My DIY Library is Complete! ~ Building the Dream Library, Vol. 3

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

If you like my content and would like to support me with a small tip, please use this link (1% of all donations are being donated to help the environment): ko-fi.com/squirrellynerdyjess

[@flora-dz4ii]

OMG! IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!! I don’t think I’d ever be able to leave that room if that was my library :,)

[@tazkianafis2293]

THIS IS THE MOST DEDICATED AND CREATIVE LIBRARY MAKING PROJECT OMGGG LOVE ITTTT

[@elizabeths4371]

I love how you've extended the bookshelves up to the cornice moulding but especially the way you've painted and stenciled the beam and the ceiling- really EXCEPTIONAL Work!

[@wiik999]

That looks incredible! Me and my girlfriend are in the process of looking at houses so the dream of a dedicated room for a home library might actually happen. These videos gave us alot of inspiration. Hope to see more updates in the future!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! Best wishes with your own home. I’m in the process of editing the next part of this vlog now. 🤓📚

[@MegBookishRamblings]

I love how the stenciling with traces of gold foil turned out! What a great idea to have a display cabinet that lights up! I love how your Library looks, I think it's amazing! I also enjoy the starry night theme on the ceiling and just may do something with the stars on the ceiling if I ever have a Library of my own. Congratulations on building your dream Library!

[@SwordsAndMoss]

I love the look of the dark, reddish-brown varnish! I’ve always thought it brought such a warmth to a library! It’s looking STUNNING!

[@damogranheart5521]

A warm, welcoming library! Love it! And my black cat is named Houdini! I was told that this name did Not Bode Well. My son, the seer!

[@francescathomas3502]

You have a gorgeous Library!!! I love love love the ceiling and the cross beams!!!

[@redhornet07]

You did a fantastic job on that library! I love the medeival/renaissance hand painted details. My wife & I are renovating/rebuilding our 100 y/o house room by room. Just one suggestion, early on I learned to have an exhaust fan in the window whenever sanding/taking down plaster. If you have to do lots of sanding again, just a simple box fan in the window, blowing air to the outside, makes a HUGE difference in reducing dust in the room. Keep up the great work!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! I’ll keep that in mind for sure. Live and learn.

[@mrwood91740]

What a beautiful space you have created! I especially love the gold leaf highlights on the ceiling and beam. Fantastic detail. Libraries are among my very favorite places. Having this one right in your home - and it’s your creation - is wonderful. Congratulations!

[@rozchristopherson648]

Stunning. I absolutely love it. I turned my living room into a library/study. Charles Dickens' study was my inspiration. I also have a beautiful brick fireplace in the room which gives it special ambience. I chose to add several large china cabinets for books and a few curio cabinets to display other things. I have my computer and desk setup in the room as well. I then turned my dining room into a living room, my kitchen into a dining room, and my great room into a large "free-standing" kitchen. Lots of moving furniture around and I had to have the kitchen cabinets taken out. But I had to have a study/library. Everyone should, I'm sure you'll agree. Great job. 😃👍

[@bradybunch84a]

Yes! You did it and it is so amazing! You have the most amazing home library that I have ever seen. Good job. WOW I sure hope you don't ever have to move.

[@mirib5007]

Looks fab! Truly a Herculean effort! I got tennis elbow from stenciling a 14” weeping Willow under my dining room ceiling mounding, on a ladder. It was beautiful.

[@1147512]

Awww, you're welcome!! It's been fun to watch it come together!. 🙂

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

You’re the best!

[@melindareynolds2901]

This is absolutely amazing and beautiful! I know how much you have wanted to create this room and to see it mostly complete is something to be happy and proud of. Love your passion for creating such a magical room!

[@desourcelatte6525]

This Librarian (yeah, I am one really) LOVES what you did!!!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Much respect! ❤️

[@sillybeeful]

So worth it!! Your library is beautiful and perfectly individual 📚 📕 🌟 🐿 and you’ve learnt loads 👍🏼 ironically I found your video while planning my own (very small) library refurbishment, while recovering from covid…. Congratulations and thanks for lots of inspiration xx

[@mendyviola]

Love that your sponsor is a friend. Not having a corporate sponsor is so rare. ❤️ Helen. Future self, sorry that y’all had to self-isolate. I was lucky and never got it, even though my husband did.

