She Turned a Never-Used Living Room Into a Dream Library — Starting With One Bold Paint Color
Apartment owner Amanda Mactas (@manhattantwist) is a voracious reader, and that’s clear in her design aesthetic, too. “I really like the feel of an old library, but I also love some elements of more modern style,” she says.
The goal for her living room transformation was to marry the two, and she worked with professional designer Kim Limtak. “I never did anything at all in the living room,” Kim says.
There Was Still Moving Boxes Since She Never Used the Space
“It still had moving boxes in it when I finally hired Kim and was simply a place I could get my workouts in.” Now, it looks like a home hangout rather than a home gym.
Dark Paint Sets the Scene
Kim and Amanda chose to go with dark colors for the living room walls. Benjamin Moore’s “Evening Dove” coats the walls and shelving, and a lighter gray, Benjamin Moore’s “Abalone,” covers the ceiling.
There’s also new custom drapery that adds to the jewel-toned color palette.
Built-In Bookshelves Give the Homeowner the Library Feel She Was After
There are two built-in bookshelf moments in the living area. One is closer to the apartment’s entrance and came with the place (though Kim added a piece so the bottom shelf wasn’t on the ground), and one was added during the design process, during which the entire apartment underwent a demo to give Amanda a larger closet and bathroom.
The big wall of bookshelves took about two months to build (by pros) and two days to install. Bookshelves are painted the same gray-meets-navy as the walls, with cabinet handles and picture lights to give them the old library feel Amanda was after. They house her collection of first-edition and antique books.
Furniture Completes the Living Room
Kim’s favorite part of her living room design is the striped bone inlay coffee table from Etsy. “ I love how unique the piece is on its own and how it adds a bit of fun to the room,” she says — and it’s one of Amanda’s favorite pieces in her place, too.
“I could sit and look at it all day,” Amanda says. “At the same time, I really love the vintage sconces Kim found that really work well with an antique mirror that’s been in my family for decades.”
Other, newer finds that fit the vibe include the green velvet sofa from Arhaus, the side tables from Made Goods, and the rug from Shoppe Amber Interiors. It all comes together to create a “cozy and fun, without it feeling old or outdated,” as Amanda puts it.
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