Home Library Design Ideas, Bookcases & Decor

Home library types

2011-06-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

A little bit of theory :)

When people begin to entertain the idea of creating an in-home library it is important to plan ahead depending on the type of a library is actually desired. Library design must suit the function! There are three major types, as far as I can tell.

1. Display library.

If you have an existing collection of rare books and first editions this is probably the type of library you are thinking of. It is a much more difficult task to start a display library if you do not already possess some considerable bibliophile treasures. In many cases, books in a display library are not meant to ever be read or consulted. These books are nothing but investment, and to protect this investment you need to consider adequate security measures, as well as storage facilities with temperature and humidity control. You cannot replace your display library should anything happen to it!

2. Decorative library

If you want to show off books that do not hold any intrinsic value, but are simply beautifully crafted, your task is somewhat less burdensome. No need to worry too much about proper storage and security. Still, try to treat your books as well as you can. But it is important to make the distinction between decorative and display libraries, in my opinion. There are some resources on home library books used in decorating, by the way.

3. Working house library
The most useful kind of home library, in my humble opinion. Usually, people who need to consult books on a regular basis turn their entire living spaces into libraries. As a friend of mine put it, "I live in a giant bookcase."

4. Mixed libraries

You can certainly mix the three main library types. Just be sure to separate the books, using separate bookcases for various types of books. You can also have, for instance, a display library next to the dining room and a working library upstairs etc.

Black bookcases in a home library

2010-10-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

See also:

Do you want your library room interior to have elegance? Are you striving to achieve dramatic contrast in your space design? Black is the color that modern designers often choose for these specific purposes. The key here is not to overdo (unless your last name is Dracula) and to have plenty of accents and detail-rich features that will ultimately bring your home library to life. The good news is that when you use black as the primary color for your bookcases it will be your books that will easily add color and interest to the room. After all, book spines are an excellent choice for house decor. Modern books can be very bright and colorful. Let's not forget, however, that brown is the color that most commonly seen in traditional libraries of the past. If you have a lot of leather-bound books (antique or modern) you will need to make some decisions about "color management" in your home library. Take a look at the black bookcase below. The books stored in it are primarily brown with some gold on the spines. Now, notice the brown floor vases, bronze horse head book end and the brownish curtain. The rooms comes together, despite the use of the two colors that can sometimes clash: black and brown.

For comparison, I have a black bookcase that by some stroke of genius was filled with black and gray books. All the accents, however, still manage to brighten it up a bit.

Another way to add life to a home library with black furniture is to use something like this Delano bookcase. The side panels are not made out of solid wood pieces which creates an stylish airy look.

Here is another common color solution. This ebony bookcase has a contrasting back panel finish. Since it is unlikely that your books will fill the entire shelf, this color will still be visible, adding warmth and richness to the library room.

Book Tower -- a unique over-sized bookcase for living rooms and home libraries

2010-10-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Over-sized books always present a challenge. At pubic and academic libraries they are stored in special "folio" bookcases, which makes sense -- otherwise you would have to make all book cases large enough to accommodate such volumes, thus significantly limiting the space you have for book storage. In a home library, over-sized books can end up on top of other books, they are often left on desks, coffee-tables -- what have you. Which is a shame, because these are usually superb editions with quality illustrations and great looking spines. This book tower offers a solution to this over-sized books problem.

For centuries codex books (as opposed to scrolls) were typically stored flat, not on the side which is the case today. This was quite practical, because vellum books were heavy and the binding was never strong enough to support them in upright position. Basically, books were treated like wine :) The same principle is used in this book tower. Even very large editions can be placed on the shelves without causing any visual chaos that would have been inevitable when mixing horizontally and vertically arranged volumes. The base of the book tower is very wide and durable -- no reason to fear that the shelves will become unstable. An added benefit is the ability to arrange the books for maximum decorative effect, by choosing the right shelves for books of different sizes. This point is illustrated in the photo above by the arrangement of branches that also helps define your interior space in a similar way. Perfect for a living room, this solution can also find its application in a dedicated home library. So, if you have a wide assortment of over-sized books, try this book tower that combines function and style.

Ladder bookcase & Waterfall bookcase - design, decor and function.

2010-06-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Waterfall bookcase is a great way to break up the monotone look of library walls with a graduated shelves that are reminiscent of cascading waterfalls. On a functional level, waterfall bookcases are a great way to arrange books by size, while making sure that smaller books do not end up lost on uniformly deep shelves. Besides, this helps fight the urge to have more than one row of books on each shelf - a plague of many home libraries!

In modern design, ladder bookcases are most reminiscent of traditional waterfall bookcases so prominent in Regency and Victorian libraries. I would not be surprised if some people used the term waterfall bookcase loosely, thus including ladder bookcases, but the latter (pun intended) also have the effect of preserving the openness of a modern living room, they do not dominate the space and allow the color and detail of their surroundings to remain visually prominent.

New book on using books for home decoration

2010-03-11T06:13:00.000-08:00

Books do furnish a room by Leslie Geddes-Brown is the most recent of notable publications that deal with home libraries and decorative use of books. The title seems to imply that the author is defending his position, but there is really nothing to defend here. Books are beautiful, versatile and useful! One particular feature of this book is that it recognizes the value of books in decorating different types of rooms: living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, hallways and even bathrooms.

