Signature Spaces Designer of the Year 2025
Peter Hill
Entry for Signature Spaces Designer of the Year 2025.
The client approached us with an exciting vision for a home library, an ambitious and creative space designed across three walls and split over two levels, with a glass floor at its centre. As with the rest of their home, this room needed to combine practical function with a strong visual personality. The goal was to create a distinctive, characterful library that served the whole family and became a true feature within the house.
Book storage was the primary function, but the shelving had to work hard in several ways. It needed to hold a large and varied collection of books, ranging in size and category, so flexibility was essential. We designed the shelving to accommodate everything from small paperbacks to oversized art books, ensuring no space felt wasted and that access was easy for both adults and children.
The split-level layout added a striking architectural element but also presented a design challenge: the cabinetry had to feel continuous across the glass floor, maintaining visual flow between the upper and lower levels. To achieve this, we carefully aligned the units so they appeared to pass seamlessly through the floor, giving the impression of one cohesive structure rather than two disjointed tiers.
Lighting was another important consideration. The client was concerned that the space could feel too enclosed or dim, given the volume of shelving. To counter this, we integrated back-lit panels into selected sections of the library, creating warmth, depth, and an inviting atmosphere. These lit zones also act as subtle focal points, drawing the eye through the space and breaking up the density of the book spines.
In keeping with the client’s overall aesthetic, symmetry was avoided. The shelving layout was intentionally designed to be asymmetrical, creating visual interest and a sense of movement. This allowed for more dynamic styling opportunities and ensured the space felt curated rather than rigid or overly uniform.
The result is a layered, engaging library space that reflects the clients' love of design, storytelling, and family life, offering a practical, flexible, and visually striking solution that integrates beautifully into the fabric of their home.
