Books, the subtle accessory in a room

14 Wednesday Sep 2016

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hello my friends, happy wednesday!

If you’ve visited me throughout the years you may have picked up on the fact that I love libraries. Weather public, university or home libraries, they all hold equal interest for me. [HERE, HERE, and HERE] I love books and the warmth they give to a room.

This post was inspired by a post in late spring by my friend, Vanessa, of Reviving Charm. She shared information of a London based company known as Ultimate Library. They will curate and assemble an entire library for you, whether it be a residential or commercial project. To read more about how this works and some of the locations where they have done this service visit HERE.

Today I’d like to talk about the role of books as an accessory. I realize that anytime a book is placed in a stack on a coffee table it could be considered an adornment, as well as something to read, but it seems to me books have advanced to a more prominent place in a room today.

Beribboned antique books are used alongside an assortment of other tabletop antiques.

These beauties make such a statement in this bookcase. Wouldn’t you love to open one {carefully} and read it, look for the date?

{via}

This desk vignette is beautiful and the books definitely play a role.

{source unknown}

I’ve always loved a library table. Wish I had room for one. This book display hits all of my hot buttons. Art work, a vintage pocket watch, the tray and a scented candle, and the still life effect of it all by adding the bowl of apples, perfection.

{via}

I’m certain you’ve seen this trend in displaying books. I guess you either hate it or love it. I confess it appeals to me and I’ve done a version of it in my own bookcase with my design books. Where do you stand on the color coordinated books topic?

{via}

…and what about removing the jackets. Again, I’m sure there are those that feel it is sacrilege and others, like me, that actually like the look of the books better without their jackets than with!

{via}

I really like the way we all use books to elevate items such as this orchid and the smaller accessory on the chest when decorating.

{via}

Blue and white beauty with books and other wonderful items of interest.

{via}

I also like color coordinated books in a vignette. Intentionally placing a stack of green books with the blue, white and green set-up just makes it all the prettier in my view.

{via}

The collection of magnifying glasses, along with the leather books is divine!

{tumblr}

This space has a library feel to it. The vintage prints, marble bust and books!

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I love this narrow opening in such a formal setting, filled to the top with vintage books!

{tumblr}

Tell me, do you decorate with books?

♥ Karen

Library week

11 Wednesday May 2016

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

library

Okay, so library week was actually April 10 – 16th but I have been about a month behind since this year began. Anyway, I love libraries and look for any excuse to share my favorite images of libraries, both great and small.

Home libraries, or bookcases to many, bring such warmth and interest to any room.

{via}

{St. John’s College, Cambridge England}

A terrestrial globe in the Study at Bateman’s, East Sussex. Made by Philips. Ebony and Metal. Bateman’s was the home of the writer Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936.

A staircase library seems like such a great use of wall space.

{Harvard University Library}

The Hoose Library of Philosophy, USC (University of Southern California) is one of the prettiest libraries I’ve ever seen in person. [below]

{University of Oxford Library, England}

Do you have a favorite library? ♥ Karen

{Home} Study, Library, Den…a name for a cozy corner?

24 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Architectural elements, House and Home, Study/Office

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

den, library, study

Things that Inspire recently did a post about studies and libraries and what the technical differences are. It was fun to read and to see the architectural detailing and furnishings that technically define each room as a den, library, study, etc. Be sure to visit Holly’s site, you will find plenty of beauty and inspiration.

Since a study, library or den, by most definitions, would be what I describe as my favorite room in the house, I thought I’d share some rooms that I’ve recently pinned and consider cozy and inviting.

Kelly, over at Talk of the House recently shared this room, furnished with black and white checked everything. I love this room because by using one pattern it feels like a ‘neutral’. It’s a relaxing room because of the black and white check.

The above room could be considered the ‘den’ since it screams cozy to me. The books, overstuffed sofa and Jack Russell terrier invite me in. But, since there are bookcases, I suppose I could accept a descriptive of ‘library’ just as easily and family room or den.

The room below would qualify as a study were it not for the fact that it might be a spot within a larger room, maybe a living room. I see an upholstered chair or sofa just to the right of the desk. I like the wall gallery above the desk, it gives definition to the space and adds interest, don’t you think?

The warm wood, antique books, hunt scene painting, fireplace and Persian rug are ingredients I consider essential components of a wonderful library and/or den. There’s a TV so I believe this would most probably qualify as a den. (Mark D. Sikes)

The room below is a favorite because I love being able to see what’s going on outside when I’m reading or working on the computer. The windows at ceiling level create a tree house ambiance. I could envision a nap in the alcove, after my work is finished, of course!

(Eric Taylor Photography}

Now this is a study! I love the French doors and and built-in bookcase.

