcases look so connected to the original woodwork in the house that made me do it… You have a great eye and are not afraid to use it. Even when it may not be following what is current or on trend. The end result is nothing short of stunning and elegant, respectful of the house’s architecture and rich history, while still putting your own stamp on it. (Something I have been aiming for in my own period home, gaining even more respect along the way for those that can do this balancing act well. Which you do.) Well done.
As for the sofa… My inclination is to NOT have it sharing lines with the other sofa mostly because from the angles that I have seen in the photos, the rooms connected like that seem to create a longer and more narrow space. Having the sofas aligned appears to my eye to enhance the length of the space and make the rooms to appear to be more like one room with a divider, rather than two separate and complementary rooms. However, that being said, you have a much better eye for these things, and can see the space from every angle ;-) so I would really just say: follow your instinct. (And moving a sofa around a room is an easy fix if you change your mind or just want to change things up…)
And I know that this comment is probably way to long already… But… The rug. This may seem crazy, but do you still have that incredible Madeline Weinrib rug? The pink would be a great pink for the botanical print, the size looks about right for the space, and the dual stripes might just work. Not to mention shopping in ones own “closet” (basement/attic/garage/storage/supplies/etc.) is always the best score around >:-D
Lindsay
September 23, 2014 at 10:20 amHappy birthday, Nicole! I cannot even tell you how much I love seeing your shelves full of actual books. It’s so refreshing and real. Good luck with your impending birth. And best wishes to Eleanor, her old little brother August, and her new little brother XXX :-)
Elena
September 23, 2014 at 10:37 amHappy Birthday Nicole!!!! The library looks outstanding!
Laura
September 23, 2014 at 1:41 pmI’ve been waiting to see pictures of the library, especially to see how the color works with the wood. It is perfect! I love how you’ve brought it all together. I especially like the sofa and chair. A tall secretary is the thing!
Happy birthday and best wished for your delivery. Can hardly wait to be introduced to your baby boy.
Nesting, Waiting | Making it Lovely
September 25, 2014 at 11:13 am[…] cachepot and a beautiful decorative tassel, and I’ve come to find that the cabinet doors in the library (which have been just fine until now) need knobs ASAP. I’ve also picked up two new […]
Megan
September 25, 2014 at 2:25 pmYou really have a good eye for these things. I think that the sofa works because of the bookcases making such a pretty backdrop. Can you move the peacock sofa around so it is not inline?
Good luck with your baby! I hope you don’t have any severe complications after birth. And I hope he isn’t as late as Elanor was for your sake. With my last baby, she was “late” (don’t you hate “due” dates?!) and I was so mad that she wasn’t looking like she was coming anytime soon. I went for a walk to a friends house to let out some steam. Finally, after I practically stomped home with one foot on the curb and one foot off, she was born 3 hours later! I say that is a tried and true labor inducing technique!
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September 27, 2014 at 7:34 pm[…] Not only is this room lovely, but it has a striped couch. A STRIPED COUCH. […]
emily
September 28, 2014 at 9:29 pmi kinda love seeing the sofas lined up…so much pretty all in a row. and, i love the secretary idea…i’m VERY obsessed with the LaCourte desk from williams sonoma…it’s super pricey, but has really great straight (almost midcentury but sorta traditional)lines and would be perfect in your room…