A Library Reimagined
Every so often, The House Finch is invited to take on a project that’s about more than just organizing, it’s about embracing the next stage of life. Sometimes it’s about preparing for a growing family, but in this case, it was about accommodating changing physical abilities.
The Third Floor Office
We have worked with this couple (we’ll use the names Susan and Howard for this story) in their beautiful Ginter Park home on many projects over the years, implementing solutions that kept life organized without distracting from the historic charm of their home. Susan reached out for help to organize Howard’s third floor library late this summer. Before we could meet to start planning however, Howard had a health scare that left him in a rehab facility for a short period. We proceeded with planning to organize his office with some help of his from afar, but the scope changed during the process. Rather than simply declutter and reorganize his library, the goal would now be to be to flip a second flood guest room into his new study.
The Space
Our task? Envision and execute a new library on the second floor of the home. The current library was a third floor, dormered office space that had been the cozy home to a lifetime of research. Over three thousand books (105 linear feet) had accumulated in this tiny space, visual evidence of our client and scholar’s process – anytime a topic caught his interest, he read broadly and voraciously, consuming every book he could find on the subject. When he moved on to the next topic, the books stayed. Now, in the span of four weeks, our clients asked for help relocating this external brain to a different floor of the house and we were able to deliver on a comfortable space that can be readily accessed and enjoyed.
The Plan
Maybe this project sounds like it’s just about moving books, but it’s really about trust. How do you work with someone off-site who is distracted by the exhausting and uncomfortable work of healing to make decisions about which possessions can be rehomed? How do you help his spouse make quick decisions about new furniture to hold the books that are staying? How to navigate this difficult time of life, make changes, and end up with a space that still feels like home?
Our team came up with a plan that worked for our clients and their level of technological savvy. Step one – take 90 photos of shelves and piles of books, working methodically around the room. Step two – print all the photos out. Step three – have our scholar and his wife go through the photos while still at the rehab facility, labeling each one with “keep” or “donate.”
This system empowered him to remain part of the process, even from afar—and for us, it meant we could move forward with clarity and confidence on which books would stay and which books could go.
The New Library
Once we had our marching orders, our team—four organizers over roughly 60 hours and 9 sessions—got to work. We cleared the third floor of books so it could be painted and transformed into a guest room. We ordered and picked up seven Billy bookcases from IKEA, delivered them to the home, and assembled them in the new library and office space.
Three of our team members assembling bookcases in what was the guest bedroom.
We coordinated with local movers (twice) to shuffle furniture between rooms and floors of the house, referred our favorite painters to prep and refresh the spaces, and anchor the bookcases securely to the walls. Our team loaded the new book shelves with books, sorted by topic, and placed the office furniture, making a new cozy space for focused reading and deep contemplation. It was truly a full-service project—equal parts logistics, design, and hands-on organization, all in 9 sessions.
The Extras
It was vital to our client that the books move on to places where they would be read and enjoyed again. When the sorting was complete, we were left with about 1,000 books that needed new homes—many of them covering incredibly specific academic topics. First, we invited Black Swan Books, a local Richmond shop specializing in rare and antique titles, to review the collection. They spent two hours meticulously combing through the books, pulling those with potential resale value.
Black Swan Bookshop hard at work going through 1,000 books.
After researching other local options, we determined that the best way for the books to connect with new readers would be donating them to the Richmond Public Library for their bi-annual Friends of the Library Book Sale. This twice a year event raises funds for local speakers series, poetry slams, educational programs, and facilities maintenance, supporting all Richmonders through their library system.
The New Chapter for a Cherished Space
In the end, what had once been an overwhelming, cluttered third-floor office became a serene and accessible reading retreat on the second floor—complete with cozy lighting, organized shelves, and easy wheelchair access thanks to a new stair lift the family installed.
The husband, who had been understandably nervous about having someone “invade” his space, was deeply pleased with the result. And his wife, a longtime House Finch client, told us she was thrilled to see her husband’s books finally in order and his new office ready for him to enjoy again.
New library set up with Ikea Billy Bookcases
The Heart Behind Every Project
This project was about more than just moving books—it was about honoring someone’s lifelong relationship with knowledge. We were proud to serve as both project managers and hands-on helpers, guiding the process from start to finish with sensitivity and care.
For our team, it was a powerful reminder that organization isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating spaces that reflect who people are and what matters most to them.
“This is a project that truly could never have happened without you and your coworkers. On so many levels what you did was exceptional, not the least of which you all were a pleasure to work with. We are endlessly appreciative. ”
Want to transform a space that feels overwhelming?
The House Finch helps Richmond-area families reclaim their homes with systems that work for their real lives—whether that means a full-home overhaul, a kitchen refresh, or a heartfelt library relocation like this one.
