The Madison Library: Designed for Slowing Down
While much of The Madison renovation focused on gathering spaces for entertaining and daily family life, the library was designed with a different intention - slowing down. When we first began talking about this room, the conversation wasn’t just about color or materials - it was about how the family wanted to feel. They love books - they have shelves lined with them, stacks waiting to read, and record player that was already part of their evening routine.
What they were craving wasn’t just a “library” in the traditional sense, it was a room that could hold their rituals. This room was envisioned as a place to begin the day slowly with coffee in hand and end the day just as intentionally with a record playing softly in the background, a drink within reach, and time set aside for reading.
A Direction That Almost Was
Like many library spaces, our early concepts explored something darker and moodier. Deep tones, saturated walls, a study-like atmosphere that felt enveloping and dramatic. This direction is very popular for like this right now. But as we sat with the same - and more importantly, with the family’s goals - that approach didn’t feel quite right.
The natural light in this room is limited. Leaning into darker tones would have made the space feel smaller and heavier, working against the calm they were hoping to create. Instead of drama, what they truly wanted was ease. So we shifted toward something lighter, airier, and more reflective of how they actually wanted to live in the room.
A Softer Palette for Slower Pace
The built-ins, walls, ceiling, and trim are all finished in a farrow & Ball blue-green. The color shifts throughout the day, catching what light there is and reflecting it gently back into the space. Where a darker color would have absorbed light, this one amplifies it. The goal wasn’t to make a statement but rather to support daily rituals.
Rather than limiting the color to a single surface, we allowed it to wrap the room - walls, ceiling, built-ins, and trim alike - creating a gentle, immersive effect. In a deeper shade, that level of saturation could have felt imposing but in this softer shade, it creates continuity while keeping the space light and open.
A Library Shaped by Books - and the Home Around it
At the heart of the design are custom built-in bookcases, detailed with soft arches at the top of each section. These arched forms aren’t isolated to this room - they echo the arched doorways found throughout the home and the curved cabinet doors in the dining room. This detail creates subtle architectural rhythm across the entire first floor.
Rather than feeling like a standalone feature, the library reads as a continuation of the home’s language - thoughtful, traditional, and cohesive. The shelves were carefully planned to accommodate the family’s existing and every-growing collection of books - not styled for a photoshoot, but designed to live with real books. Their record player now has a natural place among the shelves, integrated into the room instead of tucked away. Everything feels considered and intended for everyday living.
Comfort, Framed Intentionally
A linen slip-covered sofa sits within an alcove created by bookcases on either side and above, offering a sense of enclosure without heaviness. Brass sconces with custom shades provide warm, focused light for reading. Blue mohair ottomans introduce depth to the room while a velvet swivel chair with ticking detail offers the perfect place to turn toward conversation or curl up with a new book. Natural textures - the wicker chandelier and the walnut table - keep the space from feeling too formal. Every design decision was made to invite lingering rather than rushing.
The Artwork That Anchors the Room
Above the sofa hang’s the family’s first original art piece - a meaningful addition to their home. Selecting this artwork wasn’t an afterthought, it was deliberate. Time was spent considering scale, color, and feeling - choosing something that would complement the room. This piece anchors the alcove and brings quiet confidence to the room. More than a decorative element, this piece reflects the family’s evolving story - an investment in living art and surrounding themselves with pieces that carry meaning.
An Different Kind of Gathering
In a home designed to host dozens during the holidays, the library offers something different: a space for retreat.
It’s where the day begins with a warm coffee in your hands.
Where the evening winds down with a record spinning softly nearby.
Where stories - both on the shelves and within the home - continue to unfold.
Designed for slowing down, this room completes The Madison in a way that feels deeply personal - balancing the energy of gathering with the comfort of stillness.