[@jules4818]

Wow this is absolutely stunning. I feel like i could read in there for DAYS at the least

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

This is so beautiful!!!!! I have a library of my own but this is just next level.

[@SeanLamb-I-Am]

I had been looking up videos about making built-in shelving units because I'm working on a design for my "office" in our home. So many of what I saw were by men who had an extreme number of big tools more than me, and their videos were just oozing with the wrong kind of masculine vibe for me to really learn from. Then KZbin showed me this video. ... And the skies parted and the angels sang .... (especially when I saw the bit about the Sky Buckets at Disneyland; I grew up making a grand circle tour of the "Mountain" coasters and used the Sky Buckets to move from one end to the other frequently). Now to go back through the rest of your videos to see what I missed so far... Thank you!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Glad to provide some inspiration. One thing I would say in hindsight is don’t try to varnish these bookcases the way I did. If you want to change the colour, perhaps painting would work, but don’t follow my lead in that one particular area! Best of luck!

[@bmschmitzer]

Wow! What an amazing room you have created! Congratulations on completing such a beautiful project. You did a wonderful job, and the patience you displayed was mind-blowing. One day, when I get around to dedicating an area for a library in my own home, I will certainly use what you've done as an inspiration.

[@ranakonswa2169]

More ideas for your lovely channel ❤️ : 1- DIY vintage/aesthetic bookmarks . 2- how to deal with read blocks . 3- poorly written novels not to waste our time/money on . 4- setting up/ upgrading your reading corner . 5- websites selling books and best online stores / tips to get cheaper books .

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you for the ideas! A couple of those are already in the works. 😉

[@ranakonswa2169]

@@SquirrellyNerdyJess so excited ,good luck queen

[@nickywarner5826]

✨Wow✨wow wow it’s Beautiful!! The way you decorated the beam was GENIUS 🪄 the design is wonderful. Love the colours, ceiling STARS!!, bookcases- literally everything. Tell me you’re going to get a big velvet armchair in forest green or salmon or russet? And a beautiful reading lamp? It’s just so wonderful and your husband is The Man 🙌🏼 We need more of your beautiful singing voice and he played so very beautifully in the previous vlog - more please! Thank you for this joy, I’m a very happy new subscriber- Rachel Maksy and Cherry Wallis need to see this 😁🦋💕🦉🍂🌑👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! That’s very kind. I do have a reading chair in there but am hunting for a bigger, comfier one. I found a beautiful Chesterfield style one a while back, but my husband and I decided it was better in our living room, so the hunt continues! Considering a chaise lounge if I can find one that fits… A proper, statement reading light is a great idea! The lighting in that room has been a struggle to be honest. P. S. I watch both Rachel and Cherry, so that’s really sweet of you to say!

[@Charlotte-ud2to]

Amazing how much work you put into your library. It turned out so good! I can see that cupboard being turned in a very cosy reading nook.. 😉.

[@CozyGirlLon11]

Looks beautiful love the ceiling and your furniture color and especially your little fixer upper book station. Great unique library 👏💕

[@ellesse3862]

What a lovely room, reminds me of an old book shop I'd visit, it had deep rich green walls and dark, almost black, wood bookcases.

[@workshed556]

Amazing work. I really like the shelves now, but I love the beam. So cool.

[@christineheikkenen9276]

Absolutely amazing! I am so impressed with all the hand detailing work, so beautiful, great job!

[@rukiakuchikichan]

Especially love the Harry Potter memorabilia. I've been looking for inspiration on how to my very small (but eventually growing) collection and got some ideas. Thanks!

[@kaitlynrice6626]

This is THE most beautiful in home library I have ever seen!!!!!

