How to furnish the 'library' of our 1750's house?

12 years ago

Well, we moved into this house and the holidays hit 3 weeks later so it was all I could do to get rid of enough boxes to set up the tree in this, my favorite, room.

This house is smaller than any we've had before but somehow we've got the opportunity to have a 100% screen-free (no computer, no TV) room and it has all these great built ins, so we have dubbed it the library. Though it would have been the keeping room of the original house - see the big fireplace - door on the left conceals the old oven.

I painted the top part of the walls with milk paint (buttermilk) and plan to strip some of the wainscot / fireplace areas to see what the wood is like underneath before deciding whether to paint (or leave natural).

So basically we have this good sized, l-shaped room with a loveseat and antique rug (in front of the loveseat). I tossed down the red/beige rug just for warmth sake but I'm not attached to it.

We are a family of 3 so I'd like to have seating for at least 4-6 to allow for occasional guests. Just not sure what pieces / how to lay them out.

I admitted in the epiphany thread that I'm awful at accessorizing, if you couldn't tell from the mantels. :)

Suggestions on how to lay this room out, to get some more seating and make it a cozier reading space, greatly appreciated!

From the hall:

Just inside the door:

Looking back at the hall door/ smaller hearth:

Looking toward the big fireplace, from the same corner:

From the corner by the hearths - note the front door and stairway.

From the stairs:

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Comments (24)

User
12 years ago
What a fantastic room...I love those wide floor boards !

I am fond of lots of comfy chairs and a good table with a floor lamp for reading. I don't like table lamps as I want the whole table for my stack of books and a cup/glass and small plate :) I also love an ottoman or two. I have 2 Morris chairs that are antique that I found for very little as the owners didn't know what they had. They are adjustable backs and very comfy. I love lamps with the arms or extensions to allow plenty of adjustment also.

So you might start by looking on your Craigslist...that is where I found one chair and also your local antique malls...that is where I found the other. I would go for a collected look and not anything "new".

Do you use the fireplaces ? I have never seen two like that...I assume they share the same chimney. Fantastic room...I look forward to seeing what you do. c
teacats
12 years ago
Utterly fantastic house! :) Just LOVE it!!!! :)

First -- look for a smaller-scale loveseat/sofa that would fit better into the space between the bookcases. Add small tables/chests on each side (yes they would sit in front of the bookshelves)

Measure carefully -- would a thin (in depth from the wall) bench with a good cushion be able to fit along the wall in the 3rd photo? (where the boxes are sitting now) Many old English pubs have benches in these types of room.

Then add a couple of smaller-scale leather armchairs -- with a good ottoman.

Add lots of decent lighting! Could you use the old oven to stash the liquor?? ((JUST teasing! although a drink can improve a library!))
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I copied the photo of your rug to my photo program and sampled the colors in it. I then compared those colors with paint colors from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams. The light gold of the background most closely matches SW 6374 Torchlight. The light brown was similar to BM's 2166-20 Caramel Latte. The green matched SW 7729 Edamame, and SW 2806 Rookwood Brown is similar to a taupe in the rug. Neither the coral or the dark red have any matches, and they would overwhelm a room in any event. What looked blue in the rug sampled as gray. These colors in your rug are muted by the small areas they occupy. They are more saturated when viewed by themselves. Below are approximate samples of the above colors. You should first of all check out these colors on the manufacturer's website in their virtual paint. Here is Benjamin Moore and here is Sherwin-Williams. Remember that you can choose a lighter version of these colors. For instance, SW 7726 Lemon Verbena is a lighter version of Edamame, and SW 6373 Harvester is a lighter version of Torchlight. Once you have narrowed the choices you should buy samples and paint on poster board. You can then set the poster boards against the walls you want to paint to see how the colors work. This is the only way to see if you like the colors enough to live with them. Otherwise you would be better off choosing neutrals.
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bestyears
12 years ago
Beautiful room!!! You know what I would just love to see in this room? A 42-inch round wooden pedestal table, in front of the fireplace.... a place for games, dinners in front of the fire, working on a laptop, etc.
mary_lu_gw
12 years ago
trailrunner mentioned adjustable floor lamps. I was just searching for a floor lamp for by my chair and came across this one. Think it would fit your home. It takes up to 100 watt bulb. Good for reading.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glendale Pulley Task Floor Lamp
allison0704
12 years ago
Love the floors - lucky you!
arlosmom
12 years ago
I keep scrolling up and down looking at your pictures. That's a fabulous room! Wow wow wow the floors!! And I love the fireplace. Nice bookshelves. What is the small door beyond the bookshelves in the first picture?

And yet, at the same time, it's not an easy room for furniture placement, is it? I think the loveseat you have is too big and puffy for the space, or at least it's too big for in front of the window. I'd think about having a couple of separate seating areas. Maybe a couple of chairs and a small table in front of the fireplace. A smaller loveseat and another chair by the bookcases. Do you have a nearby dining room that you could borrow chairs from when you need to seat 6?

I hope you post more pictures as you pull you room together. I love it already.
mclarke
12 years ago
Stunning room!

I don't know how much "fussing" you want to do with your bookcases. But....

Books look better if they are vertical or horizontal. Diagonal books always look messy and haphazard.

If you straighten your books just a little, I think you'll be amazed at the difference.
Olychick
12 years ago
It's hard to tell, but could you have a window seat built in between the bookcases - a great place to lounge and read, then fill in the rest of the seating with chairs as suggested?
User
12 years ago
Ok...back with more....had to read what others suggested first and think on it some.

From the first I thought the sofa was wrong and glad others agree. The window seat with really good padding and pillows is brilliant..put it where the sofa is now. Make it really really comfy so it needs to be deep enough. Then cool wall sconces on the wood sides of the bookcases...make them usable for sure. I would get something industrial looking or follow thru with ML's suggestion...which I love..all but the price :) Make sure that the window seat has nice big drawers with easy glides for storage at the bottom. Make sure sconces are adjustable.

Also the round library/casual dining table in front of the fire is great..you could also use a gateleg instead so that it was fully open for big projects/dining and half open other times. Make sure and have dual purpose seating for it that are comfy to use for reading too.

Floor lamps and chairs after you do the other things and see how many you need but at least 2 with ottomans...and trays on the ottomans as needed or good tables next to the chairs with room as I noted above.

I am ready to move in...LOL...well...pretty seriously...that is a great room.

Oh and I would do a sofa table ...thin..where the boxes are against the wall.
littlebug5
12 years ago
The red drapes really bother me. I don't know if it's the color, the fact that they're (kind of) messily tied together, or what.

They don't fit.
oceanna
12 years ago
You've gotten some great suggestions here.

Don't know if you knew but there are many gorgeous bookcase photos in the Offices thread in the Gallery.

You might also enjoy the Living Rooms thread in the Gallery.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/gal0105392231131.html?40

Here is a link that might be useful: Office Eye Candy
eandhl
12 years ago
I don't care what you put in the library - the room is just beautiful. Each time you have posted a house picture I keep coming back to look at them. I love your house. We are in the NW part of CT - do you mind sharing what part you are in?
newdawn1895
12 years ago
They don't make floors like that anymore, unless you want to cash in your kids college fund to buy them. Are they heart pine?
ctlane
12 years ago
I would move the loveseat down with the back towards where the single window is not. Pulled out from the wall quite a bit. A built in seat between the bookcases would be great or perhaps a table and chair for reading. Love this room and the floors.
clubcracker
Original Author
12 years ago
Wow thanks everyone! Lots of things to try out here.

Trailrunner, I didn't know the term for Morris chairs but I'd been admiring similar ones on LLBean. A quick search on CL plus an email negotiation and I've just snagged a clawfoot pair for $150 (pick up tomorrow). If I don't like them in the space I'm thinking I can just re-sell.

I have tons of old floor lamps, some adjustable, mostly iron and brass. MIL was a collector and serial re-wirer. ;) I'll see what I can dig out.

