Design Awards: Gold Specialty Room - Darcy Bean Custom Construction

Specialty Room
Seymour, Ill.
Darcy Bean Custom Construction,
Champaign, Ill.

When visitors enter this downstate Illinois home, the first thing they see is the home library.

The existing space, though, did little to wow and the homeowners wanted a space that would not only provide more room for their extensive collection of books, but also deliver a visual impact.

At their initial meeting, the homeowners shared examples of Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene & Greene interiors they liked with the design team from Darcy Bean Custom Construction. They appreciated the detail of traditional Prairie, Craftsman and Mission styles, but were concerned about the darkness of those spaces.

The designers’ goal was to deliver a brighter version of those interiors. They added a coffered ceiling to provide more character to the room, but because the ceiling couldn’t be raised, they instead lowered the floor to keep the ceiling from overwhelming the space. The new ceiling includes locally produced stained glass and locally harvested cherry wood.

Multiple light sources — directional reading lights, various spotlights and cabinet lights — complement the glass and allow the homeowners to choose how they want to light the room.