{source}

{Jennings & Gates: Notes from a Virginia Country House}

{Splendid Sass}

{source}

Pottery Barn called this command center. Looks efficient, doesn’t it?

{source}

A study with focus. I know I’d probably not get very much done here…I’d be daydreaming out the window a majority of the time, but I like the simplicity of the space.

{source}

Another Mark D. Sikes design. I love the beams, the book cases, the view and the fireplace…this room seems to have it all (except a television, which might be a good thing).

{source}

Do you have a favorite cozy corner in your home? What do you call it?

{Home} Your library book is due

17 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Collections & Accessories, Decorating, House and Home, Uncategorized

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

books, library

{Art at Home}

{our home library}

I’ve never been able to put my finger on it but there’s something magical about books for me. I find book stores and libraries to be very relaxing and can loose track of time when I visit. Does this happen to you?

{Content in a Cottage}

{Cote De Texas}

The odd thing is, I have never been a voracious reader. I do love to read and I thoroughly enjoy my design and cook books (no surprise there) but overall I’m not one to read more than a book a month.

{Pure Style}

{Connoisseur}

{Haus Design}

Still, there is something very pleasing about a vintage or antique book. The look can always add something to a vignette in my home. I’ve purchased a few leather bound books that I found at various antique stores and they are my favorites for accents on a table or tray. I love an old cloth bound book as well.

In fact, I recently went to our Friends of the Library (an in-library used book store), and found a book from 1902 named, “Bonnie Prince Charlie” and inside the cover was the name Emma Albrecht…Albrecht was my maiden name. I had to have it!

I’ve always thought I would like a room with ceiling to floor books and room enough for 2 large wing-back chairs and an ottoman with a nice table between. A cozy throw on the back of the chair to fend off a draft and since I’m dreaming, a wonderful fireplace.

{tumblr – WASPing through the Countryside}

{tumblr – Dying of Cute}

{Belgian Pearls}

I have friends whose homes are free of books on display, some of them avid readers and learned people, so I understand it’s a preference (to be surrounded by books, or not).

{Atlanta Homes}

{Art at Home}

{Rose Tarlow via Architectural Digest}

Books in a room catch my attention every time.

{Mark D. Sikes via Architectural Digest}

{Slim Paley}

{tumblr – Looking for Rainbows in the Moonlight}

So how about it? Do you like books around you, in your home?

{Home} Library, chapter 2

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Renovating

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

library, upholstery

You may recall that nearly a year ago I painted our library. You can read about it HERE. I knew I needed to recover the sofa in that room due to fading but had to find the right fabric and save the necessary dollars.

As you can see in the “before” pictures, the wall paper and sofa fabric had faded from the direct south facing sunlight. We believe we’ve remedied the issue by extending an overhang outside the bay window and by tinting. Crossed fingers that this will be a permanent fix. We’ve had to have the finish on the ladder back chair repaired due to sun damage. These renovations sure can get expensive!

BEFORE (ABOVE)

Last month, call it an anniversary present, we had the window seat cushion, sofa and pillows made and I thought I’d share the final images with you.

I choose a cotton velvet in a taupe color for the sofa. I had my upholsterer add the nail head detailing and replace the straight wooden feet with bun feet. What do you think? I was happy with the way it turned out.

I was able to buy a soft throw on Josh & Main to add a splash of black. Since the sofa is love seat size I wanted to avoid throw pillows but felt something more was needed.

I apologize for the lighting in the picture below, this table sits to the right of the love seat. {Note: I’m currently taking photography classes in an attempt to learn how to use my DSLR camera. Hopefully, there will be vast improvement in my photography once I know how to set all of the buttons and settings}

This vignette is on a tray on top of the wicker hamper I use as a coffee table. I used to have a butler’s tray table (actually still do, it’s in our attic) but I liked the gray wicker hamper and have found the added storage to be a bonus.

The window seat and cushion for the windsor chair is this quilted taupe fabric with a small black leaf pattern; the pillow looks to be embroidered but its machine embroidery.

Madison has given me her full approval of the changes. This is one of her favorite places to nap.

I was able to keep the toile on the ladder back chair…I really like toile and fortunately I was able to find coordinating fabrics that worked in the room.

Are you beginning to sense that I like dogs?!

The print over the sofa is a sentimental favorite because my grandma bought it for me and I think of her whenever I sit in this room.

So, that’s it. I hope you see some improvement and will leave me a comment. I always enjoy our chats!

Catch up with some really great ideas over at No Minimalist Here open house party.

{Home} Library love

05 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Personal Information, Renovating

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

library

First on my “Dream List ~ 2012” for our home is tackling the library, sometimes referred to as the reading room.

Those dear sweet blog-friends that follow me regularly may remember my repainting the room and giving it a mini-makeover HERE. The upholstery work was on the list but the funds weren’t in the designated envelop! 🙂

{via tumblr}

So, thanks to my “birthday group” girlfriends I’ve been given the fabric of choice for the small loveseat as well as the window seat. Lyn (Hubby) has agreed the labor can be my January birthday gift, and since I’m not good with delayed gratification I hope to have the entire project finished by the end of January, wish me luck.

{Aerie}

I don’t have images of the fabrics I’ve selected yet, so I thought I would give you all some library love from the images I’ve collected of book lined spaces in homes. I must say, as I sat in my library yesterday visualizing the finished sofa and window seat, I could totally visualize ceiling to floor book cases in the room. That’s not going to happen but it would be really pretty!

{via}

Michael Smith

House Beautiful

Pieter Estersohn

Jane Moore

If I installed a secret door it would lead to the garage, don’t think that would be too great.

{via Slim Paley}

{via the adventures of tartanscot}

and the piece de resistance…

…an ‘authors’ wall…how cool is that? Wouldn’t that be a fun addition to a library?

And while we’re on the topic, did you get any good books this Christmas? Do you have an ‘to do’ renovations on your list for 2012?

Renovation of the library

08 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, DIY (do it yourself), Renovating

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

library

I’ve talked about renovating our library a few times, but I finally started this project. Does that ever happen to you? You think you want to re-do a room and for a variety of reasons you just don’t get around to that first step (in this case, removing wallpaper).

Before renovation (above), after wallpaper removal (can you believe the room was pink?…more on that later).

The room used to be our dining room (read about the switch HERE) but now serves as a smallish “sitting” room which I affectionately call the “library” since the wonderful southern exposure makes it a great room to read in (and yes, the walls, under the wallpaper, were pink) As with so many benefits (plenty of sunlight) there is a down side…everything fades within a very short time due to non-stop sun exposure. I will have to either upholster with Sunbrella fabrics next time or have the windows tinted, or both.

~BEFORE~

Can you see the faded sofa fabric…if not, that’s a good thing because it will be awhile before I reupholster.

~BEFORE~

The thing is, I figured since upholstery is still a ways off I should go ahead and paint the room. Painting became more of an urgency when I decided to move the large, framed print (in picture above) to another location in the house. To my dismay the wallpaper was so badly faded from the sun it looked dreadful.

Stripping the wallpaper wasn’t too difficult. I have used, with success, the liquid remover that you mix with warm water and spray on the walls, then begin to strip the paper using a light hand with a scraper. The labor-intensive part was using TSP and warm water to dissolve and remove the wallpaper paste. If you do not remove every bit of paste your paint will crackle and ruin your new paint job (I speak from experience).

Ta-da…here is the paint color, finished and ready for furniture. What’s missing? The ladder-back chair that sits to the right of the gate-leg table is being repaired. The sun had really beat up the finish and my furniture re-finisher said her could fix it for so few dollars that we decided to let him work his magic.

Finding a paint color wasn’t easy, as I mention HERE. But after an exhaustive search I ended up with a fairly safe, and very pleasing choice—the same color I have in our dining room, which I really like. Dunn Edwards “Inside Passage”. This color can take on a variety of hues depending on the time of day and the amount of light. It has a grayish look and that is what I was searching for.

I kept most of the accessories and wall art in the same place (I did replace the botanic art (which was badly faded) for an etching Son #1 and his lovely wife brought me from Paris, which makes me smile every time I walk into the room. I did add a basket of childrens books under the end table for upcoming visits from our granddaughter.

Oh, and about the pink walls…many years ago I was a total English Country/Mario Buatta gal and cabbage rose-filled chintz with all the accents were my deal. I had a Ralph Lauren “Alison” comforter on our king sized bed in the master bedroom. Hubby used to smile at his friends and declare, “I’m very comfortable with my masculinity”. Bless his heart. Anyway, the pink wasn’t nearly as “pink” as it appeared to me upon removal of the wallpaper and like many things in those early years after about 10 years of pinkness I was over it. There was a collective sigh of relief from hubby and sons #1 & 2!

In the above image I forgot to take the towel off the love seat…this is where the cat sleeps and the amount of cat hair that little towel keeps off the cushion is amazing! On the right is the sofa sans towel.

This is probably the first DIY project that was this involved I’ve taken on since I’ve been working full time. It was rewarding but I confess it took a village…thank you doesn’t begin to cover the appreciation I must extend to my dear friend Gretchen! She spent an entire day helping me paint and then returned the following day to help me paint the crown molding. Gretchen, XOX to you and my offer to help you garden stands!

