Living with Books

A home filled with books can be a place of inspiration in more ways than one. Bookcases, bookshelves, entire rooms: far from being simple storage spaces, home libraries reveal the personalities and lifestyles of their owners. They are always very personal and unpredictable, whether they have been specially created in a separate room or fitted into nooks and crannies all over the house.

Artists, interior decorators, graphic designers, fashion designers, writers, collectors, journalists, and business people: all have different ways of engaging with books as a design challenge. Here we see how they have built the libraries of their dreams, and we explore the many ways of striking a balance between style and practicality, modern trends and classic styling, strict organization and carefree clutter.

The illustrations show how the right combination of shelving, lighting, and accessories can be brought together with a dash of imagination to create a truly unique interior.