Bedside "Book" Table

2009-09-22T02:56:00.000-07:00

You don't need any plans for this sort of bedside table. Just a stack of over-sized books and... a couple of belts. If you tighten the belts the table will be structurally sound. Perhaps keeping the buckles on the side rather than on the top would work better. There are obviously other ways to keep the books together, but it is more important to consider the various choices you have in customizing this table. You can use books that reflect your taste (as well as distaste for certain books!). You can even go with a particular time period. Of course, I don't advise any misuse of incunabulae, but some nice leather bound antique books could look absolutely stunning in this capacity. Also, depending on the style of your home library this bedside table can find its place there, just blending in...

Bookcase plans

2009-09-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Due to high interest amongst that the visitors of this blog have in woodworking, I decided to put together a list of some freely available bookcase plans that can be found on the Internet. There are many places out there where plans can be purchased and that's fine. But why not explore the free ones? Perhaps with some slight modifications you can build your dream bookcase!

Barrister bookcase plans

How to build a bookcase

How to build a Bookcase: Step-by-Step Woodworking Plans

Bookcase Plans - Make Your Own Bookcase Design

The Tall Bookcase

Build your own bookcases

Short Bookcase

See also:

Ladder bookcase & Waterfall bookcase - design, decor and function.

Home decorating with books: for your library and the living room

2009-09-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

This may be a touchy subject, but there are people who are not at all enamored with the process of reading, but still enjoy the looks of books. One of the most curious approaches I have seen is something that a California company (Book Decor) does with old leather-bound books. They sell them by the foot! In many cases these are books in foreign languages, so you can be absolutely sure that under no circumstances a momentary weakness or lapse of judgment will allow you to be caught cuddling up in an armchair with one of these books.

It is also conceivable that someone, still a great lover of books, understands the value of books in home decoration. There are a few books available on this subject (no "Home library for dummies, sorry!):

Marble busts and some principles of home library design

2009-09-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Many depictions of traditional libraries prominently feature marble busts of writers, philosophers and various historic figures. I would like to stress the importance of such elements in home library design. Here is why.

One of the most basic principles of design that I try to follow is the need for balance between various shapes within the same space. To my personal taste, a room that consists largely of the same types of shapes or surfaces (for instance round tables, round stools, round place mats - and all that in an oval room to boot) cannot be seen as a well designed space. Now, libraries by their very nature make the prevalence of squares and rectangles unavoidable. Books are notoriously angular and bookcases are usually nothing but fractal rectangles of sorts (here is an example of rather unusual bookcases, however). This design handicap is well understood by all, so not much is needed to rectify the situation. One can employ crown moldings, wood carvings, furniture with rounded angles etc. Of course, some individual accents are an excellent choice. Marble busts work great for this purpose. Not only they provide visually appealing curves and various shapes. The very color of the stone stands out, because only occasionally book covers and spines are white! That's why I would recommend marble (plaster or alabaster are OK) busts as opposed to bronze. Not to mention the fact that busts and sculptures add a certain human dimension to any space.

The choice of marble busts these days is quite wide. You shouldn't have to hire an artist to make one unless you want to immortalize your own likeness. Here is a quick sampler of personalities that have inspired home library owners for generations, depending on their intellectual sympathies:

Philosophy: Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Voltaire
Literature: Homer, Shakespeare,
Music: Beethoven, Mozart
History: Pericles, Lincoln, Herodotus

Dan Brown's Home Library

2009-09-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Today Show's interview with Dan Brown features his home library, complete with what he calls "Fortress of Gratitude" where numerous editions of "Da Vinci Code" etc. One would expect Dan Brown to have a home library, right. He is after all a writer. Sort of. For our purposes, it is quite interesting to see a home library designed for a guy who can really afford it. Nice wooden built-ins on two levels, soft lighting, but adequate for reading in a couple of locations (if I assume correctly). A surprising touch is a huge baroque fireplace. Now, I feel bad for having a fireplace in the room next to a room where any number of books are stored. However, it appears that only candles are ever burned in that fireplace. So, I guess that's ok, to create extra coziness without causing heat damage to books. A nice piece of photography, for what it is. I would definitely maximize the video screen. And I would love to see high-res images of this place!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Library Wallpaper

2009-08-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new laptop. Thinking that it would be nice to have a library image for my desktop wallpaper I searched for what I believe to be one of the most magnificent Baroque libraries in the world: The Strahov Monastery Library. The two images have very high resolution, so you can resize it for any desktop resolution you might have. Use the "save photo" link that pops up on the right when you move the mouse over the picture. You can also search the same site for "Strahov" pictures.

Antique books for your home library

2009-07-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

If your home library is purely decorative or you have a peculiar taste for classical literature, here is a simple way to build the collection. This 1909 book contains many lists of books that were considered to be essential for every library at the time. This means that there are numerous copies of these books still in existence and that they are relatively cheap (unless you want to find first editions). Also, because all of these books are now in public domain, they are available in recent editions, usually very nicely bound and a the fraction of a cost of most modern books. By the way, many of these books are indeed worth reading!

Most likely, you would have a difficult time coming up with so many titles on your own. Now you can just make a list and hit the bookstores, Amazon or what have you.

Bookcase headboards - good or bad?

