Welcome to this month’s Pinterest Challenge where my friend Cindy of County Road 407 sends a photograph to a group of us design influencers to use as inspiration to then recreate and make our own. September’s challenge is all about creating a Reading Nook! Of course, this is one of my most favorite places to be and I always have one wherever we live. Let’s jump right in…
If you are new here to French Ethereal, welcome! If you are just coming over from Michelle at Thistle Key Lane, I am happy to invite you into my home. 🌻 This time, Allison of Proverbs 31 Girl shares her beautifully renovated home with us and this reading nook in her casually cool, drop-cloth-loving, all-white style. Beautiful!
This particular post from Allison shows how her home has changed from before the renovation plus several reading areas throughout her home.
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| Allison hand-stenciled these drop cloth curtains! |
My inspiration takeaway
- a comfy chair with a drop cloth slipcover set near a window’s bright light for daytime reading
- soft linen pillows for extra comfort
- a nice nubby throw to snuggle under while reading
- an ottoman to prop the feet on
- a pretty basket with just one moss ball for decor
- a standing lamp for evening reading
I do love all the textures here from nubby pillow covers and chunky knit throw blankets to creamy whites with touches of black as accents here and there!
Our home
During the summer months in our North Texas home, it is very bright and sunny in this living room now that the trees have been limbed up and some of the branches were taken out. Last year it was very dark in here hence our fall and winter project was to thin out our oak trees front and back.
It is much lighter inside now ~ perfect for enjoying the interplay of light throughout the day. Here in late summer/early fall a beautiful golden light comes in from these western windows which I love…
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| Iteration #1: I love to sit here with a cup of tea and while away an afternoon…The one pillow is turned sideways and is just where it needs to be for good back support. |
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| Iteration #2: The first go-round I forgot all about having this knit throw and the pillows had been put away in our armoire. So glad I thought of them and pulled them out! Really love this spot now… You can see last month’s PC sharing a cloche here. |
My reading spot and what I’ve done
- slipcovers I already made dropcloth and matelassé slipcovers about six years ago for our two settees. You can find out how to make some for yourself in this five-part series beginning here.
- pillows At the beginning of this year I found the nubby cream pillow (L) slipcover at a store going out of business for 75% off. Great buy!
- a nubby knit throw this creamy knit throw came from the same store’s going out of business sale.
- a second pillow The more patterned cream pillow with corner tassels is from Magnolia Market.
- Bringing in color The bee skep pillow is from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
- basket with decor a round basket sits on our coffee table with its pop of green and pumpkin for fall.
- a tall standing lamp is positioned behind the library table for evening and early morning reading.
- nix the ottoman the coffee table takes the ottoman’s place and is ideal for putting one’s feet up to read or to enjoy candles or a gas fire in the fireplace.
I shot these photographs as the sun was rapidly going down so I’ve brightened some of these photos up a bit for you. I left the top one purposely darker to share the view out the back window: A bit of the garden beyond with a new garden trellis Mr. Ethereal just hung for me this past weekend ~ part of our fall house projects. Our tall lady statue is now sitting infront and can just be seen in an upcoming photo.
Past reading nooks…
Of course we have had various reading nooks over the years depending upon where we lived. In our Prairie Home (our big RV) our kitchen window sill was often a reading “library” as was a small plant stand, which was also in the trailer.
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This post about creating a library in small spaces can be found here.
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| Under the slipcover, this is what that settee looks like. |
One of my favorite photographs is of my daughter Amy as we were enjoying an evening of reading with candlelight at our last home in California. It is definitely my favorite reading spot photo! 💝
She is all grown up now and looking to buy her first house soon which makes me excited to help her decorate when she is ready!
I am last this month so swing on back up to Cindy at County Road 407 to continue our Pinterest Challenge Book Nook tour. I know you will love the reading spot she has created for you… Do check out everyone’s reading nooks and bookmark this post to come back to for future inspiration! 📚
Happy reading, dear friends,
Such an inviting reading spot! That photo of your daughter reading is just the sweetest! I love all your pillows, they are so pretty! Fun to hop with you! ~ Kristin | White Arrows Home
What a beautiful reading spot you created to enjoy. I'm in awe that you made the lovely slipcover for your sofa. It's beautiful and looks wonderful with your pillows and throw.
Such an inviting reading nook and cozy curl up spot. Your slipcovers are gorgeous and I have to agree, that picture of your daughter reading is stunning.
How nice that your home is lighter and brighter now that you trimmed up the trees; great idea! Love your slipcovered settee and the cozy spot you created for reading. That pic of your daughter is precious. Fun that she's buying her first home!
Lovely sitting and reading area Barbara. Slipcovers are just the best for changing up a space and giving furniture longevity. Love the bee skep pillow from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center and will check it out your post again.
Such a cozy settee and perfect with the coffee table! Love that slip cover, too!
Barbara I could come over right now with a book, and I have plenty and snuggle into your reading nook. It looks heavenly!
I need to come over and hang out more often on that adorable settee! I love how the light streams in. We don't have that at our house. It faces south and with the back covered patio and the way the bedrooms are on the east side, we only get the late evening sun in the breakfast room. Total bummer. If I ever get to build a house, there will be so many windows I won't be able to hang anything on a wall! Thank you so much for joining in. I love your posts! Pinned.
Very nice, Barb! It looks both cozy and comfy and well lit, too — a requirement! I like it very much!
Thank you, Jeanie! I do enjoy hanging out over in the window area…Happy fall and enjoy the last of your weekend,Hugs,Barb 🙂