Reading nooks: 12 ways to create a reprieve in a hectic home

Rachel Klauber-Speiden, a former book editor in Manhattan, sits in her favorite nook in her yoga room in Santa Monica. Architects Erla Dogg Ingjaldsdottir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson of the firm name Minarc magnetized the back of the cushions so they can be moved up and down.  (Nancy Pastor / For The Times)

Lela Tillem settles into the reading nook off her bedroom, furnished with a tufted velvet settee bought in Palm Springs and a wall filled with books, gifts and the occasional flea market purchase later looked upon with regret.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Whether you’re hosting family or staying with friends, a reading nook can provide a great escape. Here, we offer a roundup of some designs, cozy places to curl up with a good book -- or nothing at all.  (Nancy Pastor / For The Times)

One nook of the large living room of Mark and Melinda Fay has been turned into its own sitting area, with an antique settee covered in floral Schumacher fabric and chartreuse thrift store chairs. Decorator Tamara Kaye-Honey painted the fireplace black to help the colorful pieces stand out.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Emmanuel Cobbet in the library nook of Marc Yeber’s historic Gable Arms apartment in West Hollywood.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The front window of architect John Frane’s Venice home serves as a full-size daybed in the library, allowing Frane to use the room for guests.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Reading nooks don’t have to be inside. Frane’s courtyard, once paved-over and occupied by cars and a clothesline, is now an important living space for Frane, his pets and his friends. A raised platform contains a soaking tub, a fountain and a fire pit.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

In the Venice home designed by architect-owners Jonathan Ward and Jin Ah Park, built-in bookcases accommodate the couple’s collections. The room acts as home office as well as drawing room for their son.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

In the kitchen of his duplex, Don Dimster designed a 12-foot-long upholstered bench with built-in end bookcase as a place to sit, work or linger over coffee. Dimster is pictured with wife Lisa, left, and sister-in-law Noreen.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)