2009-04-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

As a former owner of a bookcase headboard I would like to address those folks who are planning to increase the amount of book storage space in their bedrooms. I assume that the pros of having a headboard bookcase are pretty clear - you can reach for a book anytime you are lying down, and when done reading (which at bed time can be within minutes), there is no need to get up and return the book to the shelf. Now, let's look at the cons:

It is not easy to have adequate storage in a headboard bookcase. Most manufacturers, with good reason, limit the number of bedside shelves to only two or three. If you hope that you will be able to finally have enough room for your ever growing book collection by simply adding one of these bookcases, forget it!
It is simply not safe to have objects towering above your head when you are sleeping. Even a modest paperback can considerably startle you when you are sleeping, and a heavier volume can cause serious injury. Astonishingly, people even place decorative elements and various other objects on their headboard bookcases!
If you think that by adding a headboard case you use your bedroom space smartly, you are mistaken. You are in fact creating unusable space below the level of the matrass, because you cannot store books directly behind the bed, as they would be inaccessible there. Also, the edge your bed will end up too far from the wall, possibly blocking passage. This was the main reason that made me say goodbye to my bookcase headboard.
To be perfectly honest, having books behind your back is a good way to forget that they exist. I remember how the books that I used to store in such a bookcase would just stay there without ever being read!
Personally, I think that bookcase headboards look dated...

Are there any situations when the use of a bookcase headboard is a good idea? Absolutely. If the shelves are deep enough or you have a sliding door to keep them from falling out, AND you have too much empty space in the room, such a design can make your bedroom appear less empty. Also, if you have a large bedroom and the bed is located in the middle, a headboard bookcase with shelves ON THE OTHER SIDE will look just great. Otherwise, just stick with a bedside bookcase or an end table.

Home Library Links

2009-04-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

There are many websites that deal with the subject of home library. Unfortunately, in the world of search engines large public and college libraries receive so much credit that most valuable home library sites are barely visible in query results. Hence this list of links and articles!

I will gladly post links of any and all relevant websites dedicated the home libraries

Faux books in a home library

2009-02-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

Faux Book Box CD / DVD Holder Cabinet

Using faux books is a long-standing tradition in home library decoration. Very often faux book panels are used to cover doors, hidden cabinets and objects that chash in their style with the look of the room (e.g. LCD TVs). There are, believe it or not, manufacturers of faux books. They specialize in creating extremely well-designed panels that feature a variety of different looks.

The beauty of this custom approach to faux books is in the fact that you can fill a "bookcase" with very imaginative titles, often books that don't even exist! The library of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth has a door covered with such faux books. The titles include "Kant on hypocrisy", "Venus observed", "Plays never acted", "Wolf's life of a lamb", "Endless road" by Wanda Farr, and "Knick knacks" by Paddy Whack. There is deep irony in turning actual fake books into virtual fake works that never were and probably never will be written. If you have any sort of creative strain in you, make sure to use this opportunity to show off your imagination. Just keep in mind that hiding a safe with priceless jewels behind such obviously fake books will not be a good idea.

Kids' bookcase extravaganza (actual bookcases shown!)

2009-02-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

It is always a good idea to keep the kids' books separate from the rest of your book collection. Besides, it is nice to be able to spread the book around the house, so that they are in the area where they are most needed. You will probably want to keep your cookbooks in the kitchen. Our children deserve nice dedicated book storage units in their rooms.

Kids' bookcases come in a variety of styles, nearly all of them quite boring. Manufacturers seem to be unable to show more creativity other than what requires to come up with a pink or blue box of shelves with pictures of Disney princesses or Superman drawn all over. The bookcases I show here are, believe it or not, actual bookcases from the collection designed by craft artist Thomas Leman. They are not kids' bookcases per se, but they look SO much like they have just stepped out of a 3d cartoon! Something tells me that the quality of these bookcases is very good, so they will probably last as long as you want them to.

Check out more of this furniture style at dustfurniture.com

Home library meets restaurant design

2009-01-14T15:50:00.001-08:00

As long as you believe that a well designed home library is one of the most beautiful sights in the world, why not consider marrying this look with something entirely different in terms of function and style? Here are some pictures of a restaurant conveniently located above one of the locations of a Russian bookstore chain. The restaurant is called "Biblioteca", which is Italian for "library." The menu, quite appropriately, features Italian dishes. Books and literary references are used as the main design theme, and the color scheme reflects the colors traditionally associated with bookcases and leather-bound books.

See also:

Restaurant Design Ideas
Italian Restaurant Names

Barrister bookcase design plans

2009-01-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

The barrister bookcase is believed to have been popular among British lawyers who often experienced the need to expand their existing book storage capacity. These bookcases can be easily stacked and they look very attractive in a traditional home library. If you are looking for a period piece it is certain to be very pricey. However, if you want to build one, there are some excellent detailed plans. Popular Mechanics published plans for a barrister bookcase in June 1987. I normally wouldn't mention it, but this issue is currently available on Google books:

Popular mechanics: Book keeper

See also:
Bookcase plans

3d home design software - the leading packages

2009-01-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

Years ago I took some time to learn a 3d animation software package called 3ds Max. Given enough time and computer power I can generate nice looking 3d objects and animations. So, I decided to make a few conceptual plans for a home library in 3d. Time is at a premium right now, but, naturally, there are some products on the market that specifically deal with this, making it easy even for someone less knowledgeable than myself to come up with a nice (and architecturally believable) floorplan and a 3d rendering. The tough part turned out to be choosing the right package. After some time I narrowed down the search to two products: Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 8.0 and Punch! Home and Landscape Design Suite. They are both priced at around $99 and have some crucial features that I am looking for. I want to be able to export my floorplans in DXF format, so that I can render them in 3ds Max, adding better lighting controls and other effects. Note that there is a cheaper version of Home Designer, but it does not have this feature. Also, I want to have access to large libraries of 3d objects. Both packages have such libraries and you can access even more libraries online. Plus, you can import objects from a number of formats.

