Sheila Bridges: When space is a problem there is nothing more luxurious than a
well appointed librarian media room to kick back and relax.
Mathew Patrick Smyth shows us how he infuses knowledge,
comfort and great design. Style file, practical design advice from
the experts.
Matthew Patrick Smyth Library is have this commendation of being very stiff a things that
we remember from school and that is very formal it doesn’t have
too big.
Sheila Bridges: Designer Mathew Patrick Smyth believes a library should be a
warm inviting space for reading and winding and entertaining.
Matthew Patrick Smyth Designing a library I start with the concept with other room is
going to be use. The needs of the room come into play first you
have to create places of books then if you doing a media room in
adding to that you have to work in all dynamics away to wave in
the store equipment you have to start designing and organizing
removes first. When I started designing the room I focus first for
the book cases because that’s really is the major part of the room.
But when I found this cabinet maker in Atlanta who did this fine
book cases, I started the whole room evolving. But this room
because of the book cases of one side of the room, the room is
going very nice so I design the part of both side that we could open
up the room a little bit more.
Sheila Bridges: When designing the walls of your library, Mathew’s advice is to
defy classy.
Matthew Patrick Smyth Well the traditional materials for a library are wood and you know
this is the first thing you think off and it doesn’t have to be without
creating a heavy dark room as far as you know paneling ago I
created the same sense of interest with the wallpaper. In this room
that the wallpaper I choose was is base on antique federal
wallpaper from the south. It is interesting pattern whether it is
American or Persian and I could be anything and the more you
look at the more depth defining it.
Sheila Bridges: And don’t forget a cozy place to sit.
Matthew Patrick Smyth Arm chair and sofas are a must, pillow to put your head back on. I
try to get a sofa in the room that you taken bond and you lie down
and ready the book if you wanted to fall asleep watch TV on.
Sheila Bridges: And finally don’t forge the importance of good light.
Matthew Patrick Smyth Lighting is very important in the library because you have to be
careful about task lighting. To create space that where people can
read and which is important to get adequate living light and then
maybe were just watching television to just have something less
intense but I also take everything in dimmers in libraries because
there are times where you want to raise up to leave a light to read
and all the times you want is just to listen to music and relax
without heating that glair. But I think library is now a really multi
task room you have to think of it as a place that you draw with
friends and family and as not just about going to your stage room
not just for run one tasks. It’s about entertaining friends or being
by yourself you have to create a room that can be everything.