oh yes

http://bookriot.com/2013/09/30/libraries-rich-famous/

I am told Gaimens are double shelved.

Didn't like Lagerfield's - looked a bit false, somehow, and Keaton's looked like a shop. Couldn't make up my mind whether I preferred Woody Allen's or Keith Richards' the more - then I saw WRH's and just drooled.

ETA - Loved George Lucas's, too. Incidentally, the dome made me think of the lovely library in Kenneth Branagh's 'Loves Labours Lost' - not really like it, of course, and I don't know if that one is real or a movie set.

Sting's just does not look like a working library.

I agree with #2 and 3 above. Both Sting and Diane Keaton's library's look designed to impress or make a statement, rather than be read. I didn't like Lagerfield's either, but looking at a pic of him, the library looks like him, or he like it. Appropriate to the owner.

Gaimen's is the only one that looks like he reads his books, maybe because I saw more paperbacks than anything else.

Try not to mention Gaiman's library around Tim. He may have gotten over it now, but he used to twitch at the very thought.

Julia Child's have surely been read. and while they may not have read the designers have surely looked at the pictures in their books.

One of the first things I think of looking at these pictures is comfy chairs. With George Lucas's library I was immediately struck by the middle leather armchair appearing to have a depression in the back from the long-term resting of someone's head or neck.

There was no shortage of comfy-looking armchairs in the pictures - and some not so comfy-looking - but the prize in that department, though, for me, goes to Keith Richards' chaise longue - there appears to be a second in the foreground, too. That seems to me to show a library with a definite intention of time being spent in it (if only while noodling on his guitar). I've love to have one of those when I finish renovating this place. Lack of space will probably dictate a recliner, though.

6> sounds like my 4 year old :)

My favorite:



That looks like a library that has been read!

One of the commenters on that post linked to an article about a couple who bought the home next to theirs to turn it into a library. Story here, photos here.

Photos not showing. :(

That's weird. It's not coming up for me now, either, even though I copied the link directly from that page.

I got to the page from the link in this article: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/bibliophile-con-125652 Try that.

This link should work: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/101181499.html (remove anything behind '.html' should there be anything)

Thanks, nice job on the remodeling!

#10 by lilithcat>

That is an interesting concept. I know of collectors who have added on to their home to have a dedicated library building or addition.

The photo of the mezzanine area with the library ladder evokes many ideals of a quintessential library (à la the scene in the Disney animated Beauty and the Beast). However, usability is an issue since one does not always want to have to scale a tall ladder to reach certain books. I have one friend who bought some library ladders and rails from Borders when they were closing and has a room somewhat like what is pictured.

I also like the upper level catwalks that some special collection libraries have. Sometimes the door to access the upper level is concealed.

Of course, the main thing is to have enough space to house one's books and allow for organization and growth.

LT has allowed us to keep track of what we have but not easy ways to keep track of where those items are. Workarounds include tags and comment fields but none of these are quite satisfactory.

James

#2 - Incidentally, the dome made me think of the lovely library in Kenneth Branagh's 'Loves Labours Lost' - not really like it, of course, and I don't know if that one is real or a movie set.

I've just been trying to find out where that was filmed. Turns out it was just sound stage at Shepperton Studios - broken-hearted! And I can't find a decent clip or picture including the ceiling so as to show everyone what the hell I was talking about ...

>15 Keeline: Best beloved beekeeper aka samthepaintman bought for me a Borders ladder and railings when they shut down too. I'll try to remember to take a pic of it this weekend.