This light and bright apartment in a midtown east high rise is home to a pair of avid readers looking for the perfect place to curl up with a good book. as a full-service design firm with a reputation for providing a seamless experience, we often (and eagerly) take on total gut renovations. in this instance, the apartment was brand new, and we would be working with predetermined fixtures, finishes, and architecture.

Organization, design and styling by Shira Gill. Photo by Vivian Johnson Photography.
Example of a danish medium tone wood floor bedroom design in San Francisco with gray walls

Sit back, grab a book, and relax in your brand-new home library. Whether you're an avid reader or a collector or coffee table books, our open shelving is ideal for displaying all your finds. The decorative molding adds an eye-catching element to the space. White shelving and backing makes all of your books and decor pop!

Juxtaposition: defined as two things placed close together with contrasting effect, the word epitomizes this downtown Chicago residence. A family home, it evinces comfort, calm, and connection. Here, chaise lounges nestle side-by-side, welcoming wine-sippers, book-readers, and fireplace-gazers. There, an upholstered kitchen banquette recalls the coziness of a favorite restaurant’s corner table. And yet – while an elegant refuge for a busy family, this home is also a place of work. Indeed, it is the worldwide headquarters of a lauded anti-aging skincare company, complete with full-time employees and their offices. To meld the dual functions the house serves so seamlessly, workspaces are lavished with the same hallmarks that distinguish family-oriented rooms: a focus on ease, an open-minded use of space, thoughtfully considered décor, and an imaginative use of color that awakens a mostly neutral palette with joyful visual interest. Lavender and chartreuse sing against black walls; tangerine and steel blue dot creamy hues with vivid punctuation. Still, quiet prevails, creating a timelessly tranquil backdrop for work, play, and everything in between. Photo: Dustin Halleck

When working from home, he wants to be surrounded by personal comforts and corporate functionality. For this avid book reader and collector, he wishes his office to be amongst his books. As an executive, he sought the same desk configuration that is in his corporate office, albeit a smaller version. The library office needed to be built exactly to his specifications and fit well within the home.

Large elegant formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Portland with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

A visually sumptuous idea book, showcasing an eclectic array of interior design possibilities using salvaged goods. Following up on her celebrated first Salvage Secrets book, which Fine Homebuilding called “An invaluable first step in the salvage-for-design journey,” here salvage design guru Joanne Palmisano takes readers further, exploring a wealth of smaller-scale interior design and decor concepts. Bottle caps turned into a kitchen backsplash, old bed springs reinvented as candle holders, and a recycled shipping container-turned-guesthouse are just a few examples of the innovative repurposing of second-hand items that readers will discover. From retro and modern to classic, “cottage,” and urban chic, Palmisano takes readers on a sumptuous visual journey featuring unique salvage ideas in an eclectic array of styles, for every room in the house—kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, living rooms and dens, and entryways and outdoor areas. The journey continues with a sampling of cutting-edge retail spaces, hotels, cafes, and boutiques across the country that incorporate salvage into their designs, such as Industrie Denim in San Francisco, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, and Rejuvenation in Portland. Profiles of thirteen “salvage success stories” are also included, showcasing the imaginative designs of creative homeowners. And lastly, fourteen easy, do-it-yourself projects are included at the back of the book (with step-by-step instructions), not to mention a comprehensive “Where to Find Salvage” resource section. Packed with over 350 color photos, Salvage Secrets Design & Decor offers a trove of salvage ideas to inspire, proving that you need look no further than your local rebuild center, architectural salvage shop, or flea market to transform your living space. A DIY cheese platter from book, Salvage Secrets Design & Decor Susan Teare Photography

Juxtaposition: defined as two things placed close together with contrasting effect, the word epitomizes this downtown Chicago residence. A family home, it evinces comfort, calm, and connection. Here, chaise lounges nestle side-by-side, welcoming wine-sippers, book-readers, and fireplace-gazers. There, an upholstered kitchen banquette recalls the coziness of a favorite restaurant’s corner table. And yet – while an elegant refuge for a busy family, this home is also a place of work. Indeed, it is the worldwide headquarters of a lauded anti-aging skincare company, complete with full-time employees and their offices. To meld the dual functions the house serves so seamlessly, workspaces are lavished with the same hallmarks that distinguish family-oriented rooms: a focus on ease, an open-minded use of space, thoughtfully considered décor, and an imaginative use of color that awakens a mostly neutral palette with joyful visual interest. Lavender and chartreuse sing against black walls; tangerine and steel blue dot creamy hues with vivid punctuation. Still, quiet prevails, creating a timelessly tranquil backdrop for work, play, and everything in between. Photo: Dustin Halleck

