BLOG - library

Perhaps it's all of the gloomy days we've been having in New York lately, or our latest project where we're custom building floor to ceiling bookshelves, but I can't get my mind off of books and bookshelves! Here's to curling up on a rainy day with a good book!

All of Manhattan's fashionistas will be out in full force tonight for Fashion's Night Out. Since everyone will be out, I took the liberty of peeking inside the homes of a few fashion designers. Some of these dwellings are clean and sophisticated. Others are a bit... over the top. But they all seem to reflect the personality of the designer that calls that place home.

Karl Lagerfeld : Paris Apartment Library

Amazing staircase.

Peter Som : New York Apartment

Clean and eclectic. I love the ceiling beams and mid century accents.

Yves Saint Laurent : Paris Apartment

Nothing Baaashful about this room.

Anna Sui : New York Apartment

A bit dramatic, but with the black floors and heavy patterns looks every bit like Anna Sui.

Elie Saab : Paris Apartment

A nice mix of clean lines and frill, much like his designs.

Dolce and Gabanna : Portofino Home

This shining guest bedroom should have made an appearance on my gold blog!

Jill Stuart : New York Apartment

Fuchsia and the view dominate this room.

Diane Von Furstenburg : New York Apartment

This dramatic canopy competes with the crystalline architecture.

Kate Spade : New York Apartment

Complimenting colors with a very cool mirrored side table.

Ralph Lauren : New York Apartment

Clean lines with exciting pendant lamps.

For as long as I can remember I have been a huge lover of books. Not so much reading, per se, but rather the book as an object. Perhaps this is why I have such a hard time reading anything other than the news or emails on my iPad. When I sit down to read and retain, I need a book in my hands and the sound of pages turning and marking my progress.  There is something quite ancient and fascinating about books.  Few things have survived in their original design and intention for so long. From the time of Gutenburg and the invention of movable type in the mid-Fifteenth century, our use of printing, binding, and distribution of literature has remained the most important advancement of mankind.

A printer's press, like the one above (c. mid 16th century), could print up to 240 pages per hour.(From Wikipedia)

Books for me have been an escape and obsession.  I began collecting art books in high school and by the end of college my "library" outgrew my dorm room. Perhaps this is why I was initially drawn to my first apartment in New York. Once the broker told me that it was originally the library of the foundation that previously occupied the building,  I was sold. Two walls of the living room were lined with beautiful old bookshelves.

Georgia and I are kindred spirits in this regard, and it shows in much of the design work that we do and the furniture we have created. Both the Bibliophile's Dining Table and Collector's Coffee Table were born out of a need for some way to contain our amassing collections. When my husband and I were beginning to plan the layout of our new apartment, we  knew that we wanted and needed plenty of bookshelves. As planning turned to design, I began scouring the internet (and my books of course!) for images of the perfect home library. Over the course of the past few years I have found a new obsession-photographs of libraries and books. Below are a few of my favorites. Starting out with one of my dog, Bailey, happily resting on one of our new shelves.

All images above, except for "Bailey with Books" and where otherwise noted can be found on favim.com and or tumblr.com