Boy, have I been feeling blue for some time. It reached its zenith today upon seeing this perfect blue library – painted Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue – over at Cote de Texas, where Joni was showing preview photos of the June House Beautiful. I feel like owner Jeannette Whitson climbed into my brain (or at least my Pinterest board) and created my dream room. As always, be sure to click the photo for the large size view!
The desire for a library painted blue, somewhere between navy, Prussian and teal has been one I have been carrying a long time. Here’s a favorite – you’ve seen it before in one of my other obsessionary posts – that one on ticking.
Blue is always soothing, and there is something about being enveloped in a deeply toned room layered with books.
I think the blue highlights ordinary books, which I love, as I am really resistant to those fake staged bookshelves.
Where do people then put the books they actually read? Love the children’s books on the lower right here, just perfect for little folk to grab.
These kind of blues have a glowing brightness even though they are dark colors.
In particular, blue mixed with its complimentary orange is stunning. Whether it be wood tones and velvet…
…or leather with a touch of animal print.
And here it is one more time from the cover view. The matched velvet and the Michael Smith fabric on the ceiling are just divine!
I’m blue over a lot more than just libraries these days. Leaving the land of blue – the land of indigo – after nine years is going to be very very hard. Even if I manage to get a blue library out of the change…
All photo credits and links, along with more inspiration photos, can be found over at my Blue Libraries Pinterest board. Thanks Joni and thanks to Ally at FTRB, who has a blue and orange room obsession too.
So very sorry to hear of Tokyo Jinja’s Blue Period. Saying goodbye becomes part of the rhythm of the international life but so many hellos and good to see you agains form part of it too. Sending you a Dickinson verse from the other side of the world: “The brain is deeper than the sea,/For, hold them, blue to blue, /The one the other will absorb,/ As sponges, buckets do.” All best to you and yours. I am sure there is a blue library on your ( blue, of course) horizon.
Always a bit of Dickinson for everything….thank you!
Blue is cool! BTW, are you going to the Kawagoe Shrine Sale on Tuesday? Just found out that the Indian restaurant you frequent there has a sister establishment here in Ogawa-machi. Had lunch there today, in fact. Scrumptious!
I’ll be there for sure – my last one for a while! Make sure to say hello!
Although I was smitten with that blue room in Jonie’s preview of that gorgeous house, I thought it was a little out of place in that house (unless of course there are places we didn’t see that unite them). I can’t believe the breadth of this blue room collection you have. It’s interesting to see so many of them use a complementary palette by using that caramel color. I wouldn’t immediately think to do that but it is a nice balance to an all blue room.
Got a chuckle out of your fish-and-bones instagrams the other evening!
I agree with you Steve – it was this library that shouted out to me, not the rest of the space as much.
And that fish was so incredibly delicious!!
Any recommendations on a brand/color of paint that will come out that navy/Prussian/teal blue? I’ll need it eventually in the SF house and am thinking this is the lazy way to find the right shade!
Thanks for writing about my library in HB – excited to be on the cover this month! I can relate to how you’re feeling – spent 4 years in Jakarta practicing law and actually started collecting Dutch antiques in Bali and Java while there and had a store which began my whole career. I only wish internet and blogging had been happening back then – much easier to stay connected! Good luck on your move – re-entry is hard but your expat experiences will shape you for the rest of your life!
Best,
Jeannette
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