Creating a Cookbook Library at My Farm
I hope you all have a copy of my newest issue of “Living” - our November 2019 magazine is on newsstands right now. It contains inspiring ideas for hosting Thanksgiving, personal tips on caring for houseplants, and “after” photos of the latest transformation project at my home in Bedford.
Over the years, my collection of cookbooks has grown tremendously - I have hundreds and hundreds from all over the world. Not long ago, I decided to house them all in one space where they could be accessed quickly and easily. I chose a room in one of the houses on my farm and the team at California Closets helped me design a plan that included a lot of sturdy shelves to accommodate all the book sizes. I love how it turned out, and I know you will too.
Here are some photos of the process - enjoy. You can also go to marthastewart.com for more ideas on how you can update or transform the rooms in your home. And be sure to pick up an issue of “Living” today for the final reveal of my new cookbook library.
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- I decided to convert a little-used dining room in one of the houses at my farm. Here is the “before” photo – the room is empty, clean and ready to be transformed.
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- The first step is to paint all the trim black – baseboards, window frames, fireplace mantel, etc. I enlisted the help of my longtime master painter, Stefan Lewicki, to do the job.
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- California Closets helped me design a plan for the new room – I wanted floor-to-ceiling shelves around the entire space to accommodate my large, and still growing, collection of cookbooks. Two years ago, California Closets also helped me transform a spare bedroom into a large walk-in closet. https://www.themarthablog.com/2018/03/my-closet-transformation.html
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- Once the room was ready, all the pieces were delivered in one day. I wanted all the shelving to be black to match the trim.
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- The California Closets team measures every surface – every piece is custom cut on-site to fit.
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- Floors are checked for the proper level to determine whether any vertical shelving pieces need adjustments.
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- All the necessary shelf adjustments are made right in the room.
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- The team works off of a printed plan containing all the design specifications.
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- I wanted the books to be easy to see from any vantage point. Shelves are spaced, so all the books could be stored upright. Shelving books of similar size together also allows the covers of each book to be supported by neighboring books.
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- The team makes sure every shelf is completely level – even the tiniest tilt is adjusted.
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- Notches are made to fit snug around the moldings.
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- Moving blankets are placed around the entire room to protect the floors during the three-day process.
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- A long window seat with underneath storage is also built to maximize every inch of space.
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- The shelves are secured in the rear and screwed into the studs of the wall.
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- Rubber mallets are used to carefully tap every board into place.
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- Oversize books will be stored here for easy access. Be mindful of any radiators and vents when building a home library – make sure there is ample space away from these units. And, If storing books in horizontal stacks, be sure the largest, not the thickest, books are on the bottom and scaling upwards in a rough pyramid shape. This prevents spines from becoming rolled or warped.
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- Shelving uprights are installed on the other side of the room.
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- And front molding pieces are secured at the top of each unit.
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- The shelf walls are joined using pegs and glue for added security.
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- After each shelf is completed, it is wiped down, so it is completely clean before the books are placed.
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- Here is one side completely done. When building a home library, consider the room’s size, and environment. It should have no more than about 35-percent relative humidity. Also, be sure the room is not in direct sunlight. This room will also be fitted with proper shades to protect the books.
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- Each shelf is adjustable and easy to move.
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- Every wall and corner is used. When storing books, do not allow them to lean against each other or against the sides of the shelves. This can cause damage to the spines. Fill the entire shelf so books are snug, but not tight, against one another. A good rule of thumb: one should be able to slide an envelope between two books without much effort.
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- In this corner, shelves are extra deep.
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- All the shelves are now installed and ready to be filled.
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- The next phase of the project is to organize and store the many cookbooks stacked in the adjacent kitchen. See how it all turned out in the November issue of “Living”. It is now such a useful and inviting space. This issue is on newsstands – get yours today!
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