Parlors and Libraries...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
April 30, 2008 8:39am CST
Most older homes had parlors and libraries in them. I’ve seen them in movies and read about them in books. A parlor was a room generally near the front door that had a sofa and chairs and generally when someone would come to visit they’d be shown into the parlor, seated and offered a cup of tea while they waited to see who they had come to visit. A library was generally wall to wall bookshelves, a few tables and a few comfortable chairs where one could read or do research or study.
I don’t know of any homes that have either of these rooms anymore. Of course some homes have bookcases…usually in the living room or office but not like the old ones. I wonder why they don’t. I would love to have one whole room set up as a library. As much as I love to read it would be great.
Have you ever had a parlor or library? Do you still? Would you have one if you had the room for it? Why do you think you don’t see them much anymore?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
12 people like this
26 responses
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
21 May 08
I've always loved the thought of having a library in my home. I think it would be great. I have enough books to make up a small library so it would be great. I'd love to have a nice private space I could go and read and not be bothered. Too many times here I'm trying to read a book and someone always has to come in and start talking to me which definitely throws me off.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
1 May 08
A few years ago, after my kids all grew up and moved into their own houses, I decided to turn one of the bedrooms into a library/music room. I'm not finished with it, because I want to buy some furniture, and I'm not sure what to get. My daughter said she would come and help me paint and hang pictures next month, so maybe I'll finish it then. It's not like the old time libraries, but it still feels like a library to me. I have a few shelves of books I haven't read yet.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Apr 08
I always wanted a library and it was only in rich people's places, I have never known anyone to have a library wall to wall, and my own place is 80 years old, but it is not a rich person's home it is a working class district. Parler I don't remember, we have what is called in montreal as a double parlor, one part is a bedroom and the other is a living room which used to be referred to as the parlour hence the name double parlor. There is no doors separating the two rooms and there is only one window for the two of them.
1 person likes this
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
21 May 08
I would love to have a library in my home. It's too bad many homes are focused around the tv because I think that's the reason why parlors and libraries don't really exist anymore. Or a consirvitory. I would love to have one of those and they don't exist anymore either.
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Contemporary lifestyles don't include people dropping by for tea. It is really rare that anyone just drops in anymore. And most Americans don't read much. In fact, I just saw an article showing the top ten countries for reading books and I don't think America made the list!
I know people that haven't read an entire book since they finished school. That is really hard for me to imagine. I've always got at least one book being read, sometimes two or three. It would be hard for me if I couldn't get books to read. I will admit that I get several audio books a month from the library. But mostly I listen to them in the car.
We have bookcases all over the house and there are still some books piled on the floor. I'm in the process of trying to get rid of ones we don't plan to read again just to clear away the clutter. If we had all our books in one room I'm sure we could fill a library!
@KKKBsmom (1092)
• United States
1 May 08
I would love to have both! LOL... or a tv room, play room, and guest room type.. lol
we have a wall with book shelves.... that we put in... but it would be nice to have the library... FULL
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
1 May 08
I have never even had the chance to go into a home with a library/parlor like that. I would so love to have one of my own. I already have enough books to fill at least one wall from floor to ceiling. And if given the chance, I'm sure I could fill up the rest of it with no problem. I think we don't see them anymore because the newer homes just aren't made that way anymore. It would be nice if they would bring that style back.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
1 May 08
No !! my parlor is my living room and my Library is my bookcases in my living room...LoL....They do have older ,more expensive homes in some parts of town that do have a Library and Parlor but they are very upper class places, mostly for the well to do or upper crust....I have seen them but no i am not one of the ones that has these 2 rooms....
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
1 May 08
The reason why we don't see libraries in ppl homes anymore is cause they made whole building into libraries where ppl can check out all the books they want and then bring them back. In a normal-sized house, there is no room for parlors and libraries either. Will only find them in the humongous homes now.
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
1 May 08
I'd love a library. I would love to have a room dedicated just to the books, and a place to read. But houses these days just don't have enough rooms.
