vlw's Profile

I agree with getting some bookshelves or some kind of screen to sort of "wall" off the space without necessarily completely walling it in. Even a Chinese folding screen at the end of the bed to create a separate space from the kitchen would be good.

And more pillows, some kind of shelves above the bed, perhaps? Or a large art piece.

The recessed lighting will help a lot, I think, too, and painting just the mantle and maybe some trim around windows/doors white. Another thought: bring in some wide, white baseboards or a white trim around the top of the ceiling, especially if it's a decent height. Instead of the black grate in front of the fireplace, can you paint it or get something that is silver or light colored? Even a lighter gray would help brighten that up some. Finally, maybe get a white slipcover or some large white throws for your couch and some white throw pillows. Bringing in bright accents will up the contrast against the darker ambience of the room and don't require as much commitment.

Paint it with stripes going horizontally, with wide stripes at key heights so you'll get a fun plaid effect and still have privacy. The pattern will do enough to distort and hide without filtering out all of the light. Try it with painters/duct tape first for a non-permanent trial period and to figure out how wide to make the stripes.

White. Nice contrast, gives more of a reflected light, and will brighten up the room, plus add some geometric dimension and interest.

You could put in a large, fake fireplace and shelves on either side. Or do a couple large, potted plants in there with a chair, looks like there's a window nearby which would provide at least some natural light.

Display a large piece of art in the center, along with a comfortable chair. I also like the idea of a bar area there, or the mini library--do the shelves across each side of the opening, with a comfortable chair and a small table and lamp in the middle. They don't have to be confined to the space, you could extend it out with (again) plants on each side of the opening and the ottoman there. Put something funky and fun on top of the nook, like something sculptural or a collection you want to display but not get broken.

If you're going to do storage, I'd add doors to it, somehow; I think curtains look cheap in that function, personally.

Or make it a kind of shelf space not just for a library, but a kind of curiosities--put something more exotic in there, things you or other people have picked up from their travels, etc.

Most importantly, though, I don't know that you have to confine anything to within the space; let the doorway simply be a larger frame for whatever you do that can extend out.

I'm from Kentucky. What are these things called "shoes?"

Personally, I'd put some kind of plant in front of the windows on either side of the fireplace--either a tallish tree or a hanging one, something easy maintenance, but that would add some color, which would pull out the light accents of green in the chairs and pillow.
Curtains on the large window and in the dining room, but tie it with a ribbon or something in the middle when you want the light.

I love it. Also, as an editor who MAKES books, I also have no qualms whatsoever about destroying them, either. Books have a multitude of uses, and only some are destined to become rare books. Also, any reason to keep making the hard copies and not go to digital, i.e. people buying more books--whether to replace their "rug" copies or for any other reason-- I'm all for. :)

Another way in which Kindles just don't quite give the same tactile experience.

Get some of his first initial like everyone else said, and some ampersand signs, and combine them together.