Once we determined so as to add a ceiling to our two-story entryway, we ended up with an oddly positioned additional room the scale of a walk-in closet.
The room didn’t connect to some other rooms, and we spent a while considering of what we might use this small area for. Sooner or later it dawned on me—we might construct a hidden kids’s library with a Narnia closet entrance!
Clearly, this room is a showstopper and essentially the most distinctive room in our house, however the greatest profit has been an enormous enhance in studying curiosity for each my kids (ages 7 and 4).
In the present day, I’ll provide you with a tour of our secret library and clarify how we created it. By the best way, for those who’d prefer to see how our two-story entry seemed earlier than changing it, you may see a photograph right here.
Once we added the ceiling above the entryway (changing it from two tales to 1), we had been left with this area that connects to a touchdown on the high of our stairs. We determined to show it right into a Narnia closet with a hidden library for our youngsters.
First, I sourced an vintage armoire from Etsy. Subsequent, we had it built-in into the wall and the drywall patched. After that, we minimize a door into the again a part of the armoire to create an entry level.
You possibly can see within the photographs under the way it seems closed and opened. The brand new door is 5 toes tall, so adults need to duck to enter, however it’s accessible for youngsters and adults.
Anytime we are able to’t discover our youngsters they are often discovered on this room studying and enjoying. It makes us so comfortable!
Let’s discuss a bit of concerning the lobby. It is a small touchdown area on the high of our stairs. It has wall and ceiling wallpaper that creates an enormous look. From this area, there are doorways to the stairway, our principal bed room, the hallway the place extra bedrooms are and this armoire.
Many instances I’ve proven friends the armoire and nobody ever notices something particular about it till we push open the hidden door inside. It’s true magic!
Talking of true magic, right here’s a video tour of our hidden library:
Sources: Wallpaper / Augustine Evans Artwork Print / William Cleary Artwork Print (each artwork prints are by Janet Hill).
The darkish inexperienced paint shade is a customized match. We took a swatch of the wallpaper into the paint retailer they usually matched the deepest shade for us to color the doorways and trim.
Wallpapering a ceiling is an effective approach to make a room really feel smaller, cozier and extra dramatic. This area had little to do vibe earlier than we added the wallpaper, and now it is likely one of the most designed areas in our house.
Artwork sources: Star Chart Artwork / Harry Potter Customized Artwork / Handful of Stars Print, Moon and Stars Print, Shadow Puppets Print. The rose portray and the mirror are classic finds.
I discovered an Etsy store that makes these personalized wizard prints and my youngsters suppose they’re hilarious.
When it got here to gathering books for my kids’s library, this was the enjoyable half! Let me know for those who’d be considering an expanded publish on this topic. I collected tons of of used books regionally.
For brand new books, I targeted totally on collection for early readers since our 7-year-old is at the moment studying to learn. I collected all of the collection I cherished most as a younger baby in addition to new collection that pals beneficial.
Up to now, my 7-year-old is loving the Elephant and Piggie collection (which she will learn on her personal), The Magic Treehouse and The Ramona collection. It’s been so inspiring watching each my women take a bigger curiosity in studying this 12 months.
Being the classic lover that I’m, I’ve additionally been gathering Nancy Drew and I’m at the moment engaged on the total set of Goosebumps books.
Need to see extra room excursions?