As if a floor-to-ceiling wall of books isn?t enough to coax a wistful sigh from any bibliophile, this renovated 1950s home in Madrid tacks on a cozy, elevated hammock as a reading nook, accessible via library ladder. Spanish design firm Eque y Seta wanted to freshen up the formerly dated home for a modern-day family, making it lighter and brighter and adding a few fun features for kids and adults alike to enjoy.

While the living room hosts more traditional floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in dark wood tones, making hundreds of titles accessible to anyone who wants to lounge on the couch or take a seat at the dining table, the library has a youthful appeal enhanced by lots of natural light. Taking advantage of the double-height space, which might be awkwardly narrow for many other uses, the hammock simply consists of white mesh strung onto a metal frame, which is attached to the built-in bookcase.
Reading nooks tend to be dark and isolating, encouraging you to settle in with some blankets and maybe even a flashlight to take in all that tiny text. In contrast, this hammock feels connected to the room around it, yet no less inviting. Daylight streams in from the glass doors leading to a balcony, and an adjacent staircase offers access to a lofted bed under a spacious skylight.

The three rectangular floors of the home are arranged in a staggered stack, topped by gabled roofing, with the library on the third floor. The rest of the home continues this minimal yet comforting f...