Woman Turns Spare Room Into Dream Disney Library, Not Ready for Result
Having loved the Disney classic since she was 4, Erika Mathews told Newsweek that it "only made sense" to use it as inspiration.
Erika Mathews, a 38-year-old mother of two, transformed an unused room in her Colorado home into a dream library inspired by the classic Disney film Beauty and the Beast. The spare room served no purpose initially, but Mathews decided it would be perfect for a library after much contemplation. Loving mystery novels from her youth, including the works of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, Mathews chose the palatial library from the 1991 movie as her inspiration.
To achieve the desired look, Mathews stripped the room of its original design elements like the popcorn ceiling, wallpaper, chair rail molding, and flooring. She then proceeded to install the bookshelves, an artificial fireplace, and a window with a stained-glass design featuring a red rose. The most challenging aspects of the project were the ceiling wallpaper and gold leaf on the molding.
The entire renovation process took two months and cost around $5,000. Mathews, who works full-time and has two children, dedicated her weekends to the project. The final result, complete with moldings, a watercolor ceiling, and a gold chandelier, was documented extensively on social media. Mathews shared her progress with her followers on Instagram (@the.elm.house), garnering hundreds of thousands of views.
The final touches included a yellow lace gown, a candelabra, and an antique clock. Now, Mathews can enjoy her new library, surrounded by an extensive collection of antique books.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
