20 Stylish Home Libraries You'll Want to Cozy Into
- 1/21
16 Best Desks for a Smart, Stylish Home Office
With so many of us working from home these days (and most of us with no exact end date), our desks have become more than just desks. They're our home bases for productivity and creativity, and, in many ways, have become our home within our homes.
Desks or home workspaces often end up performing more than one purpose: many become dressing areas, storage posts, or even dining spaces. This means it's important to have the right desk for your needs, one that is comfortable and makes you feel at ease. We're helping you create the perfect home workspace by rounding up our favorite desks, adept for spending endless hours at the computer or sitting down to write that letter. Some of these may leave you feeling nostalgic for a quill pen while others are contemporary enough to include bespoke laptop accessories.
- 2/21
The Vintage Library
For designer Peter Dunham, making sure a room feels rooted is crucial to ensuring a home has a settled ambience. In this Newport Beach library, the California decorator used a vintage walnut bookcase, found at an auction house in England, to ground the room and add warmth.
"The holy grail of architecture salvage," says Dunham of his bookcase that was shipped from across the pond in pieces. He worked with architect Timothy Joslin to rebuild it into the stunning statement piece shown here. The striking chandelier (Abell) casts a warm glow over the entire space.
- 3/21
The Relaxed Library
Exceptional yet humble furniture and thought-provoking artwork, like the 1960s photograph by Malian photographer Malick Sidibe, lifts the spirit of this once sleepy Connecticut library by David Netto. The luxe sofa (Design Quest Custom) offers a soft landing spot to relax and read after a long work day.
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- 4/21
The Smokey Library
In this 18th-century Paris flat by designer Jean-Louis Deniot, a vintage Maison Jansen bookcase inspired the smokey tones and the layout of the library. The French designer moved the shelving originally in the dining room into its new home and repeated its metallic detailing in the wainscoting. The gold-trimmed alcove was designed specifically as a petite gallery for a figurative sculpture by Philippe Valentin.
- 5/21
The Glitzy Library
The home library of this glamorous Hamptons home strikes a balance between relaxed and refined and has gold and silver accents that mingle with cozy white upholstered furniture. Designer Alex Papachristidis covered the walls in a modern take on plaid from Carolyn Ray, Inc., and hung antique ormolu wall lights to bring a sense of historic warmth to the space.
- 6/21
The Quaint Library
Atlanta-based designer Amy Morris transformed the attic of a 100-year-old Tudor manse into a quaint library. The series of hand-rubbed brass reading lights up the bookcases filled with literary classics and stunning photography. The portrait is by early-20th-century artist Trevor James.
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- 7/21
The Not-So-Hush Library
Electric chartreuse walls do all the talking in the library of Meg Braff’s Long Island home. The bright shade by Benjamin Moore ushers in natural light while accentuating the room’s original 1960s paneling. Braff covered the cushions of Julian Chichester cane-back armchairs in a leopard fabric by Brunschwig & Fils.
- 8/21
13) Color, Color, Color
Think beyond the standard neutrals and experiment with buzzy shades sure to spark creativity. Designer Richard Keith Langham favored a glossy, classic blue shade in this Pennsylvania home library and office to provide a solid and calming space to work within.
- 9/21
The High Couture Library
Historian Maureen Footer blends neo-Dior elegance and cosmopolitan bliss within the halls of her New York City apartment. Inspiration from design icons flood the small library, which features cerused oak paneling inspired by French designer Jean-Michel Frank and vintage Elsie de Wolfe slipper chairs. The Chinese chest and Sultanabad rug are mementoes from Footer’s travels. The sofa pillows are Fortuny; an Elk Lighting pendant hangs above.
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- 10/21
The Chateau Library
A feast of patterns and antiques are mingled throughout the media and reading room of designer Juan Pablo Molyneux’s Château de Pouy-sur-Vannes. A pair of Giacometti lamps flank a custom sectional upholstered in a Luigi Bevilacqua tiger velvet.
