20 Celebrities With Stunning Home Libraries

August 21st, 2011

Any committed bibliophile fantasizes about having the ultimate home library. Whether that’s a room filled floor to ceiling with every book they’ve ever wanted to read or a simple, cozy den stocked with priceless antique tomes is really a matter of taste. Regardless of style, most are limited from fulfilling these dreams of a home library haven thanks to budget constraints. Celebrities, often making tens of thousands of dollars for just showing up somewhere, have no such financial restraints and may indulge themselves with those epic home libraries the rest of us can only dream about. Here are several libraries of the rich and famous sure to fill you with envy and awe — maybe even motivate you to create a more budget-friendly version in your own home.

1. Karl Lagerfeld

   This king of fashion boasts one of the most impressive home libraries we’ve ever seen. Reaching from floor to the very high ceilings in his Paris apartment, Lagerfeld’s collection comprises over 60,000 volumes, making it one of the largest private libraries in the world. Unsurprisingly, many of the works are about fashion, and steel shelves are a must to hold the heavy, picture-laden volumes prized by the Chanel designer.

2. Oprah Winfrey

   Known for her book club, it’s natural that this bibliophiliac TV maven would have a library in her home. While probably only one of many of Oprah’s libraries, this one located in her California home boasts reads about everything from Greek history to modern fashion as well as a serious art collection.

3. Diane Keaton

   This inspirational space is located in Keaton’s Beverly Hills home, a sprawling Spanish Colonial-style house that she remodeled in 2007. One room that got some serious attention was the library, with floor-to-ceiling shelves accenting the steeply vaulted ceiling, a beautiful tiled floor and some enviable ladders.

4. Keith Richards

   We might not always think of rock stars at the bookish sort, but Keith Richards does enjoy a good read when he’s at home in this cozy, octagonal space. He even confessed in his recent autobiography that he’s always had a secret longing to be a librarian, getting some practical training managing the thousands of books in his home collection — even going so far as to learn the Dewey Decimal System!

5. Woody Allen

   Tasteful and cozy, this library in Woody Allen’s Manhattan home makes you just want to curl up with a good book and stay there — though the iconic director might have a thing or two to say about that. Take a peak outside the window and you’ll see the street where Allen shot scenes for Annie Hall over three decades ago.

6. Ralph Lauren

   Known as much for his brand of interior items as his iconic fashions, it should come as no surprise that this designer has an amazing home library. Part library, part study and part office, this space could scarcely be more inviting. Well-worn chairs and rugs give it a homey feel, while leather-bound books and priceless artwork help class up the space.

7. Agatha Christie

   Mystery writer Agatha Christie had an amazing Georgian villa in Devon, England (which you can still tour today) in which she and her family spent their summers. The library not only features a great collection of books and a cozy place to read, but also a large frieze painted by the American soldiers who used the home for quarters during WWII.

8. Sting

   Dark wood bookcases, detailed paneling, ornate ceilings, and busts give this library a neo-classical vibe that’s both inviting and somehow appropriate for a bookish space. Better yet, it spans two beautiful floors, with a curving staircase connecting them.

9. Nigella Lawson

   Cookbook author and TV-savvy foodie celebrity (in England, at least) Nigella Lawson has a pretty enviable space to store her books. While not as neat and orderly as some of the other libraries on this list, it is charming in its own way, with reads placed on just about every available surface. A real book lover’s library if there ever was one.

10. Tory Burch

    You’d expect this chic fashion designer to have an equally chic home and, well, she does. The library in her large NYC apartment is filled with orange lacquered shelves, loads of books and a decidedly formal setting for reading a volume or two or paging through the latest fashion publications.

11. Michael Jackson

    An avowed bibliophile, Michael Jackson collected over 10,000 (or possibly more) books during his lifetime, a portion of which were on display in the den of his Neverland Ranch home and around the rest of the estate. This dark-paneled room, with its large fireplace, seems like a superb place to curl up on a rainy day and start tackling the stacks.

12. Jimmy Stewart

    This well-known and award-winning actor wasn’t just the star of the silver screen, he also had a notable military career and was an avid reader. His library reflects many of the interests and accomplishments of his life, with a Presidential Medal of Freedom displayed proudly on the coffee table as well as a book of poems he published in 1989.

13. Mark Twain

    A prolific writer, Twain was also a voracious reader, something his architecturally amazing Victorian-Gothic mansion reflects. In the living room and library (designed by Tiffany, no less), visitors will find hand-stenciled paneling, imported fireplaces, and impressive pieces of carved wood decoration. There are also loads of books. Tired of the library setting? Simply step out the door and into the lovely conservatory attached to the room.

14. Julianne Moore

    While both an office and a library, this celebrity room was actually designed by Moore herself, a claim that few others on this list can make. Modern furniture and sleek decor help make this space an amazing place to read a book, write a letter, or just relax.

15. Jane Fonda

    With Jackson Pollack on the walls and bookshelves that stretch to the ceiling (and an awesome ladder to get those hard-to-reach volumes), Fonda’s library living space should have any book lover drooling with envy. Clean and modern without being cold, it’s a far cry from her big-hair-and-leg-warmers days.

16. Aaron Spelling/a>

    You would assume that somewhere in that $150 million dollar house of the Spelling’s that there would be a library, and you’d be right. Fitting in with the rest of the home, the library is over the top — though still charming — with wood paneling, leather-bound books, and a built-in bar.

17. Rod Stewart

    If traditional decor, replete with leather-bound books and Victorian paintings, is your thing, then you won’t be able to get enough of Rod Stewart’s library. While located in his Beverly Hills home, the space is decidedly that of a stately English estate. It comes peppered with artwork and Italian and French furniture — and of course loads of books, including those of poets Keats and Tennyson, some of the singer’s favorites.

18. Brooke Astor

    She may not be a household name today, but this socialite and philanthropist was quite well-known in her day. The library in her Park Avenue apartment, designed by Albert Hadley, is an interior design legend. It features numerous red-lacquered shelves that hold volume after volume of classic lit — many of them first editions and rare collectibles.

19. Jimmy Page

    Who says libraries have to hold books? Jimmy Page has an amazing collection of LPs and CDs that would make any music lover insanely jealous. Filling shelf after shelf, avid listeners would be sure to find an album or two that would strike their fancy among this impressive collection.

20. William Randolph Hearst

    The library to dwarf all other libraries on this list, this epic room may as well be a public collection — it’s certainly big enough. It is the kind of place bibliophile dreams are made of, with intricately carved gothic arches and amazing decor that is rich and sumptuous enough to make anyone, even those who don’t like to read, swoon. If that room isn’t enough, Hearst’s castle also boasts another private library, which is just as fancy and just as loaded with books.

Taken From Accredited Online Colleges