ORC Spring 2026 Week 8 * Reveal * | 'A Reading Nook is Born’
We've finally have arrived at week 8 of the One Room Challenge for Spring 2026 with our main media sponsor Apartment Therapy.
As many have been following along with my journey of refurbishing my Ranch home, I have been designing out a more functional living space in my Great Room. Please look at my previous posts if you need to catch up...
For this mini-challenge, I tackled one main feature wall of this open-concept living space, the fireplace wall, and created 3 zones that are used each and every day! I redesigned one of the corners and dedicated it to a Reading Nook! The other corner on the other side of the fireplace housed the flat screen viewing area. And of course there was the fireplace and mantel, which displays seasonal decor and provides warmth from the gas burning logs. I am very delighted how it all turned out!! have a look—
…And in case you need to turn the page back to where it all started, this is the before—
Here is also the original render I worked off of that I created for the Seasonal Living, first ever, virtual design contest! As you can see, it is a photorealistic render, one of the first of its kind, back in 2022-
Elements
Floating shelves
I am ecstatic how the wood floating shelves fit perfectly against the deep chimney chute. Their chunky 2 inch thickness really add a contemporary feel to the room. I love the way they blend in with the solid Canadian pine wood mantle. They also display different accent pieces and are strong enough to hold a good many books!
Cozy Wing Chair
The boucle textured fabric in a cocoa colorway has a very serene, inviting feel to it. The Edgar chair is the perfect spot to curl up into with its wide seat and laid back structure. It is also very stable with its iron legs. A lumbar pillow rest neatly to accent it!
Reading Lamp
For a small space this, this 'Jonathan Y' LED floor model fits neatly in this tight corner. It is constructed from metal and the copper shade ties in with the other fixtures already installed in the home and adds a modern touch to the space!
Drink Table
While there are an infinite amount of drink tables in the market to choose from, I ultimately chose one with a black marble top and black iron twist base to add some whimsy to the themed reading nook. It is very solid and won’t tilt over accidentally.
Functionality
A substantial and needed piece of furniture that was previously invested in was the media console crafted by BDI. It has served us well these last couple of years and was always considered a vital part of the design aesthetic for this feature wall in the Great room! The wheat fronted design ties in well with the earthy feel of this room and quite frankly sets the stage for this home. The overhead floating shelf adds to this ‘media’ zone, and the newly purchased flat screen wall mount extends for a variety of viewing angles. This will give us the flexibility we need when viewing from the left facing sectional and can tuck away flat against the wall when not viewing. Also, this new set-up will free up space atop the console and provide a clutter-free space.
The main room of the house now has plenty of storage and display space that was not previously there. And clutter was starting to accumulate on surfaces all around. Now I can display seasonal greenery or flowers and unique art. Also having some current reading material in view will be a great reminder to catch up on things I’ve been meaning to!
Best for Last!
The fireplace has always been the main focal point of this ranch’s great room. We hand chose the ‘Prairie Wheat Slate’ because of its beautiful texture that speaks for itself. And its light earthy tone complements all the other elements in the home. I enjoy to this day, decorating its mantle and celebrating the changing seasons.
Now, I truly hope these past One Room Challenges have inspired you to tackle your own projects large or small. Sift through some of the other participants projects for some more inspiration. To set up a consult or to shop the products in this post, visit DebSoChic.com to bring your ideas to life!
...from the light of my home to yours,
* Deb *
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