In Columbus, Ohio, a one-of-a-kind home has been dubbed a “book lover’s dream” as it hit the market with more than 7,000 books in floor-to-ceiling shelves.
Located at 43-45 W. Markison Ave., the home was conceived and built by Guy Marshall, a local designer and builder. Though it looks like a historic mansion, the Book House is actually a brand-new construction, designed to resemble a historic home.
“The book house is actually a brand-new construction, built entirely from the ground up—but designed to feel timeless,” Marshall told Newsweek. “It’s filled with vintage installations, antiques, and old-world craftsmanship to give it a truly historic character.”
The idea for the book-lined design evolved organically. “The book theme kind of evolved because it’s such a big building,” Marshall said. With nearly 5,000 square feet of interior space and 12-foot ceilings, he was faced with vast blank walls, until inspiration struck.
“I thought, what can I do to make it unique but not cost too much? So we stick-built all of the Murphy beds and card catalogs and 12-foot floor-to-ceiling bookshelves by hand,” he said. “The books came from a reseller at a moderate price. That was the way to line the walls—and it kind of became the theme of the building.”
The home incorporates books into nearly every design element and is currently being used as a short-term rental that can sleep up to 24 guests.
While the Book House looks like a centuries-old structure, its build quality is modern. Marshall used masonry construction instead of wood framing.
“It’s built out of 100 percent masonry construction,” he said. “All the bricks are brick on the inside, all the way through the outside of the building. It’s like built like a bomb shelter.”
Instead of traditional bricks, the team used dyed and treated blocks designed to mimic antique brickwork.
“We dyed each individual block different colors and did a really messy mortar,” Marshall said. “It’s exactly identical in form and function to brick, but much more resilient and cost-effective.”
Now, the Book House is listed for sale with an asking price of $1.689 million. But Marshall said deciding to sell the home was a difficult choice.
“I put it out there just because I have another big project, but I wouldn’t mind keeping it,” he added. “I’ve found that I really love being in the hospitality industry. I’ve met so many cool people through hosting guests.”
“It’s been a labor of love. I did it because I’m so passionate about design and materials—and I hope it shows.”