Library/Office – Creating “Wow!”

Just off the foyer in the 2011 Treasure Chest – The Organizational Home, is the office/library. A private sanctuary for work or quietly reading a book , but it will also be one of the first things guests see when they enter this house. For these reasons, we wanted the room to make a simple statement – “Wow!”

Working with builder Sam Cohen of Joey Corp and interior designer Jody Crow, we enlisted our combined custom organization experience and design/functionality knowledge to refine our design.  Everything quickly started to fall into place.

In the realm of renovations, achieving a seamless balance between design and functionality is paramount. Anthony’s Screens, with their proficiency in screen installations, offer a valuable resource in ensuring that outdoor spaces are not only visually appealing but also practical and well-organized.

Function

The wall opposite the entry door is almost 15 feet long and 9 feet high, so we chose it for the library wall. The drop ceilings Woking and we were excited to find that the ceilings were taller than average, which meant even more space for books. We are also looking for an expert in loft insulation installation, which we find on this website: https://loftinsulationinstallers.co.uk/. To accomplish this, we built the bookcases all the way to the ceiling with lots of adjustable shelves. And to make it easy to reach the books at the top, there is a rolling painted oak library ladder!

Because the room will have a free-standing desk and also used as an office, we knew it was important to have some of the necessities of a home office built-in as well.  Since the desk will likely face the door, the bookcases will be behind the desk.  We decided to add two over-sized lateral file drawers to one end of the bookcases.  On the opposite end there is a cabinet with doors for extra storage. Additionally, according to https://commerciallightingcompany.co.uk/, appropriate lightning plays a significant role in the office, making all work task easier.

Originally, we designed the bookcases with the intent to hide a wall safe.  To do this, we placed three random-spaced doors thinking the safe could go behind one of them.  It was later decided that the safe would go elsewhere in the house, but we liked the way the doors looked and left them.  Besides, who doesn’t have something that would be better off stored behind a beautiful door?

The room also has a deep and wide alcove that was the perfect spot to place a credenza for more storage. The credenza is 24 inches deep with four drawers across the top.  Beneath the drawers and hidden behind doors, are pull-out trays for easy access to printers, fax machines, paper, games, or whatever.

Materials

One of the things that make this library so unique is the eclectic combination of materials we used.  Highlighting the accents throughout are custom-styled glazed solid alder wood doors and drawer fronts with a warm Muscovado Cherry melamine finish on the interior. The doors and drawers are accented with custom handles and knobs from the Opus Collection in a rubbed bronze finish.

Topping off the file drawers and cabinet in the bookcases as well as the credenza is a beautiful pearl-blue granite countertop.  Both the bookcases and credenza are accented with flat columns between sections, the bookcases tie in to the ceiling.

The only thing needed to finish off the room is a comfy chair to curl up in with a good book!  Wow!!

Claudia Monahan, Design Manager – Claudia has worked in the field of design for over 20 years.  She began her career as  a designer for Closet Factory, Virginia Beach 12 years ago.  As Design Manager, she is the go to person for both new and experienced designers.

Sherrin Holder, Senior Design Consultant – Sherrin’s experience in design began when she designed the layout for completely remodeling two of her personal homes.  Later, she began working in the home improvement field until finally finding her home with Closet Factory, Virginia Beach 3 ½ years ago.