Libraries & Reading Nooks
A Pattern of Squares
reading nook with custom wall paneling - A modern take on traditional wainscoting
We designed and built this cosy reading nook in the space vacated by a former WC. Our client was open to a creative design and settled on us lining the nook with a modern take on wainscoting – a custom wall panelling design based around a pattern of squares. The design produced a fresh, clean geometry, and included a couple of the squares being extruded to form cubbies to keep books handy – and somewhere to for a cup of coffee. Tasteful, geometric patterned upholstery and a stylish library lamp complete the nook interior. Above is an open faced, oak-lined display cabinet, fitted with integrated, dimmable LED lamps – a place to display personal items, vases etc. and to store more books. The display cabinet is accessed using a detachable library ladder.
The whole picture
An open-faced, oak-lined display cabinet above, fitted with integrated, dimmable LED lamps – a place to display personal items, vases, etc., and to store more books. The display cabinet is accessed using a detachable library ladder. Super-deep drawers below offer further storage. Spray finished throughout in Ambleside, a beautiful shade of green-grey.
“I am delighted with it. I knew it was going to be something special when we were planning it, but seeing it all come together has been incredibly satisfying. You have done an amazing job and I think it suits the house, just as I hoped it would.”
Library Ladder Bookcase
All angles covered – even those tricky ones under the stairs!
A companion piece to the reading nook, above. Traditional construction, shaker style panel doors; solid red oak ladder; integrated lighting inside oak-lined display boxes; and a solid oak cornice above. The desk at the end, in the spandrel (the space under the stairs) was topped in black leather with a delicate gold inlayed border, and we suspended a pen drawer underneath it (we hadn’t done this yet when the photo was taken). The enclosed desk area in is lit by another wall lamp to twin with the one in the reading nook.
Neat design
Cleverly designed hardware allows the ladder to be stowed upright – and it simply unhooks from the rail so it can be shared with the reading nook to easily access the display boxes there too. And the devil in the detail: heavy, black metal square door knobs. In fact, all the ironmongery we used was black – the hinges, everything. Even down to the tiny shelf support pins for the height-adjustable shelving hidden inside the cabinets – all black. Oh, and we had the skirting boards specially custom-milled to exactly match the existing ones. All angles covered.
Library bookcases and reading nook!