This week at Stainless Steel Droppings is Book Week! How is this any different than most weeks you might ask? Well don’t!!!
All kidding aside, this week’s posts will focus on different art, artisans, etc. that have something to do with that form of entertainment that so many of us love: the book!
The week will conclude with a book-related prize pack drawn from the names of those participating in each of this week’s posts. More details as the week progresses.
And now on to day one’s book-related post:
Stairway to Heaven
(click image for a larger version)
“I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”
~Anna Quindlen
Weekend internet office chair traveling led me to this treasure that I had to share.
Levitate Architects, a firm based in London, designed this fantastic space-saving book lover’s way to both ascend to an upper level room and store a myriad of books, CD’s and DVD’s.
(click image for a larger version)
While the initial arrangement of the stairs may seem odd, designer Tim Sloan points out “the unique structure of each step, allowing for anyone to comfortably sit down while picking a book.”
Isn’t that fantastic?!?!
I am in love! This reminds me of something I would see on one of my favorite HGTV television shows, Small Space, Big Style.
Have you seen the show? It features spaces under 1000 square foot and shows how the individuals owning or renting those spaces have contrived unique and stylish ways to work with small spaces. It is such a treasure trove of great home ideas. I wish they would have a SSBS marathon some day soon. I would be parking my booty in front of the television all day for that, you can be sure!
(click image for a larger version)
They have done a really good job from a design standpoint of color coding the books in these shots to make the the whole thing very appealing visually. I am so impressed. Makes me want to do something creative with the walls going down to our basement.
And this is the very cool room that the stairway to heaven leads to. So cozy.
That is it for today folks. A brief though hopefully inspiring and smile-inducing way to begin your week. Feel free to share your thoughts on this, post links to other cool book-related architecture you have seen, post your own book storage pictures, etc. Anything goes.
And remember, if you participate in all of this week’s Book Week posts your name will be entered into a drawing for a sure-to-be-coveted Book Week Prize Pack.
Welcome to the new week everyone!
I’ve seen and fallen in love with that staircase before, but didn’t see the room at the top. Love those ceiling lamps. And, of course, the skylight. I’ve been trying for years to get Candleman to put some in for me. I crave lots of light.
I saw this a few weeks ago. I do love the Anna Quindlen quote. I don’t know that I believe the
designer who says that anyone can sit comfortably on the stairs reading a book. It doesn’t look comfortable at all. Not nearly soft-enough for me! And it looks like you could get poked quite easily! But it is a fun concept anyway 🙂
I love the stair bookshelves, though I couldn’t honestly have it in my home. If I did, I’ll go to the bookstore every day to fill it up!
I love that staircase, although I would worry about kicking the books, cleaning the area if it was high-traffic, etc., etc.. I think it’s safe to say that’s a no shoe zone!
The stairs are pretty neat, though! I once had a friend who made book curtains for her mass markets by sewing clear pockets onto thick curtains; then she could just slide the books in. It was pretty colorful and double as an art piece, although the curtains had to be reinforced with metal rings and you couldn’t really open them. It was STILL pretty cool.
Renay: I would love to see pictures of those book curtains, that sounds very interesting. I finally had my wife buy me a feather duster recently to dust my bookshelves. It is so much easier to do it that way!
Vasilly: That is the danger of building more bookshelves than you need…the desire to fill them can become overwhelming.
Becky: I think he said it was made to sit down while ‘picking’ a book, not ‘reading’ one. I agree, that wouldn’t be pleasant on the ol’ behind to sit there reading! Plus I think it wouldn’t be long until I’d get distracted, lost in the book, and would tumble down the stairs. 🙂
Booklogged: I really think the skylight adds so much to the whole thing. Great lighting and done in such a way that it isn’t fading the books.
That is so cool!
Callista stole my line:
That is so COOL !!!!
I’m scared of heights. I get so dizzy, but even I would just have to climb that staircase! The difficulty would be getting down again.
those stair shelves look great – but the evil housekeeper in me says how do I keep it in such pristine condition? All that dusting!!!!
LOL!!!
I love those stairs. I think I’ve seen them somewhere before, love seeing them again though 🙂
When I win the lotto and get to design my own house 😉 I’ll have something similar, although possibly with more cushions.
