Thanks to yesterday’s post (which broached the subject of my bookworm tendencies) and a lunch break in the heart of Georgetown undergrad territory (Booeymonger’s at Prospect and 33rd), I must confess to a nerdy jealousy of the college student. It’s not that I miss the college experience, per se (I’m blissful about my current station in life — I love being married and not having to live on a shoestring any longer) — I miss the academic aspect of it. The rigor of coursework, the stimulation of class discussion, the hours of studying and writing. (Did I mention I went on to get an M.A. in literature? Yes, you’re looking at a mega-geek over here.) To stave off these intense feelings of nostalgia, I spent the majority of my afternoon daydreaming about a perfectly decorated library situated in my dream home, but found myself interestingly torn between the aesthetics of what I’ll loosely term “his” and “hers.” (I must be a good wife if I’m already attuned to Mr. Magpie’s incipient requests for “something more masculine” — I can just hear them now…) For the male variety, I took inspiration from the woodsy, Ralph Lauren style of decorating:
Image from Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers
I’d begin with a classic plaid-upholstered armchair ($4,125, Ralph Lauren):
A worn-in, vintage leather couch would be right up Mr. Magpie’s alley — and this 1930s era sofa from Belgium is right on the money (1stDibs):
Leather bins of varying sizes, arranged in a corner or by the fireplace would add some warmth and textural contrast (on sale for $44-$49, Sundance Catalog):
A well-worn travel trunk would make for an interesting alternative to a coffee table ($3,395, Jayson Home & Garden):
(Note its apt titling as a “Faulkner table” — a perfectly allusive name for a library centerpiece.) As for desktop accents, how about this vintage-looking, brassy “photographer” lamp ($295, Jayson Home and Garden)?
For some reason I feel that this obscenely-priced leather terrier figure would be right at home in a library of this design, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise staid setting ($695, Jonathan Adler):
I like the idea of introducing a little sunshine to the overwhelmingly dark palette by storing Mr. Magpie’s ever-expanding collection of Wall Street Journals in a sturdy tote like this Jack Spade version ($195, Jack Spade):
Perhaps a splash of orange elsewhere, in the form of these structured, canvas boxes, placed alongside rows of books on the walls of book cases, would be in order as well ($495, Plantation Design):
Mr. Magpie would certainly insist on a bar for a library of this magnitude, and I’m liking the idea of accenting some classic cut glassware ($93 for 4 double old-fashioned glasses, Williams-Sonoma; $120 for similar-style decanter, Ralph Lauren) with some hickory coasters ($20, ShopTerrain):
I’d set them out atop this wood-paneled tray ($225, Williams-Sonoma) along with Mr. Magpie’s favorite spirits — bourbon, bourbon, and more bourbon. He splurges on Blanton’s every now and then but Woodford Reserve is a good standby:
I’d probably add this outdoorsman’s bottle opener to the bar area (well — perhaps not truly outdoorsman-esque…that sort of gent would be more likely to use a Swiss Army Knife — $18, ShopTerrain):
And speaking of pups, we’d need to position a classic Orvis dog bed by the hearth ($50-$90, Orvis):
I’m thinking of white-wash artwork (I adore this photograph on canvas by Garth Meyer — price upon request, Weylandts — it reminds me of one of my absolute favorite paintings on earth, a snowscape by impressionist Alfred Sisley), set above impressively-sized — but feminine — furniture, like this stark white buffet from Jonathan Adler ($2,500, Jonathan Adler):
Break up the monochrome by adding pops of color with vases of fresh-cut peonies (vase — $125, Kate Spade) atop a hot pink lacquer tray ($225, Jonathan Adler):
Accent with a peppy stack of Archie Grand notebooks ($10 apiece, Jasper and Black):
Add some additional contrast to the walls with some colorful sketches, like these by the one-and-only Bella Foster:
Images from Bella Foster
I’d also stack a couple of old-school white hatboxes on the floor (great for storing odds and ends — I used to keep my stationery stacked in it — $22, The Box Shoppe):
A vintage-style sofa in soft near-neutrals like this robin blue and white damask gives the room a plush feel ($578, Urban Outfitters):
I like the idea of matching the feminine daintiness of that sofa with a pair of heavier-looking armchairs situated in a separate corner of the room ($845 apiece, Crate & Barrel), topped by some spiffy pillows or a throw ($295, Jonathan Adler):
This ornate-styled white mirror would be a lovely addition ($349, ZGallerie), as would a pair of these ceramic spaniel figurines ($175 apiece, Jonathan Adler):
For a ladylike bar, I love the idea of these elegantly-designed water tumblers by Riedel ($25 for 2, Tiffany), set alongside a pretty little polka dot vase ($75, Kate Spade):
Accent with a pretty little details like this patterned box of matches ($12, iomoi), or a set of hot pink pencils ($12 for 14, iomoi) set in a pretty little tumbler:
Now kick off those shoes and dive into a yummy book…perfection.