Style crush: The pros and cons of library ladders

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A ladder in your library presses an age-old storage solution back into service.

Once upon a time we filled entire rooms with books. We reached the upper levels with clever wall-hung ladders that slid along custom-built rails from side to side.

It remains an excellent storage solution and is enjoying a renaissance in the modern home, maximising the space from floor to ceiling for book storage and display of books, objects, homewares and kitchenwares.

It’s important to install a book ladder safely however, to ensure the shelf can support the movement of the ladder and the extra weight of climbing up and down the rungs.

There are countless ways to incorporate a library ladder into your decor, and they don't all involve books...

1. Simple and slimline

designandabout View Profile

Library in the home of gallery owner Alfred Kornfeld Pic via @elledecor 📸 @helenio_barbetta . . . #library #chair #statue #libraryladder #art #gallery #alfredkornfeld #livelifefabulously #DesignAndAbout #interiors #interiordesign #interiordecor #designideas #designvibes #interiorstyling #homedecor #home #homedesign #fineinteriors #interiordesigner #architecture #designinspiration #designedinteriors #archdigest #iloveinteriordesign #interiordesignideas #colour #pink

2. Heavy duty

loftdoors View Profile

3. Gallery goodness

albainbookland View Profile

4. Modern marvel

juniperbooks View Profile

I returned to Dallas this week for a party to celebrate this amazing home we worked on over the past year! Juniper Books curated a library of close to 1,000 books around the requests and interests of the family, then we designed and printed jackets in a custom palette for 100% of the titles. We installed the project as well. Thank you to @mooredesigngroup and everyone who worked on the project in Dallas and our team in Boulder. Truly a one-of-a-kind and very special collaboration. #homelibrary #customlibrary #interiordesign #instadesign #designersofinstagram #color #libraryladder #custompiano #dreamlibrary #librarygoals #readmorebooks #bookstagram #bookstagramfeature #culturetripbooks #homelighting #dallas #juniperbooks

5. Neutral and neat

thelinenrabbit View Profile

6. Wine time

reliquarystudio View Profile

7. Clever kitchen

ourvictorianitalianate View Profile

During the design process, when I told our cabinet company we wanted a rolling library ladder in our kitchen, I know they thought I was a little off my rocker. Although it was somewhat unusual at the time, and they had never incorporated one before, they embraced the task. The team did an amazing job with the ladder and all the rails. Today, I love seeing that this has become a trend in kitchen spaces. I was not the first to have it in my kitchen, and I won't be the last, but it's one trend that I hope those embracing, enjoy as much as I have. . . . #kitchen #kitchendesign #libraryladder #kitchenladder #kitcheninspo #designinspo #kitchensofinstagram #stl #stlouis

8. Mudroom masterpiece

jkandsons View Profile

9. Curved calm

haven.studios View Profile