Libraries, Home Offices and Studies

Whatever happened in 2020, something good came out of it. Vaccines? Nah. Better hygiene? Questionable. No, I am talking about libraries and home offices. That personal writing space.

When the world turned crazy, we worked from home, and in many instances, we continued enjoying the perks of a home office, or at least, a space to call our designated den. The time we save by not commuting to overcrowded cities while listening to audiobooks in highway congestion has led some of us, even the most social butterflies, to rethink the way we work.

Libraries have always had a magical meaning to me - the scent of books, the pages of endless stories, each one with a life and a world of its own, just divine. As an interior designer, I have had the privilege of designing some of the most enchanting home offices and workspaces, reading nooks, and libraries. The demand for a good office space at home is growing by the day. A space where we can close the door, not be disturbed while hosting those Zoom meetings.

The biggest challenge and the largest library I have ever designed are part of a classical mansion in a Melbourne suburb. The moment I was engaged to design a library, my bookish heart, as the author I am, was pounding with excitement.  For anyone who has ever read a Harry Potter book, Hogwarts library would spring to mind, and yes, so it did to me. The bespoke library is a massive double-story marvel featuring a spiral staircase that leads to the library gallery on the top floor. It spans over 165 square meters with a ceiling height of 7.7 meters. The joinery is made of solid timber, featuring beautiful arched mouldings that embrace the shelves and a central fireplace that offers tranquil reading moments. The walls in this space are wainscoted, intricate inlay mouldings framing paintings highlighted by picture lights. Now, it is not every day a residential project has a budget for a library of this calibre, but it doesn’t mean you have to be without your own reading space, even with a small budget.

Rummaging through second-hand stores and antique shops can be utterly rewarding. One man's trash can easily become another one's treasure, especially with some tender love and care. If you are lucky enough to have a spare corner of your home that accommodates a bookshelf and a desk, you are halfway there – having your own little library space. Turning your desk facing forward creates a beautiful backdrop of books behind you. By storing your printer inside a credenza or a drawer, you maintain a seamless look. With Wi-Fi at hand, you can also store your printer elsewhere, freeing up space for aesthetically pleasing items like a vase, an old glass jar for pens, and a dashing intray.

Perhaps you have some free space under the staircase, or in a corridor nook, where it might be possible to build a desk space with overhead cupboards. And don’t worry about the ones who tell you that you can’t place furniture against a window. No one had a more beautiful writing space than Diane Keaton in the movie “Something’s Gotta Give”, with her writing desk facing the ocean from her bedroom. If you are disciplined enough and have the space, the bedroom is not too bad a space, should you lack other opportunities for your home office.

Some of us are blessed to have a spare room for a home office or a library space. Perhaps your children are flying out of the nest, and you suddenly have an entire room to fill. There are pros and cons of built-in joinery. Joinery makers aren’t cheap, but you can customise a fitting library or bookshelf unit for your space. Using loose furniture gives you more flexibility. The beauty of bookshelves is that they don’t take up much space, so you could easily transform the space into a multipurpose room—adding a cozy reading couch or maybe a coffee table with your favourite chess pieces. The choices are endless.

Sometimes we have to share space, and when more than one person is working from home, it doesn’t mean one of you has to take the laptop to the kitchen. Smaller and slimmer desks are one option, and arranging them face-to-face is another, if you lack width in a room.

Compact spaces need compact designs. Find any wall in your living area that is wide enough to hold a desk. Getting assistance from a handy person and visiting your local hardware store could be just what you need to transform a small wall by installing a bench that's just big enough for your computer screen. For an even more efficient use of space, a studio, for example, can benefit from a loft bed with space for a desk and shelving underneath, which is a fun, space-saving solution.

When it comes to decorating your workspace, especially the shelves, I love to add ornaments and decorative elements to my bookshelves. Paintings on the wall enhance the mood I want to highlight, along with good lighting, a desk lamp, and beautiful stationery. Colour is highly personal; darker hues for an old, rustic library feel complement the refurbished timber desk you found at the local antiques dealer, while rugs add warmth and character, along with plenty of scented candles.

Sometimes all we need is to widen our horizons, even in the narrowest of spaces.

Architeria Interiors by Kate Gawi are open for all your interior needs.

03 98945805

Kate Gawi

Creative Director and Interior Designer

Architeria Architects