Well, both suites began to look very much the same to me after a while. If only the manufacturers made it easier for me by lowering the prices, so I could own both :) The most annoying thing is that neither software has made demo versions of their programs available. And Punch! does not even have sample renderings or screen shots. I was able to find out, however, that Home Designer Suite is made by Chief Architect, the same company that also makes a professional home design and drafting software packages. You can get a demo version of their Chief Architect X2, even though the process involves submitting a request form. A whole bunch of crucial features are disabled, but you can get a sense of what to expect in their home user market version.

Also, after perusing some scarce reviews I got a sense that Home Designer Suite is slightly more intuitive and provides better looking results. It is also clear that they have a better customer service (as they should, because they also sell $2,000 packages to architects). At this stage I am very much inclined to buy their program, as opposed to Punch! Let's see what happens.

Update: it seems that only 2-d floor plans can be actually exported as DXF from Home Designer Suite...

Bookshelves - a fresh idea for a home library

2009-01-03T04:22:00.001-08:00

A fresh and unusual look can be easily achieved by using what almost appears to be wine storage. What I particularly like about it is that you don't need bookends. For heavier books it is even better if they lie on the side. This way, the binding remains intact longer, and so does the dust cover if there is one. You can put books on the left or on the right side of each "cell". The only thing I would add is a way to put shelves inside the cells, dividing them into two compartments. This would create horizontal surfaces for some art pieces etc. Also, this would make it less evident that the whole shelving unit was converted from something totally different. Another big advantage of this shelving solution is that you can easily find these unusual units or even have them custom built without thinking too much about the design - there are existing plans and plenty of carpenters who can readily build such shelves.

Windows in your home library

2009-01-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

If your resources and housing situation permits, you may want to pay some attention to the windows in the planned library room. It is best when they are facing only one side, preferably not the sunny side of the house. Some people opt for ceiling light access only. The idea is that you get direct light only on the books you are currently reading. Keep this in mind when you encounter home libraries with no windows at all! This design move is almost a given in shelving areas of large public libraries, but remember that you are creating a personal living space in your house. A nice solution to this conundrum is to make a wing (see picture on the left) that would be very well exposed to natural light. You can read or relax in this wing, but make sure to return the books to the shelves when you are done with them, to protect them from sun damage.

Other than these considerations, windows are always a nice way to carry through a particular style of design that you are going for - whether it's Renaissance, Victorian or Art Deco.

Home library books - design, plans and decoration

2008-12-31T13:25:00.000-08:00

With the help of one of my visitors I have compiled an extended list of books dealing with home library design, decorating with books and some books of general interest for bibliophiles.

I would like to especially point your attention to Candida Höfer's Libraries. This book with Umberto Eco's introduction is a true masterpiece and would make a great gift.

For almost 30 years Candida Höfer has photographed interiors, mostly representational spaces accessible to the public, such as staircases, lobbies, reading halls or exhibition spaces. Rather than staging them, she takes their picture in the state she finds them, with great discreetness and a touch of humour.

Libraries are a book producer’s dream. Since nobody photographs libraries as beautifully as Höfer, it seemed only natural for Schirmer/Mosel to dedicate her next publication to the splendid and intimate cathedrals of knowledge across Europe and the US: the Escorial in Spain, the Whitney Museum in New York, Villa Medici in Rome, the Hamburg University library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, the Museo Archeologico in Madrid, and Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, to name just a few. Almost completely devoid of people, as is Candida Höfer’s trademark, these pictures radiate a comforting serenity that is exceptional in contemporary photography.

Reference book racks

2008-12-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

Another passage from Matthews' "The Home Library" highlights an overlooked (despite being quite well-looking) piece of home library furniture - a reference book rack.

"For those who have but few books, which they must needs have at hand when they are working, nothing can be better or more simple than the two little portable, or rather movable, book-stands devised by Mr. F. B. Patterson. He calls the plainer a "Lawyer's Brief-Rack" (Fig. 7); and nothing can be handier for a lawyer hard at work consulting cases than this double row of reports and text-books kept ready to his hand on this pair of neat shelves, mounted on casters, and easy to roll into a corner at will. A slightly more elaborate design Mr. Patterson calls an "Easy-Reference Book-Stand" (Fig.8); it is intended to hold two rows of books of reference, encyclopaedias, biographical or geographical dictionaries, while the more bulky Unabridged American Dictionary lies on its side on a lower shelf, and an atlas—always an inconvenient book to store away—stands up in a pocket behind."

Jay Walker's Home Library

2008-12-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

I am posting this for personal reference, more than anything else. Apparently, these pictures have been all over the Internet. Here is the original story:

Wired: Browse the Artifacts of Geek History in Jay Walker's Library

"The Home Library" by Brander Matthews

2008-12-30T04:35:00.000-08:00

A curious little passage from Brander Matthews book "The Home Library". There is some good advice there, of course, (especially concerning the windows in a home library) but I especially enjoyed the style of Matthews' writing.

ON THE LIBRARY AND ITS FURNITURE.

If a man with a fondness for books has also money enough to build a special room to hold them, as did the late William E. Burton to contain his fine theatrical library, he ought to consult those learned in the law of book-protecting. He would be told that the library should have very thick walls, to exclude the damp of spring, the heat of summer, and the cold of winter. He would be informed that the library should have windows only on one side, and that these windows should be recessed, that the sun may not shine in too violently, to the increase of moths and worms, and to the destruction of bindings. He would learn that the library should not be a corner, and that it should be protected, if possible, by other rooms on three sides. There are those who advocate a library wholly without windows, and lighted only by a skylight, but this is too severe and cheerless an arrangement for a true book-lover. There should be no carpet on the floor, for carpets hold dust, and dust is a great danger to books. Rugs, which may be shaken frequently, are sufficient covering for the floor. The heating arrangements, an open fire-place if convenient, should be ample enough to warm the room without making it hot; the ordinary hot-air furnace is very injurious to books.

