Dinner and a Good Book: 12 Double-Duty Dining Rooms
Create your own library-inspired reading room by pairing a dining table with bookshelves
Bryan Anthony
June 9, 2015
The dining room is a prime location for scholarly pursuits, as it often contains the largest table in a home. Dining tables are perfect for perusing oversized atlases and art books, and can easily host culinary and literary masterpieces alike. Here’s a collection of 11 bibliophile-worthy dining rooms that are (leather) bound to impress — along with one that lightheartedly nods to the reading life.
This farmhouse dining room in New York, designed by Kate Johns, includes bookshelves painted dark gray with an orange beadboard backing. The room has industrial lighting, a wood table with a steel base and molded plastic chairs.
Chairs: Eames molded plastic; pendants: Eugene, Visual Comfort Lighting Store
Chairs: Eames molded plastic; pendants: Eugene, Visual Comfort Lighting Store
This Katie Lydon-designed dining room in a Manhattan penthouse features a chandelier composed of martini glasses, framed art hanging from the bookshelf and a flourish of drizzled paint topping the dark hardwood floors.
A wall of built-in bookshelves designed by McKinney York Architects graces this contemporary dining room in Austin, Texas. A library ladder on wheels allows the homeowners to easily reach books on the top shelves. The room’s sculptural chandelier was created by local artists.
Discover 10 great ways to use library ladders in your home
Discover 10 great ways to use library ladders in your home
Bookshelves painted antique green line two walls of this rustic dining room created by Platt Architecture. The bookshelves are topped with a series of bronze library lights.
Library lights: Boston, Circa Lighting; dining chairs: Aero Studios
Library lights: Boston, Circa Lighting; dining chairs: Aero Studios
The black floors, pendant lights and bookshelves in this Northern California dining room designed by Ann Lowengart make a bold, modern statement.
Dining table: HD Buttercup; chairs: Lucite, Ann Lowengart Interiors; pendants: Beat, Tom Dixon
Dining table: HD Buttercup; chairs: Lucite, Ann Lowengart Interiors; pendants: Beat, Tom Dixon
This traditional dining room in Charleston, South Carolina, was designed by Bill Huey + Associates. Olive green bookshelves line the walls and are chock-full of books and intrigue — note the hidden door.
Large windows and a custom skylight created by Cider Press Woodworks make for a bright farmhouse dining room. The antique dining table and chairs are family heirlooms, and the chandelier was a custom creation.
This eclectic New York City dining room, designed by Christopher Burns, has a chandelier dripping in glass beads, chairs covered in faux cowhide and a high-gloss wood dining table.
Chairs: Zeus, Artistic Frame; rug: custom, Patterson Flynn Martin
How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort
Chairs: Zeus, Artistic Frame; rug: custom, Patterson Flynn Martin
How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort
The custom bookshelves in this hip Austin, Texas, dining room designed by Furman + Keil Architects create a wall separating the space from the kitchen. The bookshelves include an alcove for a dining bench, along with storage and an integrated wine rack.
Bookshelf paint: Porpoise, Sherwin-Williams; chandelier: Circular 5, Niche Modern; dining table: Atlantico; chairs: Wegner Wishbone
Bookshelf paint: Porpoise, Sherwin-Williams; chandelier: Circular 5, Niche Modern; dining table: Atlantico; chairs: Wegner Wishbone
This transitional dining room in Philadelphia was designed by Rasmussen / Su Architects. It has an open dining area with bookshelves and a library rail and ladder.
Library ladder: Alaco Ladder
Library ladder: Alaco Ladder
A wall of casement windows and French doors draws light into this Sydney dining room, designed by Sam Crawford Architects. The space plays many roles as a reading, game and music room.
Chairs: CH33, Carl Hansen & Son
Chairs: CH33, Carl Hansen & Son
If you prefer reading your books on a laptop or tablet and don’t need bookshelves, you can follow designer Lisa Borgnes Giramonti’s lead and still achieve the library look by adding whimsical wallpaper, as she did in this Los Angeles dining room.
Wood dining chair: Eames molded plywood; metal bench: Horse Shoe; wallpaper: Books, Deborah Bowness
More:
24 Amazing Walls of Books
8 Ways to Rethink the Dining Room
Wood dining chair: Eames molded plywood; metal bench: Horse Shoe; wallpaper: Books, Deborah Bowness
More:
24 Amazing Walls of Books
8 Ways to Rethink the Dining Room
Related Stories
Organizing
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Home Office
Follow these steps to get rid of the paper piles and make room for beauty and better organization
Full Story
Remodeling Guides
15 Ways to Create Separation in an Open Floor Plan
By tidgboutique
Use these pro tips to minimize noise, delineate space and establish personal boundaries in an open layout
Full Story
White
Design Pros Share 10 Favorite Creamy White Paints
By Becky Harris
These off-white color choices include versatile tones, warming hues and pleasingly soft shades
Full Story
Entryways
4 Designer Tips for a Fashionable Entry
By tidgboutique
A pro shows how adding color, statement pieces and more to a foyer can set the right tone for the rest of the home
Full Story
Most Popular
7 Major Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
By tidgboutique
Gain confidence to start your interior design project with this advice from a professional designer
Full Story
Living Rooms
4 Must-Have Features for a Small Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer shares important ways to live large in a tight space and make it look stylish
Full Story
Most Popular
7 Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
Pros share solutions to design problems they often find in people’s living spaces
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Decorate a Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer offers tips for creating a comfortable space that reflects your style
Full Story
Budget Decorating
Where to Splurge and Where to Save When Decorating
By tidgboutique
See where it makes sense to invest in durable essentials and focal pieces, and where to economize on other things
Full Story
Lighting
Pro Tips for Lighting 10 Rooms and Outdoor Areas
Get professional advice for lighting your kitchen, bathroom, living room, office, patio and more
Full Story
I'm going to give the hidden door bookshelf a try (not first time I've seen similar on Houzz so not first time I've considered it). Already picked out four possibilities in the not-very-big house. Like all the images except that wallpaper. Clever for a minute but not liveable. Very nice article.
love the room by Bill Huey and Associates. www.luminosodesign.com
What perfect timing! We have decided to turn our library into a dining room to make it cozier and a place you want to linger. We live in a 1900 farmhouse and the room is long and narrow and a perfect place for the long narrow oak table and chairs I recently found on craigslist for $350! I am so excited to see all the designs in this article and to feel validated for my ideas! Thank you!