Ever since we moved into a 100 year old house in Pasadena we've wondered what to do with the 3 non-room rooms. Oddly shaped, sloped ceilings and tiny dimensions made them bigger than closets but not quite rooms. We're inspired by Lynn-Anne's attic conversion into a library/lounge/playroom that looks modern and functional.
Lynn-Anne took advantage of a rainy Sunday to tackle the boxes of books she had been storing. Eyeing the space in the attic, she realized that she could create a cozy nook using a sofa she already had and just needed to install shelving behind to create a combination play room, library and hang out. We love how comfortable the space feels and how much light still gets into an attic space.
And with a crisp palette of black (chalkboard paint) and white shelves with colorful books, the attic is a modern hideaway. We feel inspired to create something similar in our home so that we can slip away and cozy up with a good book, a comfy blanket and no interruptions!
Read more about Lynn-Anne's transformation on her blog Fergus And Me.
(Images: lakbdesign/fergusandme in LA Flickr Pool.)
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This is the most lovely library. I have a crush on it, but can I say one thing... no more Eames chairs! Eames chairs and also those big deerheads-- they are everywhere.
But I really, really do loves it-- even with you're pretty bit of Eames. :)
Love!
so lovely.
We have an attic that the previous owners 'prepped' to finish some day (it's wired for lighting & has insulation foam throughout- just needs floor & drywall). This totally inspires me.
This wall of books has me crying tears of joy.
oh and forgive me the your vs you're mistake. multitasking is not my forte.
Love! The books are really great, and the chair!! Did you make that into a rocking chair yourself? If so, do tell....
This is a cheerful half-space.
(I'd kill to have three non-rooms in my home, btw.)
thanks for your sweet comments, everyone.
and thanks for featuring our attic playroom, Laure!! i hope your get your little spaces worked out ~ this was extremely raw space (just a pull down ladder and unfinished attic), but we needed it for our four growing children, and it's quite wonderful, now.
Cozylittlecave, you should finish your space -- sounds like all the hard work is done :) lucky!
tporemba, sorry about the eames and the deer heads -- totally guilty! (i have a straydogdesigns papier mache deer head, from haiti) but i do love them. this rocker is a favorite for my little one (he's 5) -- it's a recent and reasonably priced reproduction from eastendimports.com, surfjack -- (available in lots of colors at modernica.com) . . . but i have to say i have been scavenging eames chair for years and years at tag sales, and i do have some lovely turquoise originals that i wouldn't part with. my late father was a big eames fan, so i think for me it's a conveniently fashionable exercise in sentimentality. but i think you have a good point -- it's important to me to have a lot of imagination in decorating, too.
thanks all!
lynn-anne
funny coincidence -- this orange and white cone work light is from FLOS -- truly a work light with a big old orange cable on it; we use it when we're rummaging in our under the eaves storage spaces -- and FLOS is one of Maxwell's Daily Finds ~
I remember this from a flickr stream. It's such a lovely house, lovingly appointed for daily living.
lynn-anne,
Do you still use the pull down ladder? Or did you build a staircase? I'm just wondering how you did all that work (and transported furniture) with the just a ladder as access!
Walls of books make me feel so incredibly happy. That is a very lovely and cozy room. I am jealous.
I just noticed that the sofa looks like a This End Up piece. If so, it's the most elegant transformation I've ever seen for one of those sofas. Normally those sofas and chairs are horribly tacky but the black paint and b&w fabric you chose have really dressed it up a TON. Awesome job.
creative license -- i had a bit of a giggle thinking about getting everything up there with the pull down attic stairs -- we did build a staircase -- the whole renovation was a big job, but really worth it :)
monica: good eye. it is a this end up piece. my husband and i got it for our first apartment in 1990 -we were sooo young! - and it has graced various playrooms for about 15 years. they are quite awful, i agree, but in the interests of saving money and not buying so many new things, i got my kids to paint the sofa and some other old pieces a nice unifying black, and then i had the foam cushions recovered in this calico corners print. simple, cheap, effective, and my kids love it. thanks for the thumbs up :) i love to find ways to transform those ugly ducklings that lurk around the house-
As much as I love the wall of books (and I surely do), I just ADORE the crocheted oversized granny square afghan on the chair.
This is such a nice open and bright space.
zazzu: granny square afghan = goodwill, 2.99 :)
is that a seal on its hind legs? where can i get it?
jet75 -- it's an otter. i have only ever seen 2 of them; this one, which i got at the metrolina flea market (charlotte nc) from a guy who imports wood carvings from the philippines. and one that a close friend has had for many years, purchased at a gallery. sorry no easy answer, but so many people seem to like oscar (that's what my kids named him) that if i see that guy at the flea market again, i'll get his contact info and post it on my blog, fergusandme.blogspot.com.