By the Book: A NYC Office Gets a Makeover

Every office has that one sad spot that management pretends is “fine.” In this case, it was an entrywayaka the
first ten feet of your brand’s personalitylooking like it had been ghosted since the early days of dial-up.
When Remodelista’s New York editors began working in a shared office, they decided the neglected entrance needed
a makeover that felt smart, scrappy, and very New York. Their twist? They called in an artist known for turning
old books into wallpaper and gave the lobby a literal story to tell.

The result is the kind of design move that makes visitors pause, lean in, and read the wall (politely, we hope).
It’s part feature wall, part conversation starter, and part reminder that “sustainable” doesn’t have to look like
a beige lecture. Let’s unpack what makes this makeover workand how you can steal the idea without turning your
office into a glue-scented craft fair.

The Remodelista “Makeover Plot”: A Bookish Wall That Acts Like a Welcome Mat

The makeover focused on transforming a tired entry into something memorable with minimal fuss and maximum
character. The team enlisted Johnne Eschleman (an artist associated with the nearby Ace Hotel New York), whose
specialty is repurposing discarded dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other books into wall installations.
For this project, he used pages from a vintage illustrated dictionary with a broken spine, applying them with a
simple wheat paste so the wall became a browsable collage of text and imagery.

The charm isn’t just “ooh, vintage paper.” It’s the feeling that the space is alive with detaillines of text,
small illustrations, imperfect edgeslike a library exploded in the best possible way and decided to stay put.
Eschleman’s philosophy is refreshingly practical, too: making one-of-a-kind work from castoffs, with a lighter
footprint. (Translation: design that doesn’t require you to sacrifice a forest or your paycheck.)

Why Office Entryways Matter More Than People Admit

The office entrance does three jobs at once: it calms nerves (for visitors), sets expectations (for clients), and
signals culture (for employees). If it feels chaotic, cold, or confusing, people carry that “ugh” energy inside.
If it feels intentionalwarm lighting, clear flow, a strong focal pointeveryone relaxes a notch.

First impressions are a design system, not a throw pillow

A great entryway is basically hospitality design in business casual. You want people to immediately know:
“Where do I go?”, “Who do I talk to?”, and “Am I welcome here?” Feature walls help because they create instant
orientation. Even if a visitor can’t describe your brand, they’ll remember “the office with the book wall,” which
is honestly better than being remembered as “the one with the sad fake plant.”

Small spaces need big clarity

NYC offices aren’t famous for sprawling foyers. Often, you get a narrow corridor, a tight vestibule, or a lobby
that has to multitask as reception, waiting area, and mail drop. That’s why a high-impact surface treatment
(like book-page wallpaper) is so effective: it changes the whole experience without needing more square footage.

The “Book Wall” Look: Why It Works (Even If You Don’t Own a Single Hardcover)

Book-page walls succeed because they combine texture, pattern, and meaning. Pattern gives energy. Texture adds
warmth. Meaning creates emotional stickinesspeople connect it to curiosity, learning, storytelling, and craft.
In a world of generic office finishes, it reads as human.

It’s maximalist… but also monochrome

Here’s the trick: printed pages are visually busy up close, yet calm from a distance because they sit in a tight
color range (off-white, tan, black ink). That makes them a rare “maximalism for minimalists” win. You get drama
without neon chaos.

It doubles as micro-branding

A book wall quietly signals values: thoughtfulness, creativity, sustainability, maybe even a sense of humor.
It’s brand storytelling without forcing your logo to do all the emotional labor.

How to Create a Book-Page Feature Wall That Looks Intentional

If you’re considering a “by the book” office makeover, the goal is to make it feel designednot like you lost a
fight with a scrapbook. Below is a practical approach that balances art, durability, and the realities of an
actual workplace.

Step 1: Source pages responsibly (and choose the right kind of book)

• Best candidates: damaged dictionaries, outdated manuals, encyclopedias with broken bindings, or incomplete volumes.
• Avoid: rare books, sentimental heirlooms, or anything that feels historically significant.
• Office-friendly pick: illustrated reference booksimages break up text and add visual rhythm.