These, however, are prescriptions for those who carry a long purse. The ordinary American, for whose use and behoof this simple treatise is intended, is well satisfied if he can give up any corner of his house to his books. As often as not it is an odd room, useless for any other purpose, and cheerless at all times. Now, this ought not to be. The library should be a room into which every member of the family may feel glad to go. It ought to he bright and cheerful. It ought to be easily accessible. It ought to be warmed in winter, and protected from the glare of the sun in summer.

Library related terminology (obscure)

2008-12-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a cornucopia of words produced with the help of the Greek word BYBLON or BYBLOS (book)

Biblioclasm - the destruction of books
Bibliogony - the production of books
Biblioklept - a book thief
Biblioklepcy - book theft
Bibliomancy - divination using books
Bibliomania - an obsession with books
Bibliopegy - bookbinding as a form of art
Bibliophagist - a devourer of books (well, not literally...)
Bibliophile - a lover of books
Bibliophobia - a fear of books
Bibliopoesy - the making of books
Bibliopole - a seller of books
Bibliotheca - a library

Bookends in house library design - dragons, horse heads etc.

2008-12-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

If you want your home library to have a certain thematic look, do not neglect such a simple design element as bookends. With some luck, you should be able to find just the right pieces of brass, metal or wood to perfectly accentuate your book collection. Among the bookends that I own personally own are some Renaissance looking ships, antique colonnades and elephants. I hope to post the pictures some time soon. You can easily find other creatures and objects, including fish bowls, chess pieces, medieval knights and sports memorabilia.

For a long time, one particular idea was associated for me with bookends: if you have to put metal horse heads on your bookshelf, you simply don't have enough books. Not having enough books can, of course, be caused by various reasons, but I my opinion none of these reasons were excusable. I was able to overcome this feeling, mainly due to acknowledging the fact that a home library differs from any other kind of library - it must feature certain design elements that turn it into a living space of a special kind. It is interesting then that bookends are somewhat unique, in a sense that they are designed specifically for the needs of home library owners. Why not use them?

One practical advice that you should keep in mind. Because bookends vary in style and material, you should choose at least the material that you are going to use for most of your bookshelves. For example, it is easy to go with brass or cast iron. This way you will always be able to add more bookends, even if it is impossible to find the exact matches for your existing ones.

Bookends on Amazon

See also:
Book accessories

Custom Book Binding for Home Libraries

2008-12-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

Custom book binding is a good practice found in some academic libraries. This is done to make sure that the books not lucky enough to be published in hard cover can be preserved well and be used by generations of scholars. An owner of a home library has other reasons for book binding, because typically people are more mindful of their own paperbacks, so the possibility for damaging them is limited. The looks of paperbacks are a different issue, however, They easily fade, they lose appeal and they always look cheap. This is where book binding can help out a lot. You can end up with very neat looking hardbacks that would actually improve the look of your home library rather than cheapen it. Unless you are passionate about book binding and want to make it a hobby or even an occupation (which would involve investing in a book binding machine) your best bet is to find a book binding service. As usual, you can expect volume discounts or even negotiate better discounts if you are lucky and persistent.

How much does custom book binding cost?

A ball park figure for basic book binding is around $30 and it goes up very easily once you add options, request leather binding and so on. This may sound like a lot of money, especially if you are considering updating the look of a whole bunch of paperbacks. Keep in mind though, that you are simply paying for the features that you did not have in the original book that you own. Had you purchased a hardback to begin with, how much would that cost? Also, consider the fact that you can turn cheap paperbacks (as well as any other books you own) into superb editions that will greately enhance the appearance of your home library.

Here are a few links that can get you started on your quest for a perfect custom book binding solution:

Virginia Westray
Lynda's Custom Book Binding
Smith Printing Company

Writing table, bureau and secretaire in your home library

2008-11-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

There is a number of home library furniture pieces that did not fare particularly well as technology made a few quantum leaps over the last one hundred years. Small and elegant writing tables, exquisitely designed bureaus, and conveniently placed secretaires were first replaced with heavy desks capable of bearing the weight of a typewriter, and eventually computer desks with all their ever spreading and multiplying peripherals. It is my belief, however, that these traditional writing surfaces still have a place in a home library that attempts to preserve the spirit of the good old times! If you have a spare corner in your library that would not be convenient for a chair or another bookcase, consider getting a writing table or a bureau. There are many designs available on the market today. There is one kind of a bureau that I was unable to find, after seeing it in several historic home libraries: a tall one, not too wide, - you would have to actually stand up while writing. In my opinion, this would be ideal for writing quick notes.

Reading pillow

2008-11-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

This reading pillow is clearly not what you would normally imagine a reading pillow would be. Instead of the person reclining comfortably while enjoying a book, this little contraption focuses on what would appear to be the comfort and pleasure of the book itself!

I admit, on occasion it seems like a good idea to place a book on some sort of cushion. The problem with this particular design, in case you haven't noticed, is that turning pages becomes an absolute nightmare. You would have to completely free the book from its straps, turn the page, and then position the book in the same exact spot. It would not be that difficult to come up with improvements for this design, but here it is in all its glory.

See also:

Home bedding ideas: theme bedding etc.

Sagging book shelves - home libraries' plague. A couple of solutions.

2008-11-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

This will be one post for which I simply refuse to provide an illustration. Even though I could easily do it. The sight of sagging bookshelves is one of the most unattractive and troubling visions associated with books. I have mentioned elsewhere a few tips on choosing the right bookshelves that would not sag under any circumstances (or under any number of books, to be more precise). But what can be done if you already have (perhaps even inherited) some ill-fated bookcases?

Depending on the design of the bookcase, it may be possible to "rotate" the shelves. You can either swap the shelves around or you can actually turn them over. This may be the quickest way to make your home library look ok if, for instance, you are expecting company and have no time to purchase a new bookcase (which you should probably do eventually). While swapping shelves around and overturning them you may also consider putting thin durable plastic underneath the shelves. The plastic will not be noticeable, but it could stop further sagging.

It can also be a lot cheaper to replace just the shelves with more durable wood or plastic. You can even go with durable glass if it is designed to withstand heavy loads. This may greatly improve the look and originality of design in your home library.

Public library facade

2008-11-12T06:14:00.000-08:00

At first I thought that these photographs were severely photoshoped. In actuality, this is the facade of a public library in Kansas City, MO. This has nothing to do with home libraries, but this sight sure warms up the heart of any book lover!

Restoration challenge: Joshua L. Chamberlain's Home library

2008-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

While searching for images and references to libraries that belonged to famous and influential persons (more on that to come, I hope), I came across what seems to me yet another dimension of home library research and fascination. The house of the famed Civil war hero, Joshua L.Chamberlain is presently undergoing restoration. The house features a home library, as shown in this 1870s photo:

This is a definite challenge. Restoring a historic home library involves paying great attention to the furnishings of the room (as it is the case with any other room), but it is a lot more demanding task to locate all the books that can be traced to this particular library, as well as find other books that are suitable based on their publication date and themes. An important dilemma is whether to make this library available to the public or at least the researchers. Given the interest in Civil war history, it would also be expected that books that have been since written about Chamberlain would also somehow find there place on the premises. This project is managed by the Pejepscot Historical Society of Maine.

Chamberlain house restorations
159 Park Row
Brunswick, ME 04011
Phone: 207-729-6606
Fax: 207-729-6012

Bookplates pictures (various styles, personalized)

2008-10-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

If you have a nice library you should have a nice bookplate! Even if you don't use it :)

Do not overlook the fact that a bookplate can be in colors other than black!

See also:

Make your own bookplate (ex libris)

Personalized printable Ex Libris (bookplate). Make your own!

2008-10-28T06:16:00.001-07:00

The custom of adorning books with their owner's signatures is perhaps as old as books themselves. The reasons for having a distinctive stamp or a bookplate on every book in your home library are pretty obvious: theft protection (this includes the practice of "borrowing"), owner's pride, artistic value of the designs, the desire to leave some trace in this universe... My personal opinion differs from that of the most book collectors. I simply do not find it appropriate to permanently mark as yours an object that will most likely outlive you perhaps even without loosing any of its value. Of course, if we are talking about a stamp used by a library, that's a whole different story. On the whole, however, I think that bookplates are more appropriate than stamps, because they do not look permanent. Well, enough of the disclaimer! You still want to make your own ex libris or bookplate?

In the past pretty much the only way to obtain a personal ex libris was to have it designed by an artist and turned into a personalized rubber stamp. With the advance of computers it became extremely easy to design bookplates on your own PC and print them out. But what if you lack any artistic ability whatsoever? I suggest you use the tools available at www.says-it.com. Put the words Ex Libris at the top your your design and add your name on the next line. If you have a personal motto you can use it with or even instead of you name. It's that easy! Just make sure you use water resistant ink in your printer!

P.S. Do I need to explain that "ex libris" is Latin for "from the books"? :) By the way, some people incorrectly refer to bookplates as labels.

A reading room, separate from your home library?

2008-10-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

The idea of having a special room set aside as a reading room only is not so far fetched, as it might seem at first. If you consider the ideal conditions for storing books with the conditions typically seen as most comfortable and pleasant for reading or working with books you will see the striking differences. Books (especially antique and valuable volumes) are best kept in rooms with little natural light and with low humidity. Reading is something that most people enjoy doing with natural light. Personally, I really like open air or at least an open window. It is therefore not such a bad idea to have a small room adjacent to you home library (if your financial situation permits :) ) that is specifically designed as a reading room. This means comfortable furniture, a large window to allow as much natural light as possible, well planned sources of artificial light, a desk and perhaps a small bookcase to store the books that you are working with at the time.

Book set buyer's guide

2008-10-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Buying book sets is perhaps the easiest way to fill the shelves of your home library with large quantities of quality books. The only way to achieve the same goal would be to inherit a library, I believe. The quality of book sets is usually assured by the fact that they combine editions that have already been published as separate volumes and have received recognition as such. Book sets are generally well designed and well published, most often as hardcovers. Although technically even two or three books qualify as a book set you will find many sets that exceed 20, 50 and even 100 volumes. Let us now looks a few categories of books that one needs to remember when it comes to choosing book sets for your home library.

Encyclopedias and other reference works. These types of editions are by their very nature are prone being published in multiple volumes.
Do you have a favorite author? There is a very good chance that you can find a collection of his or her works. From C.S. Lewis to Conan Doyle - take your pick.
Collections of classical books. One such collection (Classical in more than one sense) is the Loeb Classics Library. This very prominent collection features almost the entire extant corpus of literary works from Greek and Roman antiquity (Greek and Latin texts with facing translations). There are many people who do not own the entire collection (about 500 volumes, I believe), but even if you decide to limit yourself to a specific subset of Loeb you will end up with a few very nice looking bookshelves that can be used for reference: ancient epics, ancient poetry, philosphical works etc. Just do not mix this collection with Harvard Classics. The Five-foot Shelf of Books. 52 Volume Set, which is an equally impressive set of books from later times.
One of the most expansive book sets one can easily find for sale today is The Penguin Classics Library Complete Collection: More than 1000 of the Greatest Classics Keep in mind, though, that if your favorite authors are featured in this collection you can limit yourself to just their works. Of course, in case of Dickens or Tolstoy that means dozens and dozens of books!
If are interested in theology there are many reference works and Bible commentaries that can be usually purchased at a very low cost.

In my opinion, it is always preferable to buy a book set in its entirety. Even though on today's market it is not difficult to quickly obtain individual volumes their quality will differ depending on a lot of factors.

See also:

Book clubs - a great way to build a home library

Small Home Library + Living Room: Photos of Designs

2008-10-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

If your current circumstances do not permit using an entire room as a library, it is most likely that the living room will have to carry on the same functions: storing books and media, and providing a convenient area for reading and occasional writing. Here I have gathered a few designs suitable for a living room / library. My favorite is the design with the columns. They separate two areas of the living room: the sitting space and the library.

See also:
Architectural columns in home decor

Planning a home library: Reference books and more

2008-10-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Unless you are planning to house an existing collection of books in your new home library you will inevitably end up with more empty shelves that you want. It is possible to fill that space with classic decorative pieces: bookends, statues, globes etc. You should always consider whether your home library lacks some essentials, and if so you can purchase more books to achieve the look you might desire.

Reference books

Encyclopedias

The times when the only way to have quick access to information was to own an entire encyclopedia are gone. Computers are happily performing most of our reference needs. This means, however, that if a paper encyclopedia is something you would like to have in your house the price can be much more affordable than in the past. Used reference volumes can be found online, as well as at yard sales. Among the most authoritative remains Encyclopedia Britannica. Keep in mind that if you have a nack for antiquarian books, the 29 volume 1911 Edition is a classic that one should be very pleased to own. There is also the first edition. Although the original one may be in short supply and not within your price range, this four-volume compendium of late 18th century knowledge has been reprinted in all its glory.

Dictionaries

The Oxford English Dictionary is arguably the best lexicographic work of all time. The full edition is cumbersome and expensive, but there is a one-volume portable edition. If you want to have an American classic, it is important to remember that Noah Webster failed to secure any sort of trademark for his dictionary. As a result, anybody can publish a Webster's dictionary. That said, if you want the best American lexicography has to offer, you should go with Merriam-Webster, preferably the 3d edition.

If you know any foreign languages (no matter how well), it is a good idea to purchase authoritative dictionaries. And even if your linguistic skills are modest, it is a general idea to have a good dictionary for every one of the most important languages: French, Spanish, German, Latin. Quotation dictionaries are also useful. Oxford publishes a good one.

Classical works

Works by classical authors are generally inexpensive. You can very quickly build a collection of hard cover volumes. If, however, you have any interest at all in what can be properly called the classics (Greek and Roman), there is an excellent series that currently features nearly all of Greek and Latin texts prior to 4th century. I am talking about the Loeb Classical Library. These small well designed and well published volumes have Greek and Latin text accompanied by facing modern English translation. If you have a few bookcases that you feel like quickly filling up with first-grade books, Loeb is the answer!

Home Library - House of the Year

2008-10-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

A little video of a home library. Could be an inspiration for someone... The color scheme hovers around pure plain white, rather unusual for libraries, but it works for this home owner.

Home office design ideas and pictures

2008-09-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

A home office can be functionally very similar to a home library. Some of the design ideas for home offices resemble the look one normally expects from home libraries. To put it simply in terms of furniture, an office is a library with a desk :)

See also:

Music room design photos
Home Library design pictures. Set 1.
Home media room pictures
Witing Desks of Famous Authors

Home library design - traditional elements and ideas

2008-09-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

If there is anything that clearly separates a home library from a public or collegiate library of any kind it would have to be the presence of additional elements, apart from mere book cases, desks, lamps etc. Naturally, when even the most useful and well organized collection of books is housed in a person's home that room must be treated as a part of a living space, not just a large storage facility with rows of bookcases. In this article I am going to explore some design elements that enhance the looks of traditional house libraries. Perhaps this will serve as a guide for those who are struggling to come up with ideas for making their home library more personal and comfortable.

Pictures and engravings

In my opinion, the choice of paintings for a home library should be limited to art pieces that do not have bright colors. Such elements can be distracting. Also, a multicolor environment that is created by hundreds of book covers will not interact well with such paintings. Engravings can be a much better solution. They are also cheaper, and the selection is extremely wide. My personal favorites are engravings from antique books. Individual pages can be often found at stores and on the Internet at very reasonable prices. If you are designing your home library on a budget, you can order printouts of old book illustrations. As an example, I am publishing here an illustration from a 16th century edition of Virgil's works.

Statues and busts

(See also: Marble busts and principles of home library design)

The tradition of displaying statues and busts in a person's home goes back to Roman times. It was a custom to have effigies of one's ancestors. Gradually, statues and busts of famous literary figures became popular. They can vary in size, from the small ones you can put on your desk, to the larger ones that need a special base.

Globes

Back in the times when every educated person was very well rounded and had sufficient expertise in all spheres of knowledge it was a necessity to own items such as globes (including celestial globes). Similarly to sculpture, such design elements add volume and much needed curved lines to the environment dominated by straight lines.

Home library photos: Set #3

2008-08-27T06:49:00.001-07:00

In my humble opinion, ladders in a home library are not just a necessity, but an element of design. They symbolize accessibility and, at the same time, relative obscurity of volumes that may be out of reach. Ladders, in this sense, can almost be considered a cataloging element!