There you have it…my “before” and “after” Part I. When I reupholster the window seat, sofa and possibly the ladder back chair I’ll post pictures. Any thoughts, suggestions?

One quick note about the Jerk Chicken—I prepared it and it really was easy and delicious. I made a couple of changes and thought I’d pass them along: I substituted jalapeno chiles (fresh) for the habanero chile the recipe calls for. {only because my market didn’t have fresh habanero chiles}…and I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. They were easy and because they marinate overnight, they were very flavorful. It’s a keeper recipe, in my book.

Hard copy vs. digital

18 Monday Oct 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Trends

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

home, library

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved perusing magazines and books on the topic of interior design/decorating (I’ve been told there’s a difference; I think some RULES are involved with design).

This room looks comfortable and inviting for an afternoon of reading.

With the inevitable continuation (yes, there was a time I thought, “surely magazines and newspapers will always be around”) of digital media I’ve pondered, “Can a self-proclaimed home decorating enthusiast ever find happiness with digital magazines and books?” I confess the answer for me is a resounding NO, with some qualification.

Reading about room design is such an escape for me. I have often said that feathering my nest is my artistic outlet, my hobby and my passion. I know from reading my favorite blog sites and design books that I am not alone in this. In fact some of my closest friends share this passion. So with the loss of magazines such as Southern Accents, Cottage Living and House & Garden, I felt the blow. I kept it to myself for fear that most would wonder what was wrong with me—after all, they are only magazines!

I love the ease of viewing images of rooms by the hundreds (thousands even) from all over the world on the World Wide Web, with just the click of a mouse. That said, spending hours in front of my computer fails to give me the same enjoyment as curling up in a favorite reading chair with a stack of magazines or design books and a cup of tea, or glass of wine if it’s after 5 p.m. is pure bliss!

I don't own an iPad but I've heard they are wonderful.

The Analog Sherpa, a site that features news and opinion on the rapidly changing marketing/advertising world recently had a thought-provoking piece on this topic. While THIS article focuses on newspapers, it’s a trend that seems destined to take down some of the publications I cherish.

I’ve visited Nesting Newbies, a digital magazine that has gotten lots of recognition since its first issue late last year. And don’t get me wrong, the magazine is very attractive and has a lot to offer readers, including some wonderful recipes, BUT at the end of the day I want to wind down instead of boot up for a visit to a favorite magazine.

This toile-covered ladderback chair and ottoman has given me hours of comfort while reading.

I am an optimist by birth and choose to believe there will be new shelter magazines to replace the ones shuttered and that IF they all go away I’ll get used to sitting in that comfy chair with my iPad (which means I’d have to purchase one) and be eagerly flipping pages of my favorite digital magazine. I’d love to have you talk me down on this—what do you think? Will you be okay with digital media?

Is it me? Am I trying to hold on to a archaic ritual?

Visiting the Library

28 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating

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Tags

books, decorating with books, library

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” —Cicero

Image via Country Living---great place to read a book!

I enjoy reading, honest I do, but I must confess I prefer reading about home design and related topics (my passion). Up until recently I wouldn’t have uttered those words out loud—does posting count as “out loud”? I prefer reading design books over thought-provoking fiction and non-fiction most of the time and it was thanks to a designer friend of mine that I felt it was okay to mention that fact.

This is the left side of our family room bookcase; the books share space with the speakers.

Pardon the Nike commercial that is currently on the screen on our TV in our family room bookcase (my husband was watching the World Cup...as you can see my library shares space with other entertainment tools!

We happened to be at a ladies luncheon together and at the time I belonged to a book group. The topic of what everyone was reading came up and as we went around the table, when we got to my talented designer friend she simply said, “I only read design books”. Not with a defensive tone but just a matter of fact. I felt free, I thought, “well, if my friend, who I know is intelligent and interesting to converse with can do this, so can I!”

This is a very inviting living room/family room library.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been reading a murder mystery series by Louise Penny that is wonderful, but I confess that there are some books that don’t hold my attention. So, I borrow from the library any and all interior and garden design books I hear of. If I LOVE them I put them on my Amazon wish list and hope that someone in my family will buy it for me for birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day or Christmas.

A library can be as little as 7 books for some!

I’ve been introduced to a library website you could easily get lost in—I’ve attached the link but I am not sure of the name of the site. Their HOME page reads, “Booklovers never go to bed alone.” The site is open for folks to post pictures of libraries—public and private, on a daily basis {so the pictures change daily}.

Books can add color and design to any room.

Then my husband sent me a link to this website where you can record the titles of the books you read. It’s great because, If you’re like most of us, you read books and then forget the title and/or author’s name. This offers you your own private journal of books/authors and your review of the book. If you keep it to just the record of your personal reading-list the Library Thing is free.