Step 2: Plan a layout so the wall reads as one composition

Decide your “pattern logic” before glue enters the chat. Options that look polished:

• Grid-ish overlap: pages aligned with slight overlap (clean, architectural).
• Collage drift: angled pages for a more artful, studio vibe (harder to execute well).
• Ombre aging: lighter pages high, darker pages low (subtle, surprisingly modern).

Pro tip: keep margins consistent. Your eyes love consistency even when your brain claims to love “random.”

Step 3: Prep the wall like you mean it

A great feature wall starts with boring prep. Patch holes, sand rough areas, clean dust, and prime if needed so
paste adheres evenly. In offices, it’s also wise to think about long-term maintenance: scuffs, fingerprints, and
the occasional rolling suitcase that treats corners like speed bumps.

Step 4: Pick an adhesive strategy that fits your space

Wheat paste (or wheat starch paste) is the classic move for paper-based installations because it’s simple and
widely used for paper applications. That said, offices introduce extra considerations:

• Ventilation: keep air moving during installation and drying.
• Humidity: if your lobby gets muggy (hello, summer subway air), seal the wall or use a more durable wallcovering system.
• Code and safety: commercial interiors may require fire-rated wallcoverings and compliant materialstalk to building management.

Step 5: Install in calm, repeatable moves

• Work from a plumb vertical line so the whole wall doesn’t slowly “tilt into chaos.”
• Apply paste thinly and evenly to prevent bubbles and soggy paper.
• Smooth gently from center outward; don’t overwork pages or you’ll tear edges.
• Trim around outlets and moldings carefully for a built-in look.

Step 6: Protect the finish for real office life

A book wall in a hallway will get touched. Consider a clear, low-odor protective topcoat designed for wall
surfaces (and compatible with paper). Test first on a small areasome coatings can darken paper or make ink bleed.
If you can’t coat it, plan for easier repairs: keep extra pages on hand and treat scuffs as “patina,” not tragedy.

Design Add-Ons That Make the Makeover Feel Like a Whole Chapter, Not a Single Paragraph

The book wall is the star, but supporting characters matter. If you want the space to feel truly “finished,”
pair the feature wall with a few high-leverage upgrades.

Lighting: flatter the wall, don’t interrogate it

Use layered lighting: ambient to keep the area bright, and accent lighting to bring out paper texture. Avoid harsh
glare that makes the wall look shiny or tired. If the entry is near windows, position furniture and screens to
minimize reflections and eye strain.

Wayfinding: make it obvious where humans should go

A beautiful entryway still needs basic clarity. Add signage that’s legible and kind (not “WELCOME VISITORS” in a
font that screams “corporate hostage note”). A small console for mail, a tray for deliveries, and a clear path to
reception keep the space functional.

Acoustics: because echo is not a personality trait

Many office lobbies are hard-surfaced echo chambers. Add a rug runner, upholstered seating, or acoustic panels
disguised as art so the space feels calmer. If your office is open-plan beyond the lobby, even small acoustic
improvements can reduce distractions and make the overall environment feel more focused.

Sustainability That Looks Good (and Doesn’t Smell Like a Science Project)

This makeover hits a sweet spot: reuse materials, reduce waste, and still land a high-end look. If you want to
stay aligned with that spirit:

• Choose low-emitting materials (adhesives, paints, sealants) when possible.
• Ventilate during installation and give the space time to off-gas before big meetings.
• Use what already exists: damaged books, leftover frames, repurposed furniture, and salvage finds.

Bonus: eco-conscious design is easier to maintain when it’s built from practical decisions, not guilt-driven shopping.

Variations on the Theme: “By the Book” Without Covering a Whole Wall

Want the vibe but not the full commitment? Here are office-friendly alternatives:

1) Framed page gallery

Frame pages from the same book (or a curated mix) in identical frames for a clean, graphic look. It’s easier to
update, and you can swap pages seasonallybecause yes, your lobby can have a “summer reading list” era.