I’m rather depressed by the fact that my first thought was also about keeping them and the books clean! Have I become more domesticated than wonder-loving?
Wonderful idea. If I was rich, I’m sure my staircase could do with re-designing…
I’ve seen pictures of the bookshelves/steps but again, not the room at the top – looks lovely!
As the parent of a toddler, though, sadly SO not practical for little feet 😉
I love the whole idea of these bookshelves. They would be something I wouldn’t mind having. At this point, though, my goal is just to have matching bookshelves instead of the mismatched bunch that currently reside in my book room!
Isn’t it strange – sometimes I want to live in a tiny place, just so I can find creative ways to use it! I also get tired of cleaning up the space I have 🙂 The bookshelves are awesome, the light DOES make it feel like a stairway to heaven. Very cool.
Oh my gosh…they’re brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I can’t wait till Rich gets out of the shower so I can show him. Not only do they just look cool…but think of how much space they must save. As much as I love having bookcases all over the house (19 of them to be exact…with piles of books that still need a home), I still think that being able to house so many in one gorgeous spot would be absolutely incredible.
I need new bookshelves. It’s probably not worth extending upwards to get these ones though!
I’m now weeping with envy .. . thanks for this great idea, and when I get to build my dream timberframe house, you better believe I’m using the highest form of flattery with this idea.
Also, you might check out of a great book called Decorating with Books – lots of gorgeous stuff like this. Thanks.
Interesting idea! I would personally prefer a library full of books with a squishy sofa, soft rugs and beancushions, tall stand up lamp and coffee table next to a huge window looking over the countryside and river. But when am I going to be able to afford a house like that??!! So the stair bookcases sounds like a good idea of using space! And I love the room at the top..cosy, and I’ve always loved sloping rooves!
well I can tell there are some domestic ladies here! And they have nailed the problem with those “cool looking” book shelves!
Without a second thought I can tell you that was designed by a man!! (one who has a wife/ maid to take care of the cleaning!
At my age I look for making life easier.. that means ALL BOOKSHELVES OF ANY KIND HAVE GLASS/ PLASTIC DOORS.. they are called “dust-free” heh! lol
This stairway is definitely way cool! I can imagine it leading to a turret full of plushy window seats with plenty of fluffy pillows and soft blankets. It would also need a tiny fridge and an electric kettle for tea/coffee. The walls would be decorated with some of the artists you’ve featured recently and the view from the turret would be onto a fairy tale garden. This would definitely be a Stairway to Heaven where hours and hours of reading could be accomplished!
Gorgeous! Book stairs are a great idea. But these don’t look like they’d be kind to my arthritis or my fear of heights. No hand rails?
SS/BS is one of my favorites, too – if they ever have a marathon, I’ll be watching!
I love the bookstairs, and I could load all our books onto it…but they wouldn’t look so nice, neat, and colorful! They’d be a hodgepodge of sizes and conditions, and I’m afraid it would look like an old, well-loved, somewhat messy, collection.
That’s freak’in awesome! Just the way I needed to start my Monday. Thanks my friend!
Drool. I now have another requirment on my house hunting list…..
Those are amazing! I have a serious lack of bookshelving (who here doesn’t?) and those make me drool. The Quindlen quote encompasses my parenting philosophy! 🙂
I love the book steps, though I’d have trouble housing my collection there. 🙂
Have you seen the Bookman bookshelves? They’re a lot of fun, too: http://www.anyamountofbooks.com/bookman.html
More whimsical than practical, but a little whimsy is good, right?
I love those stairs. If I had stairs I’d love something like that.
RB: I have seen those, but thanks for the link and the reminder. A little whimsy is a good thing. Those shelves would have to be in the right space to work or they might seem just odd, but I could certainly envision interesting decor to house a bookman in.
Robin: I currently have my books shelved in more or less color coded ways, with one color blending into the next via title colors or other odd connections that possibly only I am making. I like the effect that it achieves, so I admire it in this collection as well.
jshall: I was concerned about the handrail issue as well. Not because of fear of heights but because if I slipped I would want to be sure to have something besides my books to grab onto! 😉
Ashleigh: I like the imagery!!!
