Space of Week: This Cozy, Under-the-Stairs Reading Nook Maximizes Unused Space

Bria Hammel, the CEO and creative director of a namesake interior design firm, has a straightforward yet demanding philosophy whenever she and her team take on a new project. "It's important for us to create unique and unexpected moments throughout an entire home," she says. So when a couple in Middleton, Wis. asked for that mindset to transform their young family's house into a functional and photogenic retreat, it was as if they knew Hammel would be up for the challenge.

"Much like myself, they had a strong attraction to Southern, preppy style," she says. "Inspiration was effortless for my team and our clients, particularly when it came to the inviting blue exterior with the wraparound porch and hanging swings."

Inside, the collaboration continued with the same penchant for naturally inspired shades of open sky, white clouds, floral pinks, and pops of green, which travel from a great room to a kitchen to a playroom. "We aimed for the welcoming elements of color, pattern, and texture to be noticeable from the moment anyone stepped through the front door," Hammel says.

But as they tied everything together, Hammel and her team noticed that there was a rather plain element that stood out. "We knew the lower level in this home had to be extra special," she says. "Typically lower levels tend to have underutilized space, and we wanted to do the opposite of that."

The stairs curved in a calming spiral, which left enough square footage for the team to imagine a character-enhancing bookcase made to mimic the slight swirl. They pictured a small banquet underneath that could seat multiple people, and shelves that would provide storage as well as a place to display the family's personality. And when this design came to life, they also had a solution for finishing it off. "We paired the bookcases's airiness with bright green accents, and added tennis rackets to show their passion for sports," Hammel continues. "Customizing a curved built-in bench and bookcase made a great spot for the kiddos to curl up and read or play board games," Hammel says.

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