[@reavervolfeed5454]

you see just how much love you put into making such a amazing and interesting place. in my opinion more than a library, a dreamroom

[@jamieb2289]

I am speechless. Speechless! This is GORGEOUS!

[@outgoingautismhowtoovercom8512]

Love it especially the ceiling. I’m a 25 year Carpenter hardhat off to you, Madame.

[@hollyingraham3980]

The reason your wooden floor had such big gaps is that it isn't flooring. It's subflooring. By the 1930s, sub flooring with wall to wall was normal. No more hardwood flooring. Helen is a gem, you lucky soul. Now look for a decorative wood beading to stain and apply to the front edges of the Billys to make them look more custom. Place looks great.

[@KasSommers]

Great job, Jess. I always wanted a Henry Higgins library and built one when I did up my last house. Sadly I didn't do the research and got the colours all wrong and didn't really have a good plan at the beginning. So though I had the floor-to-ceiling bookcases, they were still stuffed too full of books and the couch was too big and it was never really satisfying. Yours is gorgeous and you did everything right.

[@carriehooper32]

I love what you did to the ceiling in your library so much! Beautiful work!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you!

[@okayheykae]

I'm currently fantasizing about having a house and a library and this is so inspiring! I love the ceiling, and I was worried that my Billy bookshelves would never look like "proper" library bookshelves but now I know they can! 📚✨

[@DeniselandiaYT]

LOVE IT!!! One day I will have a room of my own and I will do the same thing. Beautiful work, Squirrel.

[@jimzecca3961]

Great job with the room. I have a bedroom in our new place that will become an office/library space and I hope I can do as good of a job as you did here to make it a comfortable and inspiring place to work and relax/read.

[@undergroundmusicians2983]

My husband and I just bought our first home and this video gave me such inspiration! Instead of the Billy bookcases, we are going to build our own built-in shelves using pine. Then I'll either stain or paint them (haven't decided yet!). But just wanted to say I loved your video and channel!!! Beautiful work and craftsmanship. I am so impressed with the beam work and ornate detail. So awesome!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

If I did it again, I’d build my own shelves rather than do the Billys. It was actually the other option I was weighing up, but I would have needed my husband’s help and he had too busy a schedule at the time. Maybe I’ll upgrade one day! Thank you for watching and for the kind comment. 🤓

[@victoriavox]

Stunning Jess! Your hard work and dedication has certainly paid off! Thank you for sharing your journey with us! 😍

[@cjay233]

Your library is awesome!!!! Appreciate too your final thoughts about teaching yourself things and the hard learning curve. I have tons of ideas but when I try them, they don't work or it is harder than I thought and I give up or don't even try. You have given me the encouragement to try. Thank you.

[@antsquirly7654]

And then one day, my dear, you find yourself nearing the end of your road, Surrounded by all the treasures of your life you wonder, what's next. How serendipitous discovering you, Age has caused me to give up books, now it's a Kindle. (Font size and ease of reading) - It's good/fun being Squirly.

[@eastratton08]

It turned out so magical and pretty ! I'm obsessed 💕

[@Amarantis]

Wow so cozy and beautiful! great job!

[@juliahelland6488]

Kindred spirits! I have always wanted to create a library and now I will! 💯❣️

[@raghavendranayak9798]

I haven't come across anyone being so so real and so so simple and extremely polite on internet the best part of the video was the moment you were proud of the outcome and I wish you all the very best, I'll always pray for you, stay happy forever ❤ Love from India ❤ 🇮🇳

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

How incredibly kind of you! Thank you for watching.

[@chanellyon]

Buying the bookshelves could be argued as sponsorship. ;-) she definitely deserves a shout out.

[@BigioBio]

Congratulation on this awesome albeit tiring project. It looks amazing. Looking forward to future videos.

[@ElJorro]

Amazing Library. I don't know if it is 'me' but I still love it.

[@thegirlwiththecontroller1164]

It all looks so good! I love how you detailed the beam. I am totally going to steal your idea, because we have one in the center in our manufactured home that is ugly, but now I can spruce it up!

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Do! That personal touch just adds so much to a room!

