Interior Design Today - Episode 028

Welcome to the Interior Design Today radio show with Mary Knackstedt. In our 28th episode, Mary talks about books. Books. Are you still keeping and storing books? What do they mean to you, and how do you present them? It is quite interesting. We look at one group of people that says, "Why should I own a book? I can do everything on my tablet, or I can get my information in many other forms. Why do I want to read?" I'm finding that clients see books as treasures. They want them presented in a way that is easily accessible. It is something that is really part of their lives. We are designing many more ways of storing books. Of course, it depends upon the value of the particular books that you own, whether they are something that are truly investments or whether they are something that is just there for informational resources. I have been very surprised when looking at my own library and noticing certain books in stores, and realizing that I have had the book for several years. I refer to them occasionally, but I don't realize that they had any value. Now I note the value and treat them very differently. We're finding that clients are coming again and again and saying that they really want to take care of their books. In many cases, I want them protected from light and dust. I want them to be here, but I don't necessarily want to see them. I want you to create a way of sliding a wall in front of them or creating shades or doors that cover them. Yet, give me the opportunity to easily access them when I want to use them. Yes, it is not only "Googling" information, but there is information on things like the arts that are available in books that we simply cannot find from other resources. What type of spaces are used for storing books? Many people feel that it is inappropriate to put a lot of books in a room in which we sleep because they do collect dust. Therefore, it is better to have them stored in a way that we can eliminate this particular factor. Many times, we are creating areas in a hallway that becomes a library, and what a wonderful feature? Sometimes, in our family rooms, living rooms, or other spaces. It has been fun to take a dining room which is not used very often, especially when we have apartments or areas with a limitation on space, and turning that into a library. It really makes an attractive and workable environment. A library when wanted, and when needed, an area for serving food. Really, books can be in almost any area. We often want them where we're going to use them, which is why we'll put a certain amount of cooking/preparation books in a kitchen. Only things that are used on a regular basis, or are very special books… Children's books belong in their area. Books that are mine or my husbands, belong in an area which is convenient to them. Like anything else, the system of storage and the ability to find what you want, to retrieve that item or bit of information, is really a key part of the interior design. There is no point in having something if you can't find it. Refer to your books and see, do I really want them? Yes, I've often felt as I've designed many libraries that one of the most important things is weeding the library. I'll often walk into a new project and I'll refer to a certain subject that I know, and I'll go lookup a certain type of book. I can tell very quickly how often that library has been weeded. You'll want to go through yours as well to decide which is appropriate to keep. Then, decide, just how do you want them stored. How can we design a book storage unit for you that really fits the area? How can we have flexibility and security for it? How can we maintain the cleanliness and value of those books? It isn't just piles of books, but it is really a wonderful library resource which is enhancing your life and helping you enjoy your home or your business space. Look at your books and use them as a decorative item, but mainly as a wonderful, workable, usable, resource that really enhances your life. Please subscribe to the video or audio version of the radio show via iTunes or listen to it at http://interiordesigntodaypodcast.blogger.com via the following MP3 Link.