2) Inside-the-built-ins wallpaper

Line the back of open shelving with pages for a pop of detail that’s visible but protected from constant touch.
This works especially well behind reception storage or a waiting nook bookcase.

3) Removable wallpaper that mimics text

If your lease is strict, removable wallcoverings can create a similar “print texture” with easier removal.
You’ll lose some authenticity, but you’ll keep your security depositarguably the most artistic choice of all.

Conclusion: A Better Entryway Is a Better Workday

Remodelista’s “By the Book” office makeover is a reminder that the smallest areas can carry the biggest impact.
A neglected entryway isn’t just an aesthetic problemit’s a missed opportunity to welcome people, express culture,
and create calm. By turning a broken-spined dictionary into a feature wall, the makeover blends storytelling,
sustainability, and smart design into one approachable idea.

If you’re planning your own NYC office makeover (or any office refresh), start with the entrance. Improve the
lighting, soften the acoustics, clear the flow, and add one bold element with meaning. Whether you go full book
wall or choose a lighter variation, the goal is the same: make the first chapter of your office feel worth reading.

Experience Notes: What Office Teams Learn After Doing a “Book Wall” Makeover (Extra )

The most surprising part of a book-page wall isn’t the installationit’s how people behave afterward. In many
offices, the entryway is a “pass-through zone,” a place where nobody lingers unless they’re waiting for an
elevator or trying to find a package that mysteriously became “delivered” but not “present.” A book wall flips
that behavior. People slow down. Visitors ask questions. New hires stop and read a paragraph like they’re testing
whether your company is secretly a literary salon. Even introverts will point at a weird illustration and say,
“Okay, that’s cool,” which is basically the workplace version of a standing ovation.

Teams also learn that “random” is harder than it looks. At first, the temptation is to slap pages up like a
collage and call it creative. But in real spacesespecially narrow NYC hallwaystiny inconsistencies become
obvious. A page that’s slightly crooked will glare at you forever. Overlap lines create shadows under certain
lighting. And once you see one misalignment, you’ll see it every time you walk in, like a typo in a headline.
The fix is unsexy but effective: snap a vertical reference line, keep your margins consistent, and install in
batches so you can step back and check the “read” from a distance. Design is often just patience wearing good
shoes.

Another real-world lesson: content matters. Old dictionaries and encyclopedias are fascinating, but they can also
contain outdated terms, odd definitions, or imagery that doesn’t reflect modern values. In a private home, that’s
a personal choice. In an office, it’s part of the environment you’re asking everyone to share. Smart teams pre-sort
pages: they keep the best typography and illustrations, skip anything questionable, and intentionally mix in
“neutral” pages so the wall stays visually consistent. Think of it like editing: you’re curating a vibe, not
publishing the full manuscript.

Maintenance is the other big surprise. Lobbies are high-touch zones. People drag rolling bags, lean while texting,
and bump corners with delivery boxes like it’s their side quest. Teams that love their book walls plan for
touch-ups the way you plan for printer ink: you don’t want an emergency when a deadline hits. Keep a small
envelope of matching pages, a tiny brush, and the right adhesive on hand. Also: establish a “no wet cleaning”
rule unless the wall is sealed. A well-meaning wipe-down can turn paper into pulp faster than you can say,
“Facilities, please don’t.”

The best outcome, though, is cultural. A book wall becomes an icebreaker that doesn’t require forced small talk.
Clients comment on it. Employees point out their favorite page. Someone inevitably starts a mini tradition like
“quote of the week” or a rotating display of recommended reads on a nearby shelf. In a city where offices can
feel transient and generic, a wall made from real pages gives a space a sense of placelike it couldn’t exist
anywhere else. That’s the magic: a small makeover that quietly tells everyone who walks in, “We pay attention.”