There are 3 adult women in my household. We each have a room of our own. The front room, normally the "livingroom" is my work space, the converted garage is the media room, and will hopefully soon be used at the roomie's workspace for working at home, but first we have to reorganize it since the 3rd roomie has been using it as an addition space for her stuff (and organized we aren't.)
then there's the kitchen, where's the space for anything else?
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
20 May 08
If I had the money to build my own house, I would be having an old fashioned styled one, with modern conveniences of course.
I love old houses, they are so full of history and often much more aesthetically pleasing than the modern houses.
A big old fashioned library would be must! I love my books, even if I collect more than I read! The inbuilt shelves are so much more practical when you have kids!
A parlour would be nice too. Except, I would have it so that it was where the morning sun flooded and use it as a breakfast room. Ah yes, sitting there having a cuppa and toast while basking in the sun really sounds good. What a way to start the day!
@ruby222 (4847)
•
1 May 08
I dont know anyone with a front parlor Twoey,but like you i think that its a brilliant idea,if you have the room.it must be lovelyt to have a room set by that stays exactly as you put it,and you can keep it looking pretty etc,there are a lot of people who would say that it a waste of a room ,but i think the idea is great.The victorians were great believers in parlors,the potted plants on the lace covered tables and the heavy ornate curtains,and lots of fussy ornaments.My Gran had a front room that was only used on special occasions,it had a massive old leather three piece suite in it,and a tea trolley with china tortoises sat on it,and a high sideboard cupboard.But i dont think that you would ever have caaled it a parlor.
@katbalu102 (377)
• Philippines
1 May 08
it is nice to have a parlor and libraries in the house. for me it makes the house more charming. its so 'english' if i may say so and so elegant. i also want one in my 'dream home' lol. but today i feel that it isnt really very useful. houses these days when you open a door it would lead to a living room and thats where the guests would wait. right? the house might not sell to a lot of people. but then again it might. its a 50/50 thing. if people would want to have libraries and parlors it would be better if they build it themselves when the house is theirs right? they could be the ones deciding what goes where and etc.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
30 Apr 08
These rooms are so romantic and are a lovely idea. I think that most newer homes are with out them because they another room to upkeep. My grandsons best friends parents have such a room and their home is a fairly new one too. I would say built in the last 15 or 20 years. She keeps her doll collection in it.
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
1 May 08
What would be my parlor, if I had one, is on its way to being my home office. A parlor would be much more genteel. I could, and should make a library. I have books everywhere. It would be great to have a room just for them, all to themselves, and a place to read them. If I get around to doing it ever, I will send you a picture
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
1 May 08
Older homes use to have the shelves built into the walls and they were very sturdy. They don't usually build shelves into walls these days. And the rooms are usually a lot smaller in the homes they build today. I don't currently have a library in my home, but maybe one day I can make one of my spare rooms into a library. I just wish I had time to read the many books that I have collected and not been able to read.
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
1 May 08
I would love to have one and have it filled with books, chairs and tables.. I believe this is the Victorian era that you are talking about or it sounds like it.. People didn't have computers, video games or big screen tv back then and reading was the choice of entertainment.. It probably is comparable to the TV rooms of today.. There is no way that I would have room for one, but would love to have one anyway..
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
1 May 08
I would love to have a Library and if i ever have another home built to my likes it would have one like in the movies where i would climb a staircase to get to the top...
I feel the reason they aren't made anymore is because people want a family room or rec room to do activities in..reading they mostly do in their own rooms now.
@shannonjyl (421)
• Canada
30 Apr 08
hi twoey68, we bought our home 2 years ago because it has a grand parlor. the house is over one hundred years old and needs a lot of work. we call it our money pit. we moved out of our 5 bedroom new home for this one. it does not have all the bells and whistles of a new home but we all can fit into the parlor and be a family. we have been entertaining a lot and love it! we had to buy this home because of this grand feature. new homes now seemed to be geared for smaller families. i just swept the parlor and made a batch of margaretias for tonight entertainment! a great addition to the this room is a great selection of books , both old and new!