[@carolwhite6979]

that was delightful! Great space! Magical!

[@jessiefrances]

What an amazing job! I think the ceiling snd beams sre my favorite 😍

[@sweetscraps56]

WOW! YOU DID IT! And it’s amazing. Thumbs up!

[@zoevemoon]

You, squirrel, are insane... you are also my inspiration

[@carlosvelizvideos]

Great job! That took lots of patience . I collect Magic books and this has inspired me to update my library. Thank you and keep posting this great content .

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! I have a small collection of magic books as well!

[@rachelanderson9336]

This is so inspirational! ☺️ I love your amazing eye for creating such an imaginative and fun space! I can’t wait to see how the books are organized! How did you not get overwhelmed by all the projects? What was the most useful source for your home renovations? When you see a space to renovate or decorate, how do you start deciding how to organize? And random question, what has been your favorite book to restore AND/OR what is a book that you are most excited to restore?

[@einfach__pia2110]

it looks amazing 🥰 I always look for people renovating their spaces to fit their aesthetic and it’s the first time I saw a library being created

[@penirperson4927]

The step stool!!!😍 I love the whole room!!

[@oliviap.8750]

I'm glad you are back

[@pwmel1]

This is an amazing library! You did an AWESOME job! I love everything about it. Special love for all the Houdini posters and merch. Very very very nice! Congratulations!

[@bharris9824]

I had a library once. What would I do differently? I would put glass doors on all my bookcases. A library room is a beautiful room to have and you have done a lovely job.

[@sarah.sparkles]

Utterly, utterly magical!!! I adore it!!

[@TonyRobetson]

what an amazing library! i love the idea of a starry sky ceiling and you executed it well, along with all the decorations! think the only thing i'd add is a bookshelf door or hidden compartment. always great to find people with similar bookish dreams :)

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! Didn’t have the room for the bookshelf door in this one, but my husband has promised when we eventually extend the house, I will get my secret passageway! 😉

[@milavorster3704]

Love the result was waiting for this for a long time!

[@lifeismusic5529]

I have that IKEA rug. But a smaller version of it I front my of tiny futon. The pattern is really nice.

[@Nortic111]

Oooh, very cozy!

[@Ukegirl831]

I absolutely love this! It is magical. I am so impressed. I also love this video.

[@t0dd000]

I never heard of Billy Bookcases. Apparently, I'm the only one. Of course, I'm also probably the only person in the Western world who has never set foot in an IKEA. I've just never lived anywhere near one. Personally, I'd have just built the shelves. Bookcases are rather simple to build. Staining the bookcase ... Can't possibly be as time consuming as that ceiling beam. :) Anyway. Impressive and lovely. Congrats.

[@FrancescoPaggiaro]

Love It ❤ love the library, the house, the editing, the style.

[@danadavis1754]

I love the ceiling, it really feels like magical

[@Randis-vv5hg]

Absolutely magical.

[@IncoherentSanity]

Your library is so amazing, beautiful, and all around unique! I absolutely, freaking adore it!

[@choocli]

this is one of my favorite videos on this site!!! So wonderful, loved seeing the whole process! the sheer dedication and creativity you have is so inspiring

[@mickscrimshaw1073]

Great inspiration! Luckily I have a library going back to when I used to earn a few quid a few years ago but my two daughters are both going to want to pinch some of your ideas (especially the Harry Potter cabinet) and hopefully end up with something close to what you’ve achieved. I really enjoyed sharing your journey. I’m off a read a book now.

[@madnessintomagic]

Adorable! Well done.

[@lakelili]

Really lovely job! Particularly in love with the beam. Bright blessings for the New Year!

[@nancysadewater964]

The Library is amazing! You did a wonderful job!

[@amygray1451]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@joenperkins2138]

Amazing, beautiful, and as my great grand children would say, way cool. Blessings

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

That’s very kind of you to say. Thank you!

[@JenniferBtheGroove]

You did Great! Congratulations!