- 11/21
The Provence Library
Designer Bunny Williams restored the ethereal charm of this France farmhouse by echoing influences from the home’s Provence setting inside. This once-boxy space was transformed into a comfortable library filled with pedigreed antiques. The room’s custom sofa is topped with a vintage Turkish textile. A Cowtan & Tout fabric covers the armchair and ottoman. The custom rug is by Studio Four NYC.
- 12/21
Feeling Bookish
A black and beige motif is perfect for allowing an impressive (and colorful) book collection to shine, as shown here in this Atlanta home designed by John Oetgen. A Greek key border on the walls, an assortment of object, and a coffee table reminiscent of Ancient Greek architecture feels like a study for the modern Aristotle.
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- 13/21
The Fashionable Library
Tiger print carpets and contemporary artwork make a dramatic statement in the study of this Manhattan pied-à-terre designed by Daniel Romualdez. Focused on adding a fashionable yet not-too-stuffy layer to the room, Romualdez covered antique pieces with modern textiles, like the vintage Billy Baldwin slipper chairs he reupholstered in a Zimmer + Rohde fabric. A piece of art from American artist Conrad Marca Relli acts as the study’s focal point. The carpet is from Patterson Flynn Martin.
- 14/21
14) Work With Natural Materials
Wooden bookshelves, wall panels, and desks foster a sense of tranquility much like plants do within this study by Alecia Stevens. Natural materials have the ability to ground a space, as well as establish a timeless room that you'll never get bored of.
- 15/21
The Paneled Library
Designer Ellie Cullman and architect John B. Murray merge a pair of neighboring Manhattan apartment into a glowing park-side suite. Natural light reflects off the polished French anigre woods walls of the library. A Burden side table and Larrea Studio cocktail table sit pretty with a sofa and tufted chairs from Anthony Lawrence-Belfair. The artwork is by French painter Françoise Gilot.
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- 16/21
16) Organization is Key
Maintaining an organized desk and office space not only allows you to stay focused, but also further establishes a clear separation between business and home. The book shelf in this Tammy Connor-designed study holds work-related files while the organized desk keeps the homeowner's must-need work items at the ready.
- 17/21
The Rich Red Library
Worldly treasures and luxe textiles surround designer Alidad every time he lounges in his London home library. A William IV rosewood bergère and Victorian slipper chair complement a custom sofa in a red Colony fabric with Turnell & Gigon fringe trim. The green lamp is from Vaughan.
- 18/21
The Luminous Library
Soft orange walls and olive shades give off an intimate vibe in the library of this 1930s Spanish Colonial home in Dallas. Designer Cathy Kincaid covered the custom club chairs in a Claremont fabric. The cocktail table is from East & Orient Company.
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- 19/21
Vibrance Everywhere
“Next year, I believe we’ll continue to see the resurgence of rich, saturated hues. From jewel tones, like ruby and sapphire, to earthy shades, like cypress and saffron, designers and homeowners won’t shy away from interiors lavishly swathed in color.” – Marie Flanigan
Here, designer Alessandra Branca marries a creamy, lively red with a pop of blue from the fireplace and a mix of muted colors to create an energizing yet cozy space for cocktails and conversation.
- 20/21
The Classic Library
An eclectic mix of classicist and modernist styles, the Montecito getaway of John Saladino acts as urbane gallery of the designer's most treasured antiquities and art. A slick, modern Remains Lighting chandelier offsets the rustic wall paneling of the library. The sofa from Saladino’s own line features a Dualoy leather and Quadrille fabric. A Fortuny cushion tops a Charles II-style caned armchair. The rug is from Sacco Carpet.
- 21/21
The Euro Library
Inspired by the Villa San Michele outside of Florence, this Southern California home embraces its European influences with antiques sourced throughout the continent flooding each room. Designer Laurie Steichen painted the paneling with an aged patina that infuses the library with a sense of history. An antique English leather wing chair is paired with a French gueridon table from Brenda Antin.
Because even your books deserve a beautiful space.