A transitional modular sectional with endless possibilities. Beckham has limited skus but can transform into as large or small as needed to fill your room. All pieces are welt less with box seat cushions and loose knife edge back. The legs are finished in Walnut.

Natural lights spills into this Sunroom and creates a cozy conversation area.
Inspiration for a coastal sunroom remodel in Jacksonville

A visually sumptuous idea book, showcasing an eclectic array of interior design possibilities using salvaged goods. Following up on her celebrated first Salvage Secrets book, which Fine Homebuilding called “An invaluable first step in the salvage-for-design journey,” here salvage design guru Joanne Palmisano takes readers further, exploring a wealth of smaller-scale interior design and decor concepts. Bottle caps turned into a kitchen backsplash, old bed springs reinvented as candle holders, and a recycled shipping container-turned-guesthouse are just a few examples of the innovative repurposing of second-hand items that readers will discover. From retro and modern to classic, “cottage,” and urban chic, Palmisano takes readers on a sumptuous visual journey featuring unique salvage ideas in an eclectic array of styles, for every room in the house—kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, living rooms and dens, and entryways and outdoor areas. The journey continues with a sampling of cutting-edge retail spaces, hotels, cafes, and boutiques across the country that incorporate salvage into their designs, such as Industrie Denim in San Francisco, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, and Rejuvenation in Portland. Profiles of thirteen “salvage success stories” are also included, showcasing the imaginative designs of creative homeowners. And lastly, fourteen easy, do-it-yourself projects are included at the back of the book (with step-by-step instructions), not to mention a comprehensive “Where to Find Salvage” resource section. Packed with over 350 color photos, Salvage Secrets Design & Decor offers a trove of salvage ideas to inspire, proving that you need look no further than your local rebuild center, architectural salvage shop, or flea market to transform your living space. Salvage Secrets Design & Decor Susan Teare Photography Design: Joanne Palmisano

Nathan Webb, AIA
Example of an eclectic enclosed medium tone wood floor living room library design in DC Metro

When working from home, he wants to be surrounded by personal comforts and corporate functionality. For this avid book reader and collector, he wishes his office to be amongst his books. As an executive, he sought the same desk configuration that is in his corporate office, albeit a smaller version. The library office needed to be built exactly to his specifications and fit well within the home.

Sit back, grab a book, and relax in your brand-new home library. Whether you're an avid reader or a collector or coffee table books, our open shelving is ideal for displaying all your finds. The decorative molding adds an eye-catching element to the space. White shelving and backing makes all of your books and decor pop!

In this project for an avid reader and their young family, Lincoln Lighthill Architect removed a narrow, awkward stair and replaced it with an open, light filled entry lined with a two-story wall of books. This giant assembly of custom millwork marries a floating stair, book shelves, entry seating bench, workspace beneath the stair, and a glass “bridge” that gives access to the primary bedroom, allows light down into the entry below, and provides endless entertainment for the kids and pets!

Photography by Chuck Swartz, AIA
Inspiration for a contemporary light wood floor living room library remodel in DC Metro with green walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Available in fabric and leather The modular design gives Brady flexibility and the contoured arms, pad over chaise and high back give Brady exceptional comfort and styling. This group features elongated top stitching for detail and a heavy duty mechanism for durability and comfort. All reclining pieces are available with a power option.

The living room houses two wonderful recessed reading nooks. We added shutters for light and privacy control. A lush upholstered cushion, bolster, and throw pillow provide a cozy nook to curl up for a nap or a good read. Tre Dunham with Fine Focus Photography

It seems we channeled our inner Belle from Beauty and the Beast with this library. From the giant, repurposed church clock the the intricate repurposed wood floors, this unique nook is the perfect mix of comfy and cozy that will have readers going crazy for it.