[@johnnygilroy5213]

You a God of books. You are a paradise of books. I LOVE YOU:)

[@thekyleemadison]

I was the 400th like on this video and I am very proud of this fact (and I'm SO glad I found your lovely channel!)

[@MerryMoss]

I almost cried when I saw the reveal.. you've made SUCH an amazing space and damn I'm jelly =p Would love to create something similar in a future home..... one day 😉 💚💚💚

[@lenadesouza]

Your library is so incredibly beautiful. It inspired me a lot and I’m so happy for you. And… are you a librarian? You sure look like someone who would be a librarian at Hogwarts.

[@kimbowers3607]

Beautiful job!

[@sandeeppuliyanazhath]

Your library looks so gorgeous..same as you!!❤️❤️

[@iluvzevon]

Absolutely stunning! It's absolutely gorgeous. I did some stenciling in my hallway and it just takes sooooo long! Kudos to you, it turned out amazing xx

[@amhbrannan]

Bravo!!!! Inspiring and stunning!!!!

[@BallerineMimi]

Incredible! Just binged this series and saving it for my own home inspiration one day ♡ also the fact your bookish content includes bookrepairing has me hitting subscribe! Im looking forward to your new videos (but right now i gots to watch all your previous videos) ♡

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! New video (something a little different) is posting tomorrow, and then I’ll have two new repair videos to follow. 🤓

[@edwinperr6008]

Well done!!!

[@levannumanisvili5542]

Every weekend, I am still here🥸

[@janeenreding5767]

Inspiring! Thank you for sharing this!

[@Zenne-CrazyGeekCrafter]

Very inspiring. I started a similar project in the beginning of the year. I have to remove the wallpaper, refinish the walls and then comes the painting and building. I have taken en break over the summer, but I still hope to finish my library in 2021. Even with a maximum daily work time of two hours that should be doable. I have been thinking about doing something similar to your ceiling choice in my bedroom, so it is great to know that foiling is easier then painting. I will probably make a different kind of stencil a plastik one which can be used to paint through.

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

A plastic stencil would definitely be better! I was just working with what I had as much as possible, and I had a lot of cardboard. 😊

[@Zenne-CrazyGeekCrafter]

@@SquirrellyNerdyJess I have branched out from reading and watching to making in the last 5ish years. I learned a few practical things and have some great tool at hand now.

[@robertg420]

That ceiling looks incredible. I'm considering a similar setup with painted ikea premades but not sure how well they'd hold up over the years, the thought of sagging bookshelves makes me sad

[@Maraaha55]

Well, colour me impressed to my bones. I love what you have done, and slightly envy you this room. Your freehand decoration of the beam is very special: I know you used "stencils" for the design but you actually painted it freehand. Like you I really like decorated beams - while the "norm" in the UK is to paint them black (emulating the soot stained appearance of genuine ancient wood) that lowers the ceiling and is not even accurate, since, even in fairly humble dwellings beams would be decorated even if with very simple designs. You had a very clear, if eccentric vision and you achieved it. I have one suggestion, which is perhaps much too late to be useful - so, sorry. When watching the laborious staining of your 100+ shelves I thought, gosh worth investing in a paint spray kit and finding a sheltered outdoor place (garage?) to spray and hang all these boards. Use cuppla cup hooks screwed into one end, and you can do all relevant sides and edges and hang the boards up on coat hangers to dry - at least for the shelves - the long boards would just need to be stacked against a wall. However, it's all done now so this idea may be no use - but, you never know, which is why it is here. Well done ... I must check out your other videos, because I loved this - and I love how you and handy husband roll.

[@SquirrellyNerdyJess]

Thank you! And thanks for the suggestion in any case. This was definitely a figuring-it-out-as-I-went project and with hindsight, I’d have definitely done the bookshelves differently, but oh well. Love and learn!

[@hellentatsios7888]

fantastic job

[@debbyglaser8582]

Hi, just saw your video, Dec. 2022. Great job!, you probably got some idea how Michelangelo felt when he painted his famous work of art, on a slightly larger scale though. Hope your still enjoying it!!