Jeff: I’m glad, have a safe trip this week.
Sally, Deslily, Corinne, Stormfilled: You crack me up! And here I thought we were all unconditional book lovers! 😉 As the man who does the vacuuming, sweeping and dusting of the home (my wife is gracious enough to do the daily tasks like laundry and dishes and cooking, etc, so it is the least I can do) I can certainly say that the one thing I don’t mind dusting is the bookshelves. Feather duster in hand this is a fairly quick task and yet I personally love to dust the bookshelves simply because it gives me a chance to stare at and handle my collection. The rest of the house I could do without, but dusting the bookshelves is a treat. 🙂
Andi: I think I’ve heard of that book before but had certainly forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder, I’ll put it on the Amazon wishlist!
Mariel: I want them both!!!
Debi: 19 bookshelves? 19!?!?!?! Wow! I’m impressed. You truly do have a library and not just a home. 🙂
Kailana: I do like the idea of matching bookshelves myself.
Now that’s some innovative thinking. The Anna Quindlen quote made me chuckle. We’ve been wandering homesites, checking out floor plans, thinking it might be time to finally upgrade our little living space. The first thing my 9 year old says in each tall room is, “And this would be our library.” She has her library all designed out and has picked her colors.
Love that the stairway of books leads to a loft. Perfect!
As far as dusting the shelves go, just make shoes with those grabber clothes as the soles and everything is hunky dory, LOL!
Crap! Just double posted my comment. Does that mean I have an extra chance at the prize? (grin!)
Sorry ’bout that, Carl.
Rachel: I took care of it, its all good! 🙂
I love that staircase (although, like Renay, I’d probably worry about people kicking the books).
Of course, I’d love to have any kind of bookshelves at all. Most of my books are in boxes so far.
Here’s my contribution – an inspiring children’s bookstore in China:
http://thewrittenword.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/weekly-geeks-an-awesome-bookstore/
I would love to have a staircase like this. But then, I’d love to have a house like that… but I guess that takes money, huh? Thanks for sharing the pics.
Yay for book week! I saw these stairs a couple of weeks ago and feel in love with them! My mission in life is now to have a 5 story house so that I can numerous sets of these 😉 And of course the stairs will lead up to libraries…ok, getting a little out of hand there. But seriously, these really are incredible and I started thinking of how to put together my own as soon as I saw them. I love Small Space, Big Style too by the way…this definitely reminds me of something they’d do on there!
Ohhh my goodness! I only have 2 bookshelves at home, but they’re both overflowing.. if I had a 2-story house I would definitely incorporate something like this! I don’t know if I’d have books actually under each step, but along the sides so that I could pick something out on my way up to bed would be perfect!
The pictures make me a little dizzy, but what a cool idea. It’s a little mod for me, but still very cool.
Book Week! I love the sound of that.
I love those shelves, but like Renay I’d be a bit worried about dirt. No shoes would definitely be a must.
Those pictures remind me of my favourite used bookstore in Nottingham (oh, how I miss it). The fantasy section was along a staircase. The shelves weren’t under the stairs, but they were on the walls along them, so that first picture really reminds me of it.
It was so awesome to look at those stairs and see so many books, especially knowing they were books of my favourite kind.
That is absolutely the most wonderful bookshelf (Stairway to Heaven) I have EVER seen! And, I love Small Spaces, Big Style. It’s enough to make me sell all my stuff, and believe me I try to keep it to a minimum, and move just to simplify in beauty. Maybe when my son moves out I can make his room into the library of my dreams, since I’ll have to have some way to assuage my tears in his absence.
here’s my link! i won’t be participating through the week, but i did want to give you a ‘shout out’ ….. i’ll enjoy stopping by and seeing what others are doing as well – enjoy!
http://bluebicycle08.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-week-i.html
oh -here’s the rest …. i forgot that i post words and photos separately!!
n honor of carl at Stainless Steel Droppings, and his
appreciation of ‘color-coded’ spines ….. check out his
book challenge of the week here.
anyone can join in the fun, and he promises PRIZES
at the end ….. ok, maybe he only promised ONE prize ….
for me, it will just be a pleasure scrolling through the
links and seeing all the beautiful, whimsical, unique
and artistic ways people ‘interpret’ the challenge – and
celebrate the art of books!
