A Curated Escape: Designing the Reading Room for The Art of The Home
We were thrilled to be selected as one of the featured designers for The Art of The Home, a dreamy showhouse in New Jersey that brings together creative minds from all over the country. Our assigned space? The Reading Room — a perfect canvas for creativity and imagination.
From concept to completion, we embraced the opportunity to play with bold colors, striking patterns, layered textures, and unexpected materials. The result is a space designed to inspire curiosity and spark the imagination – the kind of room that invites you to curl up with a good book and get lost for hours.
We recently sat down with Aspire Design and Home to share the story behind our design, the inspiration that guided us, and the process that brought it all to life. Below is what we had to say!
What mood or feeling are you hoping to evoke with this space?
Reading unlocks the imagination, and designing for the reading room we wanted the space to feel whimsical and to foster a creative atmosphere where the imagination can run wild. We desire for people to feel as though they can escape into another world.
How did you begin the process — was there a single material, color, or image that set everything in motion?
The first image that came to mind was a rope swing hanging from a giant tree something straight out of an “Alice in Wonderland” moment. That spark of whimsy sent me down an unexpected creative path. I actually explored incorporating one of the Haas Brothers’ tree inspired art installations, but it turned out to be too tall for the space. That limitation didn’t stop the inspiration, it launched a full on Haas Brothers obsession. We ended up sourcing this incredible almost chrome looking, aluminum tiled finished lamp they designed, and from there, the concept evolved into oversized reflective bookshelves that feel sculptural and surreal. We leaned all the way into bold, not traditional, and the result is a space that invites imagination and curiosity. Just like books, the design is meant to transport you. It became the perfect foundation for what we’re calling the “Reading Room” an experience, not just a space.
Are there any design risks you’re taking that you’re particularly excited about?
One design risk we are particularly excited for is the wallpaper and upholstered banquette seat. We wanted to go bold with these selections and to mix patterns. Both of these patterns took inspiration from the sculptural floor lamp in the space, which was designed by Haas Brothers. We played with various color combinations and pattern repeats to get the final design that really makes the room feel inviting. The banquette seat will have bolsters that are the same pattern as the hallway wallpaper, really adding a fun mixture of pattern and color.
How would you describe your room in three words?
Reflective, whimsical, stimulating.
What’s your relationship to scale? Are you leaning into drama, intimacy, or a mix?
We love playing with scale! One area we wanted to create a dramatic moment with scale was in the wallpaper. We were able to work with a local Austin vendor, Loomly, to customize the color, pattern, and pattern repeat. We wanted the repeat to be large enough to really see the pattern, but not too large to overwhelm the space. Another area we played with scale was with the bookcase shelves. We wanted the shelves to have a grounded and prominent presence in the room.
How do you think visitors will interact with or experience your room once it’s complete?
We see users sitting on the banquette seat, looking through the bookcase shelves, admiring the artwork, and feeling as though they can relax and disconnect for a moment, maybe let their imagination run away from them a little bit. We envision them discovering new fun details that are hidden throughout, and taking a moment to stop and enjoy the space.
When you look at your rendering now, what excites you most about seeing it all come together?
We love the color throughout. Seeing all the various art pieces, furniture, and design elements that bring such fun and vivid colors together is what makes this special. We didn’t want to hold back with the design, we really wanted to explore mixing color and patterns. We also love how all the artwork fills the space and really brings it to life.
A true labor of love, this project gave us the chance to share our vision in a way that feels both personal and imaginative. We hope the Reading Room sparks a little wonder and inspires others to play with color, texture, and creativity in their own spaces.
To learn more about The Art of The Home and explore all the exceptional design and artistry featured in this year’s showhouse, click here!
