Blogger Kristin Jackson turned this Smyrna spare room into a sunlit book nook

Natural light + books = a book worm's heaven

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A beautifully sun-lit room with a chandelier and book shelf

Photograph by Patrick Heagney

Architectural details don’t have to be original to the home. Design blogger Kristin Jackson added molding, bookshelves, and a faux fireplace to a spare room in her 1950s ranch in Smyrna, transforming it into a library-like salon.

Instant vintage
Panel molding around art adds depth to bare walls. “My goal was to add character and charm,” says Jackson. “But I wanted it to feel like it was always here.”

Sentimental stories
Both functional and chic, the bookshelves wrap around the door, providing contrast with the white walls in flat black (Behr “Totally Black”). Many of the books are from Jackson’s parents and grandparents, with inscriptions inside.

Faux fireplace
Jackson bought the fireplace mantel at an antiques store, which surprised her husband since they don’t have an actual fireplace in the room. A handy DIYer, Jackson finished the fireplace look with trim pieces, old herringbone tiles, and 1850s andirons.

Mod seating
Lucite benches with an X-motif were a welcome gift from Jackson’s father, although she switched out the seat upholstery with her favorite fabric, “Pyne Hollyhock” by Schumacher.

Table tricks
The pedestal-style walnut table by Moe’s Home can convert to a dining spot easily, making the library a multipurpose room.

Designer tip
“One of my favorite things about design is juxtaposition,” says Jackson, who incorporated the modern white “Tilda” chandelier from Arteriors to liven up the traditional millwork.

This article appears in our October 2019 issue.

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