Here, here for Book Week!! That has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen (forgive me for being such a geek!) You don’t know what I would give to have a stairway/library that would lead to my own personal little reading space!!! Simply fantastic!
wow! that is amazing….and I like the room it leads to….a perfect quiet reading spot.
Bookworm: Indeed!
Stephanie: Geeks are welcome here!!! I do like the room at the top. I would make it up to be much more cool, comfy, and book/art friendly than they have it but I love the concept.
Blue Bicycle: Can I just say that you are the bomb? My only real ‘expectations’ of participation are for folks to leave their comments on posts but I always hope for and welcome those ‘extra mile’ things, like the pics on your site today. Those are great! I love seeing rows of color coordinated books. It does my heart good.
Bellezza: That is so hilarious that you say that about your son because we’ve been saying the same thing for when Tori moves out in X years. She’s almost 16 so who knows when that will be. I have already planned a library/media room for the space! 😉
Glad I’m not the only one who has heard of and likes SSBS!
Nymeth: I think the stairs are wide enough that book kicking could be avoided…at least I would design them that way. We are pretty much a no shoes in the house family. Not a hard and fast rule, but we all hate wearing shoes all day so it is a joy to take them off.
Susan: There is definitely a vertigo factor going on with that first image.
Asara: You’re not alone, I only have a couple of bookshelves as well and far more books than those shelves hold. And I’m not a stack books upon books on shelves (at least upstairs where I have to look at them) kind of person.
Chris: You’re right, this is definitely the kind of thing they do on that show.
Let me know when you get that 5 story house so that I can come and visit.
Melissa: there is that, isn’t there. Money…
Stephanie: You are equally bombalicious, thanks for the cool Chinese library link. Very cool!!!
Nicole: That is one of the biggest crimes, isn’t it, to have books stashed away in boxes! The horror! 🙂
These staircases are just simply amazing. One addition that I might add are little cushions, so I can curl up with a good book just about anywhere. :] Thanks for sharing, Carl. I can tell your new Book Week additions will be my next favorite feature of your site!
Great idea for small spaces 🙂
I sooo wanted to find the link for a really cool bookwall I saw on the either PBS or DIY, but I’ve searched everywhere and can’t find it! The carpenters turned an old barn into a home and the wall with the highest point (at least 25-30 feet high) was an entire wall of books with an adorable sliding ladder (I really want a sliding ladder!).
Oh, me too Tasses. I have wanted a sliding ladder bookshelf forever!
i just jizzed in my pants.
Great post!
my wife and I have been trying to justify renovating our attic room . . .
Jean Pierre: I sent a supply of wet wipes airmail to you. Try to control yourself. Your wife doesn’t deserve that extra laundry work.
Ken: If you have an attic room you need to go for it Ken! Attics and books go together like peanut butter and jelly!!!
That is awe inspiring. I totally want that. In my house. Like, now!
haha! i love that. thanks, carl.
i think the best way forward from now on will be to wear a nappie when i log onto your site… its safer that way.
I just love the creativity of that bookcase/stairway, though I’m not a big fan of kicking my books with dirty shoes 🙂
I hope to do something creative with my new office space, but it’s a bit low on the priority list right now (my poor books in all those boxes).
Neth: There is someone in your house that would let you walk around with dirty shoes? 😉
I hope if you do some creative stuff with your office space that you post pictures!!!
Ho Lee Cow. Ok…going to have to hire a carpenter, NOW! That is just awe inspiring. My gosh….seats amongst bookshelves!! With my ability to get distracted by books I might just disappear for weeks amongst the stacks, traveling from one step to another, perusing the offerings. Now THAT is something to aspire to!
BTW, HGTV is available on FREE ON DEMAND with my digital cable. Dont’ know if you’ve got it, but I’m guessing your fave show is available for 24 hour marathon just as soon as you can sit down and spent the time hitting “play” on diff episodes!
