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Books Do Furnish a Room
As all book lovers know, a collection of books affords not only access to endless pleasure and knowledge, but also, when skilfully deployed around the home, the opportunity to create a myriad of different impressions. In this beautifully illustrated guide, self-confessed bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown offers inspirational solutions and practical tips on how to make the most of books in every room and forgotten nook of the house. From a working library that is a paragon of order and logic to the cosy informality of a den with books stacked in piles on the floor; from the dramatic impact of floor-to-ceiling shelves to the inviting ease of baskets of books by a fireside; and from discreet shelves that blend into the background to a designer bookcase that becomes the focal point of a room, all the key aspects are considered. A dazzling array of photographs shows how books can transform any room into an alluring and magical place.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 24, 2017
Foto meravigliose, testi insulsi.
November 16, 2010
I’ve always said that hell is a world without books. I love books. I am surrounded by them and comforted by the words inside them. This may make for a somewhat biased review. However, if you are looking for a gift for a booklover who has everything, or for a designer or architect who needs some inspiration with placing bookshelves in the perfect position, this is the ideal book to buy.
Geddes-Brown has edited Country Life and World of Interiors. She has penned more books on design than most people own. Books, she says, are as important as carpets, lights and chairs. From living with books to working with books, from making the most of books to designing for books, this book inspires and informs. A beautiful way to store books is to make them a feature, surrounding the working space as if they are works of art. Another is to ‘wallpaper’ a room with your favourite reads. I was fascinated to read about how important lighting is for books. Packed with ideas, tips, and valuable information on libraries and styles of homes, I devoured this book.
Geddes-Brown has edited Country Life and World of Interiors. She has penned more books on design than most people own. Books, she says, are as important as carpets, lights and chairs. From living with books to working with books, from making the most of books to designing for books, this book inspires and informs. A beautiful way to store books is to make them a feature, surrounding the working space as if they are works of art. Another is to ‘wallpaper’ a room with your favourite reads. I was fascinated to read about how important lighting is for books. Packed with ideas, tips, and valuable information on libraries and styles of homes, I devoured this book.
October 25, 2021
This book was beautiful. Books in every room is my motto.
March 31, 2020
Great ideas for your home library, even if you don’t have a lot to spare for decorating. It is inspiring, but most of the places shown require a dedicated space for books in your house.
June 9, 2013
My rating is purely for the photographs, which speak for themselves without the inane addition of Geddes-Brown's Pippa Middleton-esque hints and tips for storing books.
Particularly annoying examples include: innovatively recommending that recipe books are kept in the kitchen, reminding us that like chairs or baths, bookshelves have a specific job to do and advising that if one wishes to stack books they put the largest at the bottom of the stack and smallest at the top.
Additionally, she has a very snide opinionated way of writing that comes across as very judgemental, snobby and bitter. She seems especially, unnecessarily rude when referring to publishers. I found it really strange that I was able to get all this bad-feeling from her in a book that's supposed to be about bookshelves...
Buy the book for the pictures, which are gorgeous, and skip the text!
Particularly annoying examples include: innovatively recommending that recipe books are kept in the kitchen, reminding us that like chairs or baths, bookshelves have a specific job to do and advising that if one wishes to stack books they put the largest at the bottom of the stack and smallest at the top.
Additionally, she has a very snide opinionated way of writing that comes across as very judgemental, snobby and bitter. She seems especially, unnecessarily rude when referring to publishers. I found it really strange that I was able to get all this bad-feeling from her in a book that's supposed to be about bookshelves...
Buy the book for the pictures, which are gorgeous, and skip the text!
November 12, 2015
Lots of ideas on how to place books throughout a house are in this book. The author traveled all over the world to collect these ideas. One lighted area has a tent which is lit by a sky-light and this is found in a designer's New York apartment. One corner of a paneleled drawing room of a villa in the Bois de Boulogne which belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor is 'elegant' because of the antiques and decor, 'comfortable' thanks to the photographs of family and pets, and 'formal' with the arrangement of books. This author feels books belong in every room except the 'larder'. Thus there are photographs of each room with books arranged in various styles. Many books on shelves, both open and closed, or placed on chairs, desks, or tables. This book definitely illustrates how "books do furnish a room".
