Story of our House, Part 2 (Library Reveal)

A few months ago I shared the Story of our House with you, and now I would like to begin Part 2 of that story.  As our family grew, we slowly started outgrowing the three bedroom house that we initially built.  Our ten children needed a bit more space to spread their wings, so we decided to build an addition to our existing house which would include four new bedrooms, a large multi-purpose laundry room, and a library. Two of the bedrooms are now complete (here is the  boys' room) along with the laundry room and library. The last two bedrooms and upstairs hallway will hopefully be finished this winter.

As with the main house, Hubby and I used many recycled and salvaged items along with processing our own lumber.  We love searching for and using items that give our home a time worn look, as well as keeping the project within our budget.

I am excited to share our new library with you today.  I shared a Sneak Peek of it during the construction process this past summer, and I'm thrilled to finally have it complete, except for the window grills, which we are still waiting on.  The built in bookshelves are my favorite thing in this room.  They are slowly filling up with books, glorious books, books of all kinds, novels, references books, children's stories, and educational resources.   I am so excited to finally have one spot for all of our homeschooling supplies instead of having them stashed wherever I could find room for them. I love having our very own library.

The room is furnished almost entirely with hand-me-down furniture, items purchased from second hand shops, antique stores, and used furniture places.  I had such fun collecting things over the past year and finally putting it all together.

The farmhouse table, made from old barn boards, was once our dining table, and the wooden fold-up chairs were purchased for $15 a piece at a locally-owned, used furniture store.  I do believe they were originally used in a funeral home, but they are perfect for use at the school table.  The lamp was purchased at Goodwill for $8, and I actually found a second one, also costing $8, in a different Goodwill two hours away from the first. I was so excited when I found the first lamp; it was exactly what I was looking for, but to find a second? What are the chances? The frame hanging above the table showcases a treasure I found crammed on a shelf at Goodwill this past summer, a portion of Great Britain's Coasting Pilot, an ancient survey of the sea-coast of England.  

The little drop leaf table under the window belonged to Hubby's grandparents.  They used it for many years as their dining table at their summer camp.  I hauled it out of storage this past summer and refinished the top.  The lamps were hand-me-downs from my mom, and the two armchairs flanking the table were old library chairs purchased for $35 apiece.  The globe in the corner was my grandfather's, and the wool braided rug was hand-made by my mom from scraps of wool that she saved from coats, skirts and other articles of wool clothing no longer being worn.  I think it added just the right amount of coziness to our new library.

My office is on the other side of the room.  Do you remember my salvaged window in Sneak Peek?  I love how it adds character to an otherwise, large, uninteresting wall.  The desk and artwork above it was purchased from Goodwill, and my chair was found free on the lawn of a moving college student.   

I am so pleased with the final results of our library.  It's far from being a "designer" room, but it's highly functional, filled with things our family loves, and it is cozy and inviting.  I hope you enjoyed your little tour today because I was so excited to share it with you.  Like I have mentioned before, it is always fun sharing bargains and frugal ways of brightening up the home with those interested.  I hope you come back again.  I look forward to sharing the other rooms as the Story of our House, Part 2 continues.

Linked with A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, House on the Way, The Blackberry Vine, The Housewives of Riverton, The DIY Dreamer, Handy Man, Crafty Woman, Someday Crafts, Sew Much Ado, The Dedicated House, {i love} my disorganized life, Fluster Buster, Coastal Charm, French Country Cottage, The Brambleberry Cottage, Thirty Handmade Days, Shaken Together, Huckleberry Love,