Stacked

As English writer G. K. Chesterton once declared, "A room without books is like a body without a soul." As we previously explored in Shelf Life, these five homeowners from Japan to Barcelona each have carved out a sweet place for their beloved tomes. Slideshow

This freestanding shelving designed by Miralles holds yet more tomes from the family’s prodigious collection. Irregularly placed tilework on the floor follows the trajectory of the sun’s rays as it travels across the room. Photo by: Gunnar Knechtel