July 7, 2019
In the words of the author, "People who really read books . . . what they care about is books themselves, which generally are found lying all over the house, ready to be picked up for a quick paragraph or a somnolent read."
September 26, 2024
Squint past the gorgeous pictures to the actual words and it's much more inspirational and design-y than practical or the least bit accessible, with a great focus on book etiquette and appearances (you're not the target audience unless you're currently sitting on a massive heap of money.) I got quite a few sensible chuckles out of passages advising to me to "get a lighting expert in" or calling Africa "a country" (page 126, I'm not joking.)
I appreciated learning about design and some history—in places, this book feels like a relic of a bygone age in a fun way. (Give your kids lots of books to "counter the temptations of computer games." Are we sure this is from 2009?) Imagine a Jane Austen character shaking a gentle finger at you and asking "It's one converted 18th-century farmhouse, Michael, how much could it cost? £10?" and you'll get the idea.
I appreciated learning about design and some history—in places, this book feels like a relic of a bygone age in a fun way. (Give your kids lots of books to "counter the temptations of computer games." Are we sure this is from 2009?) Imagine a Jane Austen character shaking a gentle finger at you and asking "It's one converted 18th-century farmhouse, Michael, how much could it cost? £10?" and you'll get the idea.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
February 12, 2025Feb. 2025
Mostly disappointing. No ideas that I could use. Lots of ugly.
I do like the idea, if you have a separate dining room, of lining the walls with bookshelves instead of a buffet for china etc. The table can still be used for gatherings, but also for projects, and also for reading books too heavy or large for laps.
I also like the idea of using a bookshelf as a room divider. If you make it as high as a screen, keep it light by making it backless, by making it wide enough to have books spines out on both sides. Or just use a cheap unit meant for canvas storage cubes as a low divider... one of the houses I lived in could have used that to mark a front hall distinct from the family room on the other side.
But the only book in the bathroom should be the current disposable paperback. Do not accumulate piles or shelves there, I beg you!
Mostly disappointing. No ideas that I could use. Lots of ugly.
I do like the idea, if you have a separate dining room, of lining the walls with bookshelves instead of a buffet for china etc. The table can still be used for gatherings, but also for projects, and also for reading books too heavy or large for laps.
I also like the idea of using a bookshelf as a room divider. If you make it as high as a screen, keep it light by making it backless, by making it wide enough to have books spines out on both sides. Or just use a cheap unit meant for canvas storage cubes as a low divider... one of the houses I lived in could have used that to mark a front hall distinct from the family room on the other side.
But the only book in the bathroom should be the current disposable paperback. Do not accumulate piles or shelves there, I beg you!
June 22, 2022
Whether you're seeking inspiration on bookshelf design or collecting a home library, this book is drool worthy. From ultra modern, sleek and minimalist design to cozy country cottage, this book has all the book lover desires for inspiration and is a lively book to look through.
December 20, 2023
A cute coffee table book about books. The author's tone was commanding and borderline condescending at times, but the beautiful photography made for it. It's definitely a book for inspiration more than anything.
September 22, 2017
Not bad, but not particularly inspired.
March 10, 2019
The books looked messy, and I am into white spaces and Japanese minimalism.
I would have liked more decorating ideas. Apart from low shelves, there wasn’t much.
I would have liked more decorating ideas. Apart from low shelves, there wasn’t much.
November 17, 2019
Wunderschöne Fotos! Was gibt es für Leser schöneres als Fotos von Bücherregalen?
November 18, 2019
Eye candy for book lovers and collectors. Its nice knowing that I'm not alone!