I had a bit of an HGTV addiction a few years ago. No kidding…it was a real problem! ; ) Had to force myself to wean off it, though. Moved into my ultimate 1890s Coltswold Cottage Dream house (meanwhile, its in Maumee, Ohio of all places) with dreams of doing the most amazing things with every room. Even have incredible mullioned windows sunroom that was going to be library and reading nook. Then got disab;ed with severe Fibromyalgia..so now can’t do ANY of he fab home imp stuff I was so into before. Sad, as I didn’t have time to get it quite where I wanted it before my body chucked it in….but then I see something like this, and makes me glad that I never did have those built in shelves put in, as they’d never have been this cool and I’d have wanted to yank em all out and have these put in! lol
Here’s a “Book-y” link for your collection…
LibriVox. This is a site where you can download tons of public domain books on mp3. Coolest thing is that you can actually sign up to be a volunteer and narrate (sp? lol) some public domain works. This page happens to lead to Andrew Lang’s “the Pink Fairy Book” which is a compilation of fairy tales from many cultures…ever so snazzy. If you want to see the fantastic illustrations by HJ Ford, you can download whole book in original typeset and images on books.google.com (listed tthat link in your next journal entry)
http://librivox.org/the-lilac-fairy-book-edited-by-andrew-lang/
I actually dig audio books because I can totally forget I’m cleaning or doing some other unhappy mindless task if I’m listening to something with a fabulous plot! lol
omg that is so awesome!!! my dream house…stopping at every step to look at books, pick one, read a bit, then enjoy the cosiness of the attic…marvellous.
Valentina: Great, isn’t it?
Orachel: Sorry to hear about that. Maybe those dream changes will still come about in the future though. I can certainly see how HGTV can become addicting, I love to have it on all the time.
I am trying to get my framed pictures to look that cool put together like in your last -attic – photo! Mine don’t quite work though the same way….I love the attic space, anyone think of it as the perfect reading and writing room as I did?? What a wonderful way to start the work week (even if I am coming to this a day late…..)…there is never too many books, and I love the quote at the beginning!!! Now to convince my husband that bookshelves are a decorating feature!!
PS I love the old books photo /header at the top of the blog. I want those books!!! They are so beautiful arranged that way…..the books too look so well-read and loved that I want to open them too….good work, Carl!
Oh, Carl. That library is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. I am reminded of a flat I lived in many years ago. It was a house, divided into two flats, of which I had the lower. The steps to the second floor went nowhere, so they were perfect for my bookshelves. Since my only other furniture was a bed and a kitchen table, the steps were serendipitous.
These steps are also reminiscent of a little, tiny, section of my own library, of which I have been inspired to post about (which link mysteriously arrived just above this post – life is full of conundrums). Kerry
Thanks Susan, that first image is actually a picture of my own taking/arranging. I’m trying to branch out and be creative in my own right. Speaking of photo arrangements, I was watching HGTV the other day, surprise, and saw these big sheet that you could buy that helped you lay out photos in frames in different arrangements before you hung them on the wall and then once you got everything where you wanted it you stuck it on the wall and it showed exactly where to put the nails in. Then you ripped it off and hung the pics and everything lined up perfectly. It was very cool.
Kerry: That would be a cool set of bookshelves…plus would be the perfect set of stairs for some made up story about where they actually led! Thanks for the link!
I love the staircase of books, a very cool space saving idea. I have so many books and I need to come up with some space saving ideas and was thinking of doing something on the walls by our stairs up from the front door maybe?
It’s an amazing design. I would spend whole days just sitting there, looking around at all the titles, the spines that pitches the space upright. And it seems, of late, every time books are featured somewhere they’re shelved by color. An interesting system; I tend to shelve books by what they mean to me, grouping them together based on memories. I may be a librarian, but when it comes to my personal library there is certainly no such thing as Library of Congress or Dewey.
I’ve seen this staircase before but every time I see it I love it just a little more. I’d never seen the room at the top before so that was cool, thanks.
Tanabata: With as many people as had seen this before I’m really surprised I didn’t run across it on someone’s blog. I too am glad they showed the room it lead up to. That would have bugged me otherwise, as silly as that sounds.
Chelle: I absolutely love the idea of your shelving system. I do that to some degree as well but also do so with some sort of color matching/blending scheme. For me certain books have to be certain places based on their importance to me.
Rhinoa: Sounds great. I hope if you do that you post pics!