Shhh…we’re eating!
by habituallychic
12 . 08 . 09
I had already been working on a post about library dining rooms before I spoke to Dick Bories and James Shearron of Bories and Shearron about the room I posted yesterday which was perfect timing! They mentioned that combining the library and dining room was more of a European tradition but it looks like it’s starting to catch on here in American from these examples. I think it’s a great idea for New York apartments since space is at a premium and most people do not sit down to eat their dining rooms except on holidays. I know that I would love to not only have that much room for books but a table to spread them out on to work and some of these rooms look they also serve as an office. And as one of my readers pointed out in a comment, how lovely would it be at a dinner party if someone pulled a book off a shelf when the conversation turned literary. I guess you just have to make sure you don’t spill anything on them!
James Andrew Design
Carolina Irving Apartment
Eliza Redd Bolen via Peak of Chic
Miles Redd in House Beautiful
Bagley Mischka in Elle Decor
Nate Berkus in Elle Decor
Tim Clarke
Jonathan Adler in Domino
Peter Dunham in Domino
Alberto Pinto
Unknown
24 Comments
Books AND food make for a VERY happy NEO-traditionalist. You always pull the most stunning array of examples—modern, traditional, neutrals, bold hues—I adore them all!
XXXX Kate
Love these photos! We had our dining room in the most recent apartment set up with bookshelves in the dining room – mixed china with books and it was awesome. It was really cozy eating in there every day!
I would love to dine in one of these dining libraries! So cool.
COCOCOZY
http://www.cococozy.com
This post really inspired me to think in a new way about my little-used dining room. Meanwhile, we’ve got entire cartographies, text books, and literature projects strewn throughout the house! As soon as my Alice in Wonderland trees come down, Hubbs is going to be building bookcases in there. Thanks a lot – really! xo kitty
All lovely examples!
Love books. Love a nice collection of books. Lucky to devote a room to books, ah. Libraries, great mental and creative adventures.
Oh thank you for this post Dear Heather! I have had a complex about my dining/library area looking exactly like this as I felt it was never one room or the other..but nice to know that they can both sit quite nicely hand in hand and still be considered..stylish 🙂 Thanks to the Europeans…we love you 🙂
It truly is a great way to use the space especially if space it tight and one really likes or needs both a library and a dining room ~ and yes, I agree, the books are wonderful conversation pieces!
Oh my gosh.. All the images are so impressive… and is such a great idea.. Thanks for sharing these..
These are all so beautiful. The Tom Clark room especially caught my attention.
I am working on a table in my living room with benches instead of chairs for just the same reason.
I don’t know about everyone else, but the dining room, as you point out, is underused.
I love this post and the European way of decorating.
The first library/dining room I was ever in belonged to the bookseller Jane Stubbs, when she lived near Astor Place in NYC. Massive wall of books, straight to the ceiling, and a massive heirloom mahogany dining table, as I recall.
Maybe this is how book clubs were formed! Lovely post!
I am presently have made my dining into a libary.
I found it to solve a major problem in living in the city…
Lack of space. Plus, I love to be surrounded by ALL
my friends. People and my books!! Love each and every photo. Lovely Post. -Maureen
Appetizing images and on target for me. The shelves flanking my fireplace in the family room which I have turned into a dining room have been filled with china for 24 years. In the re-do: books. In five years my husband will retire and I look forward to putting our books out on the dining table, having a fire in the fireplace and letting our mind and conversations turn to books.
Wonderful images. I love to see libraries, and especially in this combination with dining space!
Absolutely amazing. I don’t know why the thought of combining my two loves (food + books, of course) never occured to me before! And if you don’t have a massive collection of books, you can always do what Lisa @ A Bloomsbury Life did and use bookcase wallpaper.
I’m pretty sure that last room is by hugh newell jacobsen. those are his classic egg crate book cases. much more here: http://www.hughjacobsen.com/newsite.htm
and
http://booksathome.blogspot.com/2008/08/egg-crate-shelves.html
The last one looks a bit like a Hugh Newell Jacobsen project. I’m not sure though.
Great photo examples… books breath character and life into any space, and it just makes sense in the dining room… and the full height shelves add a greater sense of volume to the spaces.
Hi Heather! Great post – love this idea! I agree, a great way to make use of a small space and multi-functional. The selected images featured here are inspiring! I’ve been following your blog for awhile (yet to comment til now) – but you always have such well written, interesting posts! 🙂 – Jill
Gorgeous! Would you mind if I wrote about and linked to this post on my blog? I think my readers would love this.
Evangeline
http://www.bookliciousblog.com
I need a carpenter stat!
We decided to do this a few years ago to our dining room. We only eat in it a few times per year so it seemed logical to make better use of the space. Great post!
Fantastic collection of Dining / Library rooms thank you. Interested that you say ‘more European’, as a few years ago weI had an absolute nightmare trying to find a rolling ladder for our room. Eventually we had to import the rollers from New York, and then design and have the ladders made by a local craftsmen. We have been thinking of moving a dining table in, and this has made me want to more. Great. http://www.flickr.com/photos/elevengallery/4224363881/