October 22, 2021
Summary: buy more shelves, buy more books, there’s always more ways to store books than you imagined. And it really helps to be rich.
February 19, 2022
Great resource - will be very handy over the next year
August 24, 2022
Wonderfully written and Gorgeous photos!
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January 6, 20241238470
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April 27, 2024
Read this like a magazine: mostly for the pictures and a few essays, skipping the ones I don’t want.
July 12, 2024
Beautiful book that has given me lots of ideas for when I move house. Useful little directory at the back. Author is a bit judgy in writing style
October 16, 2025
some nice photos
April 21, 2022
got it for the pictures (because i need bookshelves inspo.) -- i didn't actually read any of the text (because I'm a visual person).
July 5, 2013
No surprises here why a book-lover and book-blogger like myself would pick up a book called: Books Do Furnish A Room by Leslie Geddes-Brown. For the pictures of course!
This beautiful coffee table type book is broken down into chapters along the lines of functionality and rooms of the house. There are some interesting interior design tidbits disbursed amongst a great deal of logical information and it makes for good reading.
It must be said that the hero of Books Do Furnish A Room though are the stunning photographs that feature on each page. The owners of the bookshelves and gorgeous libraries are mostly well to do, designers or architects, although I guess these are the types of people an author would come across when sourcing photographs of beautiful bookshelf designs and home libraries.
Books Do Furnish A Room is the perfect book for book-lovers to dip into and I enjoyed drooling over the various styles of bookshelves and dreaming about the day I have that much space for all of my bookish treasures.
This beautiful coffee table type book is broken down into chapters along the lines of functionality and rooms of the house. There are some interesting interior design tidbits disbursed amongst a great deal of logical information and it makes for good reading.
It must be said that the hero of Books Do Furnish A Room though are the stunning photographs that feature on each page. The owners of the bookshelves and gorgeous libraries are mostly well to do, designers or architects, although I guess these are the types of people an author would come across when sourcing photographs of beautiful bookshelf designs and home libraries.
Books Do Furnish A Room is the perfect book for book-lovers to dip into and I enjoyed drooling over the various styles of bookshelves and dreaming about the day I have that much space for all of my bookish treasures.
April 10, 2010
I don't normally review books like this, but i thought it'd appeal to most of us goodreads folk. This is a visually concentrated book, but it does have blocks of text setting up the photos for each section, as well as leading articles on interior designs and motivations for bibliophiles and collectors.
I admit I was initially only attracted by the photos. I'm looking for ideas for planning shelving space. The author not only gave me several new ideas, but highlighted some basic rules I never thought of before, like how lighting effects and shelf dimensions can limit or maximize utility. I come away from this quick read with a more open mind and some clear and obtainable visions of future shelving solutions.
I admit I was initially only attracted by the photos. I'm looking for ideas for planning shelving space. The author not only gave me several new ideas, but highlighted some basic rules I never thought of before, like how lighting effects and shelf dimensions can limit or maximize utility. I come away from this quick read with a more open mind and some clear and obtainable visions of future shelving solutions.
November 23, 2012
An excellent book filled with inspiring pictures and ideas for incorporating books (and wonderful shelving) into your home. Lots of designer houses to admire and aspire to. I particularly like the rustic look and this is well covered in this book. Some interesting ideas for book "sculptures" too (with warnings from the author that you better look out for small kids and pets!). The authors comments are interesting and useful and practical. No pretention is evident on the art of bookshelving - the author likes a bookshelf to be a practical piece of furnitute, not a silly display piece, just like I do.
January 30, 2010
Some lovely photos and even a few new ideas. The author is opinionated, but I don't mind that. The major downside is that a remarkable number of shots -- maybe even half -- are of a generic room with a standard bookcase or two. Or maybe just a stack of books on the floor. Not very interesting or inspirational.
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April 1, 2010tclib 747.9 geddes
May 16, 2010
Oh, my head is full of ideas now! One being "buy more books" hehehe...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews