A library is the one room in a house that is entirely about its owner. It holds what they have read, what they value and what they intend to pass on, and it should be designed with that seriousness.
Among the commissions I have been most honoured to undertake was a private library for Prince Charles. It taught me that a fine library is not a room lined with shelves but a place made for reading, thinking and conversation, and for the long life of the books themselves.
Begin with the collection
Before any drawing, I want to understand the collection: how many volumes, their sizes, which are rare or fragile, which are read daily, and how the collection is expected to grow. Folios, art books, first editions and paperbacks each need different shelf depths and heights. A library designed without an inventory is a library that will be full, or wrong, within a few years.
Proportion and joinery
The great libraries are built of joinery, not furniture. Shelving should be drawn as architecture: cornices, pilasters, plinths and a rhythm of bays that suits the room's proportions. Solid timber or fine veneers on stable cores, adjustable shelves concealed in the design, and shelves stiff enough not to bow under weight are essential. Library ladders, galleries and hidden doors add pleasure and practicality.
Light for reading, protection for books
Readers need good, glare-free light; books need protection from it. Daylight should be controlled with blinds or ultraviolet-filtering glass so that spines do not fade. Shelf lighting must be gentle and low in heat. Reading lamps placed at every chair, and warm, low light in the evening, make the room inviting at all hours.
Climate and conservation
Paper and leather are sensitive to humidity and temperature. Stable conditions, neither too dry nor too damp, and good air circulation behind the books prevent mould, cracking and warping. For rare collections, I work with conservators to set the right conditions and to design secure, closed cases where needed.
Acoustics and comfort
A library should be the quietest room in the house. Books themselves absorb sound beautifully; rugs, curtains and upholstered seating complete the effect. Comfort matters as much as beauty: a deep reading chair, a good writing table, a fire if the house allows it, and somewhere to set down a cup.
Elements of a fine private library
- Shelving designed around an inventory of the collection, with space to grow.
- Architectural joinery in solid timber or fine veneers.
- Ultraviolet protection and gentle, cool shelf lighting.
- Stable humidity and temperature, with conservation advice for rare books.
- Excellent acoustics and genuinely comfortable places to read and write.
To discuss a commission in confidence, contact kenneth@bhli.us or call +1 (310) 467-5635.
Frequently Asked
How do you design a private home library?
Start with an inventory of the collection, design the shelving as architectural joinery around it with room to grow, provide glare-free reading light with ultraviolet protection for the books, keep humidity and temperature stable, and make the room quiet and comfortable.
How do you protect books in a home library?
Control daylight with blinds or ultraviolet-filtering glass, use cool, gentle shelf lighting, maintain stable humidity and temperature, allow air to circulate behind the books, and use closed cases for rare volumes.
Has Kenneth Bordewick designed libraries?
Yes. Kenneth Bordewick's commissions include a private library for Prince Charles, and Beverly Hills Luxury Interiors designs bespoke libraries for private residences internationally.
What wood is best for library shelving?
Solid hardwoods such as oak and walnut, or fine veneers on stable engineered cores, are preferred. Shelves must be thick or reinforced enough not to bow under the weight of books.