Leslie commissioned NOOK to design and install a bespoke library wall in the living room of a grand Edwardian house in Gosforth.
The stunning building, located not far from Gosforth High Street, features an original marble fireplace and ornate coving. As a result, it was important that we sensitively designed the library shelving to complement these elements rather than mask or detract from them. The shelving also needed to fit around a doorway to allow access in and out of the room. Precise measurements were crucial to avoid any gaps and to keep the library spacing even.
After evaluating and measuring the room, we drafted some initial designs, ensuring the shelves were set high enough to suit the customer’s book collection but without covering the stunning coving. We also tailored the shelf heights to perfectly accommodate her husband’s LP record collection. Drawers at the bottom of the bookcases provide additional concealed storage, while fluted pilasters reflect the period details within the room.
To add a truly personal touch, we included rustic upturned lighting and porcelain drawer handles that the customer had collected over a number of years. After crafting the furniture in our Northumberland workshops, the full unit was painted by our skilled specialists using high-quality paint from Little Greene. The ‘Basalt’ shade of dark blue was chosen to contrast with the light coving and bring out the natural blue tones of the marble fireplace.
By including a library ladder, painted in the same shade of blue, we not only created a way to access the very top shelves but also added an extra flourish of grandeur to elevate the space. The project resulted in a striking feature wall that offers both aesthetic charm and practicality.
Our client was thrilled with the bespoke library, stating:
“We are delighted with the library wall that NOOK built for us, the final result captures our vision perfectly, Great craftsmanship with lots of lovely design details that reflect the period features of our home.”
