Curating a Home Library

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop here in Bend, I always find myself reaching for a good book—and thinking about the little libraries we create in our homes. Whether it’s a proper built-in with floor-to-ceiling shelves or just a few well-loved stacks by the sofa, I think every home deserves a space for books.

Books tell a story about who we are. The titles we collect—design books, novels, cookbooks, travel guides—all quietly reveal our interests and memories. I love walking into a client’s home and spotting a shelf that gives me instant insight into what they love. It makes a house feel lived-in and deeply personal.

There’s something incredibly grounding about having real books in our digital world. They invite you to slow down, to sit, to turn a page. Even the way they’re displayed—stacked on a coffee table, lined neatly in a hallway niche, or tucked beside a reading chair—adds character and warmth to a room. I often say that styling with books is one of the easiest ways to make a space feel personal without overthinking it.

Coffee table books, especially, are one of my favorite design tools. Their covers are art in themselves—beautiful photography, texture, and color—and they act as conversation starters when friends drop by. I love mixing subjects: a few interiors books next to one on travel, gardening, or art. The contrast makes them feel collected rather than curated.

Cookbooks also hold a special place in my heart. I’ve seen so many clients create little kitchen libraries filled with their favorites—those pretty, inspiring titles that make you want to pour a glass of wine and try something new. Of course, it’s easy to search a recipe online, but there’s something far more meaningful about flipping through a cookbook that’s been used, loved, and maybe even splattered with a bit of sauce. It adds soul to the kitchen.

I like keeping a few cookbooks displayed on open shelves or tucked near a prep area. They’re practical, but they also say something about the cook who lives there—their style, their comfort dishes, their curiosity. A mini cookbook library can make a kitchen feel instantly more lived-in and warm.

If you’re thinking about creating your own home library, start small. Gather the books that really mean something to you—favorites from your travels, old novels you’ve reread a dozen times, art or design books that inspire your creativity. Group them by color for a clean, graphic look, or mix them up for a more collected feel. Add a candle, a small vase, or a found object to the stack, and suddenly you’ve created something sculptural and meaningful.

Even a few well-placed books can tell a story. They remind us of who we are and what we love. And as winter settles in, there’s nothing better than curling up with one, letting the world slow down for a little while.

— Suzanne