Few things compare to the experience of turning the pages of a good book. In homes from New York to California, these four libraries are ideal for displaying and enjoying a collection of treasured volumes.
Sophisticated Riverside Loft
Walls of windows and plentiful skylights admit floods of sunlight and enviable views in this full-floor penthouse loft in one of Tribeca’s most desirable cooperative buildings. Its serene private terrace is perfect for outdoor relaxation and recreation and affords spectacular views of the Hudson River. The airy, open floor plan includes spacious living and entertaining areas, four bedrooms, a well-outfitted double-height kitchen, and a library with built-in bookshelves and a woodburning fireplace.
Classical Elegance in Pacific Heights
In the heart of prestigious Pacific Heights, this extraordinary two-level home is an ideal venue for entertaining. Rejuvenated in 2011, it is filled with lavish details that recall San Francisco’s golden age and features formal public spaces, up to five bedrooms—including a primary suite with two baths and closets and an office—abundant storage, a walk-out patio and garden, a charming carriage house that currently serves as a gym, and a handsome wood-paneled library with a fireplace and a gracefully curving bay window.
Magnificent Upper East Side Townhouse
Impressively renovated, this stunning six-level residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is filled with light and sees to every comfort and convenience. Highlights include seven peaceful bedrooms, a lower level with a gym and a 28-foot swimming pool, gardens, three landscaped terraces—among them one on the rooftop—a sunroom, formal living and dining rooms, a wet bar, a kitchen and breakfast room, an office, a den, and a quiet library with a fireplace, ample built-in bookshelves, and a window seat.
Southern California Classicism
Designed by a prominent Los Angeles architect as his private residence, this classic Monterey Colonial Revival home is suffused with a timeless elegance. Its inviting spaces include an updated kitchen with an island and a fireplace, five restful bedrooms, formal living and dining rooms, and a library with a wood-burning fireplace that echoes the enveloping greenery with its vibrant hue and opens to the grounds—which boast topiary hedges, organic cutting and rose gardens, tranquil fountains, and a refreshing swimming pool.
