As a young child, my favorite part of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was the scene where Beast shows Belle the castle library. Oh, how I wanted it! For the longest time, that was my mental template for my dream library.
Then, as I grew older, I realized that I’m a decently picky reader, and therefore, I wouldn’t be able to fill a library that size with books that I’d actually want to read.
So I downsized.
Nowadays, my dream library is mostly based off of my grandpa’s old study at the house my grandparents lived in when I was very young.
It wouldn’t be a large room, but just big enough for a comfortable reading chair and a small, squishy couch, with one wall made entirely out of shelves and cabinets that I would fill with my books and knick-knacks. It would have one big bay window to let in morning sunshine and all of the walls and panelling would be made of rich, warm-toned wood. To finish it off, I’d have a nice thick carpet in there and possibly a decent sized desk and an easel to work on my paintings. The computer and TV would be relegated to a different room entirely.
So that’s my dream library. For now, I have my Book Nook, which suits me perfectly, but someday…
Edit: I’ve recently started a Pinterest Board dedicated to “building” my Dream Library. So feel free to click on the little Pinterest button in the sidebar and visit!
January 9, 2012
Golden Bookwyrm
8 responses to “My Dream Library (AKA A Bookworm’s Paradise)”
Ben
January 9th, 2012 at 19:15
My Dream Library is very similar – It is a Medium sized room with Three walls of bookshelves, all sorted. It’s very Victorianesque, with dark varnished wood with a warm carpet. On the roof is an old-style map of the world. There are Two lounges with a wooden table in between them (the surface of the table would also be an old-style map of the world – I do love old maps), a fine chess set taking centre-place. Perhaps a Fire place, though it would need to be done carefully. Some may call me sadistic for wanting a fire place in my reading room, but I find them very cool and calming indeed. The last wall is a window that I like to think looks onto the earth from somewhere in orbit, or looks over the world from high above in an airship. Whenever I have an affluent gentleman in my books, you can be sure this will appear somewhere on his property.
Golden Bookwyrm
January 9th, 2012 at 20:55
It sounds like a comfortable mix between a Hobbit-hole and the library of a well-to-do gentleman – very inviting!
At some point, I plan to do a sketch of my dream library to add to this post; I should dearly like to see some sort of drawing or painting of yours.
Ben
January 10th, 2012 at 04:38
Unfortunately i’m not much of a visual artist, but perhaps one day i will be able to show you some Photographs!
Shannon Howell
January 10th, 2012 at 11:03
I’m not nearly so practical. I’m still sold on the Disney library. However, it has to have a place for non-book articles. The Earth & Planetary Sciences Library where I went to school (yes, it had it’s OWN library) had drawers full of maps. Some of them were really old and parchmenty…
To me, a library is a collection of ideas and knowledge. I wouldn’t *have* to want to read all of them, but to be able to walk into a room and grab (preferrably) original texts and reference them – to hold them and smell them…
At least one large window is a must – we’d all get headaches without proper lighting. Comfy chairs and sofas. Great big pillows (I like to read on the floor sometimes). Also, the room needs a nice little place to put a cup of cocoa.
Now I’m going to have to find a way to fit a nice library scene into my book.
Golden Bookwyrm
January 10th, 2012 at 14:20
Yes! A little, antique side-table for cocoa and/or tea and a tray of cookies! Both you and Ben have mentioned old maps (which are indeed awesome), so I’m thinking I might have to antique and frame the map of Middle Earth that came in my copy of “Lord of the Rings”.
Shannon Howell
January 12th, 2012 at 12:08
Did you see my post about Creating a Fantasy World? I actually reference that map, so it’s funny you would mention it a few days later!
stevebetz
January 11th, 2012 at 15:59
I’m like you — I think I want a smaller, cozy room as my dream library — a place to keep all my book-friends where I can visit them (as opposed to scattered around the house like they are now…) and where I can snuggle up and read.
Golden Bookwyrm
January 11th, 2012 at 21:06
Agreed! I’ve found that the cozy atmosphere is best for reading.