The curtains - yes, they're messy, and the pic makes them look worse than they are. They're Company Store velvet panels, moved from my last house. The windows have heavy wooden rods and rod-holders (technical term? lol) and these keep in heat, which is nice. What's the "right" way to hold them back? They're currently tied with IKEA ribbon so there's nowhere to go but up. ;)

Teacats, I am the person who milk paints with a glass of red wine nearby so you KNOW that as soon as I can plane the oven door so it does not scrape against the floor, I will stash some liquor in there! DH already uses the built in cabinet above the DR fireplace for his Scotch collection. LOL.

eandhl, we are in Woodbury - where are you? There are TONS of houses from this era in Litchfield County.

newdawn, the floors are chestnut! I thought they were pine too at first. We have an addition (FR and kitchen) that was done with reclaimed wide/random pine flooring, and it's great, but the chestnut is like nothing I've ever seen. It's incredibly hard and impervious to scratches, has virtually no poly or other treatment on it (I assume it has been oiled periodically over the years), and it has worn to this patina that's just amazing.

I'll post again once I move some things around and pick up the chairs - thanks again!

Mary
nancybee_2010
12 years ago
clubcracker, your house is so great!

I envy all of you in Conn. and other areas where houses from 1750 exist! In my community in SoCal an old house is one from the '70's (1970's).

I hope we get to see more pics of your old house!
User
12 years ago
You got a PAIR for $150 ???! OK ...I am moving LOL ! That is so great. I am glad that I suggested it. Do your have the springs in the seat or the solid piece of wood ? I have one of each. Do yours have the cushions already or will you need to upholster new ones ?? PIcs now !! c
User
12 years ago
very very cool

Here is a link that might be useful: morris chairs
clubcracker
Original Author
12 years ago
Trailrunner, you are goood! Those are them! One of them is missing the bar that lets it recline but I'm pretty sure I can work something out.

I'm also frankly skeeved by secondhand upholstered furniture so I'm just as happy to buy some foam and try my hand at covering some cushions.

It's funny - you can totally get awesome old houses, some CL finds (though the antique shops around here cater to "pedigreed" pieces - beautiful but expect to drop $7000 on a farm table or cupboard), fresh eggs and veggies all for great bargains compared to the Boston area where I'm from originally....HOWEVER, a gallon of milk or a package of chocolate chips is like 40% more here, for the same (Hood or Nestle) product.
eandhl
12 years ago
trailrunner, would love to see you move to the area.
clubcracker, we are in Colebrook - We are in an 1870 schoolhouse.
User
12 years ago
cc I know all about the prices...DB is in Manhattan..the first time I bought a jar of Jiffy PB I almost had a cow ! The ordinary stuff is how they get you up in the NE.

There is no chance I could move as I am SO warm oriented LOL. It was 72 here today...I had the house OPEN and the windows wide !! Nice...

You will have a great time with the covers. Those are wonderful chairs ! I am so green with envy..and I don't do envy :) I would look at the velvet mohair that arlosmom is using...or something really cool...I don't know have to think on it. I have one that is not upholstered yet since I haven't figured out what to use. Since it took me 10 years to do the portieres who knows how long this might take LOL.

Oh...I forgot as to the bar...have a metal shop make you a bar..make sure it is a metal that will patina..brass or copper or carbon steel...have the original on the other copied.Otherwise a cool long stick that you find on a hike in the woods...I have one but...I love it or I would send it...it is willow...c
clubcracker
Original Author
12 years ago
TR, I got the chairs yesterday! One has a wooden seat and the other springs. One is oak and the other had a finer grain and mahogany stain. The one with springs has a label on it that says Larkin and I happened upon this link that you might find useful when researching. I may order a spring box from him one day to replace the plywood bottom of my unlabeled chair.

I love that at least one of my new chairs was given as a promo with a $10 purchase of soap! ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Morris chair guy in Maine
User
12 years ago
Yep me too ! I love the Larkin chair and the story behind the coupons ! I will check out the link...I would love to have the springs in the one of mine that doesn't have them. I want up close pics of those great chairs ! !!! c

Just looked at the link..I had seen it before when I was researching. Where on his site did you see the ability to order a spring box ????
clubcracker
Original Author
12 years ago
Sorry, I was working off my iPhone! Here is the link where he shows his spring boxes as well as all the replacement hardware he makes.

Here is a link that might be useful: morris chair hardware

How to furnish the 'library' of our 1750's house?

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