The Art of the Reading Nook | Hacker News Reader

The Art of the Reading Nook

spectator.co.uk

32 pointsprismatic6 comments

The thing that strikes me about those reading nooks is how uncomfortable the seating appears. They seem to be from the "design to impress designers" school rather than the "design for intended use" school. Hard benches? Rigid, hard-armed chair? Whatever that thing in the last picture is supposed to be?

Nope.

I think the book chair thing in the last picture is going in the right direction.

With a couple sheets of plywood, basic tools and supplies, and a trip to the sofa cushion store, someone could build a comfortable reading space that suits their own preferences.

I would widen it and turn one of those boxes in towards the chair. Then build an automated ottoman that slides out from under the seat controlled by a switch on the side. Who doesn't want an automated ottoman?!

I would also probably lower that left wall and build in some kind of tea making station. Then a relief tube! Next build some speakers into the back wall, and a tiny Class D amp with Bluetooth, et voila, I will never leave it!

Truthfully though, most people wouldn't build such a thing. I could, but sadly I have no good place in my house to put it.

We had a reading nook in a house that my mom designed and we built as a family. The house had a large masonry fireplace in the middle, behind which she included a 3 by 3 foot space for a firewood box. She made a big cushion to go over the box, and a thick piece of rug on the wall opposite the stove. So cozy! Now if only I was inclined to read when I was a kid...

I would love to find a reading chair that was comfortable, adjustable and not incredibly large ( a la American overstuffed recliners).

I have a Bergere chair and ottoman in my library. I usually work from that chair because the chair and library are very comfortable and conducive to ideation.

A Bergere chair isn't enormous, but it's not tiny either.

I'm with you! The pictures I always see - which are admittedly beautifully designed - are always giving the books more effort than the human. I'm waiting for some up-and-coming designer to make some similar statement and become famous for "re-centering home design around the people who live there." All the while the rest of us will just stare in awe.

I'm sure there are similar paradigms in most industries (esp. design oriented ones) - I'd be really interested in a book or blog that explored those and talked about why it works out that way.

Agree. My reading nook is my sofa, with one or two throw pillows behind me. Maybe a blanket or throw during the winter months. Complete bliss.

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