Bookstands are also essential. Not only they make it easier to work with books. They also protect them, and as you can very well see they form a stunning design element in an environment where most of the lines are at an 90 degree angle. A welcome distraction for the eye!

Most typically, you will see reference books placed on bookstands and lecterns. If you care about the condition of the book, it is a good idea to open different pages every once in a while, whether you are using the book or not. But you should most certainly avoid displaying valuable books in this manner.

You may not see it very well, but the floorlamps were designed specifically to be placed in a home library. The shades have imprints of antique book pages on them!

Antique books for your home library. What if you can't afford them?

2008-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

If the design style that you have selected for your home library is reminiscent of old European chique I will be the first to congratulate you and commend your fine choice. However, this sort of home library requires that at least some books in your collection are capable of matching its style. If you are a knowledgeable collector it is unlikely that you will rush into buying dozens of old books just because they look old. After all, a library's ultimate function is to facilitate you in your studies or enhance the moments of leisure through reading. Besides, antique books are often pricey. You only should buy the ones you are interested in for any number of reasons. What to do? Are your nice baroque or Regency bookcases doomed to be empty for a while? You certainly won't fill them up with cheap paperbacks, right?

Here is an elegant solution.

A company called Paperblanks designs and sells personal journals that look like antique books, but only at a fraction of the cost! The binding of these journals makes them almost indistinguishable from antique leather bindings. The company makes it clear however, that they only use modern environmentally friendly materials. Granted, the number of designs they offer is somewhat limited, but with some variation and occasional interspersing of real antique editions you can very easily achieve the looks that would otherwise cost you thousands of dollars. Eventually you can replace these journals. And don't forget you can actually write in them! This separates them from solutions such as "fake" books.

Bookcases and shelves for home libraries: How to choose the right ones?

2008-08-14T04:24:00.000-07:00

Home libraries often have additional features that enhance their look and functionality: creative light fixtures, ladders, various kinds of chairs, desks, paintings, statues etc. There is however one thing that a home library must have. Bookcases! Here are some pointers on choosing the right ones for you.

There is one problem that any experience book owner must be aware of. Sagging bookcases. One certainly wonders whether manufacturers assume that people who love books heavily prefer paperbacks. Because after a couple of years some book shelves begin to bend under the weight of even moderately sized hardcovers, never mind dictionaries and encyclopedias. What's the solution?

When buying bookcases for your home library make sure that the shelves are not too long. The shorter, the better. It is also best to choose hard wood. Short bookshelves may not look aesthetically pleasing. Note, however, that this can be very easily concealed with closed bookcases. As in the example above, the glass doors create a sense of continuity. Besides, they help keep the dust off the books.

Hofbibliothek

2008-07-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is not a home library, of course... This is what you would call in German die Hofbibliothek

See also:
Books on house library design
A reading room, separate from your home library
Home library design pictures: Set #1

Home library images. Set #2

2008-07-25T15:46:00.001-07:00

All these home libraries (except the last one) represent the very high end approach to home libraries. They are not simply a bunch of bookshelves placed in a large room. The rooms were designed with the library in mind. And the results are spectacular!

See the problem with this library?

2008-07-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me that baseball caps on top of the bookcase totally destroy the mood and the look of this otherwise modest, but cozy home library.

Home Library design pictures. Set 1.

2008-07-08T07:12:00.001-07:00

A very warm and cozy design. I sure hope the cats comes with it! This library would fit most homes, but I cannot imagine filling a large room with bookcases like that. It would look too boring.

Home libraries often have this multilayer look. From the practical point of view, it is easier to get to books like this. Books very naturally follow the matrix design pattern.

This is design is very modern. The stairs are nicely matched by the chair. I would say that this library has more of a leisurely look. It is not well suited for serious studies, but that's just my personal taste.

And speaking of stairways. If you have too many books and don't mind kicking some of them, this is a very functional design. It is particularly good for someone who likes to trample their academic opponents!

What I like here is the presence of what seems to be enclosed bookcases. Useful for storing papers, books that are sensitive to light or books you don't want anyone to see (should you have a reason for that).

See also:

Home Library Design: About this site

2008-03-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

I started this site in 2008 soon after I realized that there is hardly anything more precious to my bibliophile heart than the sight of a well designed and thoughtfully stocked home library, no matter how much I enjoy using some of the very best public and academic libraries in the world. Sadly, my own book collection is still in need of adequate housing, so I am using this blog as a tool to become more familiar with all sorts of aspects of home library ownership: shelving, workspace, bookplates etc. Some day I hope to share the fruits of this learning process. For now, I invite you to explore the fascinating world of home libraries. It is my hope that more people will be inspired with the idea of creating a special space in their homes where serenity becomes one with knowledge and the printed word reigns supreme.

If you are just starting to think about creating a home library, I would suggest you first determine what type of home library you would like to have. The next step in planning a home library, in my opinion, is to decide on some book purchases that are essential for any collection. Then you need to figure out what book sets you might want to have in your library (this greately depends on you tastes etc.). If you are leaning towards a display or decorative type of library, consider getting some antique books or, if you can't afford them, antique-looking books and faux books. Only at this stage you are ready to plan the purchase of bookcases that will house these books, depending on their formats and condition (especially if you have true antiques). At the same time you need to pay some attention to the lighting of you library area. Finally, adorn your shelves and bookcases with traditional library design elements.

Blog Started

2008-02-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is where I allow myself to write anything I want about books: the ones I have, the ones I want to have, and about the library that I hope to have one day.