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Arch Hades, poet and artist
“I’ve always felt at peace in libraries, so it was my dream to have one of my own. It took two years to build because I had a really specific vision. My main inspirations were Horace Walpole’s Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham and the Austrian National Library in Vienna. I wanted to cultivate a very relaxing space – it’s the place where I come up with all the ideas for my work.”
archhades.com
Nicola Harding, interior designer
“Library rooms have a unique magic about them. They’re not just places to store books, but sanctuaries where stories come to life and you can escape the noise of the modern world. When I design a library – including my own study at home – I always go for the drama of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. I like to push them all the way up to the ceiling, avoiding any awkward gaps that can make a space feel incomplete, difficult to clean or poorly lit.”
nicolaharding.com
Emma Sims Hilditch, founder of Sims Hilditch
“The abundance of natural light in the library incorporated into the south-facing study of this Grade I-listed Regency townhouse project helps create a space that’s suited to both working and reading for pleasure. Comfortable armchairs positioned close to the bookshelves complete the room, transforming it into a welcoming haven for the homeowner.”
simshilditch.com
Kate Aslangul, founder of Oakley Moore
“My Paris-based client was a professional lecturer with a voracious reading habit, so we had to create something with scale. We staggered the shelving to avoid a sense of monotony and left spaces between volumes to display decorative objects. Every room tells the story of a life, and nothing tells it better than books and art.”
oakleymoore.com
Stephen Nash, founder of All & Nxthing Interiors
“In this large, garden-facing open-plan room, which combines the kitchen, dining and living spaces, we felt it was important to create a calm library environment where the client could sit and unwind. We carved out a corner of the room and wrapped the shelving around in a U shape to create a cocooning effect.”
allandnxthing.com
Brooke Copp-Barton, interior designer
“In this library, we have incorporated wall lights onto the front of the units, so that light will wash down the front and illuminate the shelves, creating a warm and very personal space. Alternatively, you could channel lighting within the shelves themselves, either to light up specific pieces of art or treasured objects from the front, or to create silhouettes from behind.”
brookecoppbarton.com
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