Karl Lagerfeld Has Arranged His Floor-to-Ceiling Library Sideways

Iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld does things differently than the rest of us–even with something as ordinary as a bookshelf. The creative director of Fendi and Chanel has a massive collection of publications that stack from the floor to the ceiling. Although we've previously seen some impressive solutions for displaying a large library, Lagerfeld manages to be unconventional without overthinking it: he simply stacks the hundreds of books horizontally rather than vertically.

Lagerfeld's rows and rows of books line the walls of his home, requiring a catwalk to access the upper parts of the stacks. Because of their landscape orientation, he doesn't have to tilt his head to read the titles, meaning he can breeze towards the book that he really wants.

The horizontal piling looks dramatic, especially paired with the minimalist decor and modern furniture. It does, however, present a logistical issue: if Lagerfeld wants a book on the bottom of the stack, he has to pull it out against the weight of what's on top. This minor inconvenience, however, seems like a small price to pay for an awe-inspiring arrangement.

Karl Lagerfeld: Website
via [The Khool, Core77]

Photography by Piotr Stoklosa.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits