When Kevin says he loves books, he means it. For years, he had been storing his beloved book collection in boxes, before building the perfect home for them. The bibliophile wanted a classic library room design that had generous enough storage and display space for his extensive collection and other mementos.
It was fate that he would end up in Mt. Hope, part of Ohio’s Amish Country, and walk into Homestead Furniture. “Their stuff was amazing,” said Kevin. “It’s a gorgeous showroom.”
Third generation woodworker and Homestead owner Ernest Hershberger has built his company on being able to take customers’ furniture ideas and realize them as heirloom-quality pieces. “We grew up knowing that to make a quality product, you have to sit down and listen to each individual customer, explore what they really want by walking them through the process of how they are going to use the piece, where it’s going to sit, and what they want to accomplish.“ Since 1918, this is how his family made custom kitchen cabinets. Today, Ernest has applied those same methods to making high-end custom furniture.
Impressed by the variety and quality of the display pieces, Kevin was inspired to work with the design team and build some custom pieces for his home. “They never said ‘no, we can’t do that.’ Name a wood, a color or a style you think you might like. It’s always an option…even if it’s not an option,” exclaimed Kevin. “ We sat down and their staff drew up what we wanted.”
Homestead’s staff worked directly with contractor Gary Lawver during the construction process to ensure the pieces would fit exactly. The bookcases and other materials were built and finished in their manufacturing facility right behind the Homestead showroom. “Not many manufacturers do it this way, ensuring a perfect fit without fillers, but it stems from our roots as high-end custom kitchen cabinet makers,” explained Ernest.
The end result in Kevin’s case is an old world library filled with the warmth of wood. Guests enter on a small landing that then steps down into the library. The beautiful Figi Mahogany floor from Keim Lumber is the perfect setting for the inlayed compass medallion with Greek key designs in the center of the room. The lighter wood emphasizes the spacious room lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The cherry with acres stain created by Homestead enhances the grain of the wood, giving a warm glow to the classic color.
Detailed millwork with thick moldings runs seamlessly around the room, dovetailing into the room’s focal point–an impressive gas fireplace made by Napoleon and customized by Erb’s Stove Center. The fireplace and hearth, crafted from stone-textured custom concrete, are flanked by a pair of club chairs beckoning readers to curl up by the fire. A simple mantle crowns the rough-hewn stone underscoring the masculine textures.
The bookcases are designed to show off Kevin’s collection to its best advantage while protecting the books. Inset panels outlined the doors that hide generous storage in the bottom of each piece. Kevin’s favorite books are on display behind glass and lit from above by the lights in the top of the case. One case features an angled display with easy access for small treasures and pins collected during Kevin’s military career. Each bookcase is banded by fluted pilasters topped with a Corinthian style capital that meets an unbroken line of ornamental dentil molding.
The layered wood wraps around a soffit that holds lights centered on each bookcase, making browsing an easy affair. The impressive craftsmanship continues up to the coffered ceiling dissected by dark lines of layered molding, contrasting boldly with the white caissons. In the center of the room, these recessed panels hold lights or speakers. Tucked next to the stairs, a built-in pull down secretary desk hides work in progress. Homestead also created the solid wood custom door on the other side of the staircase.
“You mention a need or make up something, and Homestead makes it possible,” said Kevin, who couldn’t be happier with his dream room come true. Functional and beautiful, this classic library room design is the perfect retreat for a bookworm.