1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, and how did you first discover the world of book nooks?
I’m 67, I just retired from a career in graphic design and production in fields including education publishing and music direct marketing. I also worked at the New York Times for a few years. I grew up in Chicago but have called Brooklyn, New York City, my home for many many years; I live with my cat Joey; my partner Jesse of 25 years raises a bit of an eyebrow at my hobby but he’s seen worse. This year I dived into Book Nook world on Facebook, setting up the Facebook group “Wooden Asia” to connect with other folks who share my own particular interests.
2. What was the very first book nook or miniature kit you built, and what do you remember most about it?
I built my first actual Book Nook in the fall of 2025, so it hasn’t taken that long to get totally immersed in a really enjoyable and satisfying hobby. My first kit was Fifijoy’s Voyage Through the Storm; I had just rewatched the entire Vikings TV series for the fourth time and was looking at Viking miniatures and 3D prints on the internet when I saw this Viking related 3D puzzle and I thought maybe this cool little diorama will sate my need for a Viking fix. I didn’t realize I was opening a much bigger door. It was a fun build though I was surprised at the 20th century lighthouse in the back.
3. What keeps you coming back to the hobby? What do you enjoy most about building?
When I was a little boy, I built a miniature Chinese town out of cut white paper and glue inside a 3-inch square plexiglass cube, and gave it to my mom. In the way of moms and their kids, she treasured this little box her entire life, and knowing how much it meant to her I saved it when she passed. Looking at this little box now, I realize it’s actually my first Asian Book Nook: I wanted to build little scenes of an area of the world I was fascinated by, and so I improvised. Somehow that slice of childhood imagination has stayed with me until I discovered actual Book Nooks, and a childhood dream turned into an adult avocation. While I’ve built many different kinds of kits, I have found myself specializing in these kits with Asian themes, and these are plentiful, if sometimes requiring detective work and persistence. I’ve lost count, by the way, of the total number of builds I’ve made, but it’s somewhere between 75 and 100 and I live in a tiny tiny apartment.
I love where Book Nooks take my imagination, and I love the experience of discovering them and watching them come together. The storytelling in the Asian kits really speaks to me. The methodical assembly is calming and focusing; I feel satisfaction and peace while the troubles of the world seem to melt away. And I really love learning manual skills and confidence when I thought I was done with all that.
4. How would you describe your building style in three words?
Addictive, analytical, involved
5. Which completed project are you most proud of, and why does it stand out?
I’m very proud of the rainstorm conversion I made and wrote about on this blog. And after assuming I was only prepared to do snap tab kits, I’m proud as heck at finishing “Jiangnan Water Alley,” a fiddly DIY dollhouse-style kit like the notorious Sea Breeze; I’ve started my second one of those (“Oriental Tales”) and I’m loving it.
6. Do you prefer building straight from the instructions or adding your own customisations? Can you share a favourite modification?
I love the flat-wood form of Book Nooks as an art form; I don’t need them to look like realistic dioramas. That said, I do enjoy playing with customization when the inspiration strikes, and am looking for more opportunities to well, build on what I’m building. I have a stockpile of building materials now!
7. What essential tools, glues or materials could you not live without?
I’m still settling on a favorite glue, but I love my Guangna acrylic paint markers. Somehow you can match any color, so they’re great for neatening up kits by coloring edges but also for coloring plain wood pieces.
8. Which manufacturer or designer consistently produces your favourite kits, and what makes them special?
I love Viendor kits for their detail and ambition, and Tonecheer for their commitment to really interesting concept builds. Cutebee and Joinco get honorable mention.
9. What’s the most challenging build you’ve ever tackled, and how did you overcome the difficult parts?
They get easier. I suspect some of the lighting challenges from earlier in my nooking wouldn’t phase me now. The big openable but not reclosable kit I wrote about on this blog is my most recent technical challenge, and so far a failure. I am looking at one of those gear-laden moving fantasy ships in my stash and wondering when I will feel ready to tackle that.
10. Have you ever had a build go completely wrong? What happened, and what did you learn from the experience?
One of my kits, Haunting Relics, totally collapsed while sitting on a shelf; I decided it was haunted. Which is easier on my ego than blaming my poor gluing and assembly skills. I rescued the lighting kit but threw out the wreckage. Taught me that everything can be a learning experience.
11. What tips would you give someone building their very first book nook?
Have faith in the process/follow instructions/be patient.
12. If you could improve one thing about today’s book nook kits, what would it be?
I worry the magical library books & stairways formula will be overexposed and bore people away. And I lament price increases.
13. Where do you find inspiration for your projects? Books, films, architecture, travel or somewhere else?
I’ve always been into Chinese culture and history so my attachment to Asian-themed nooks doesn’t shock me.
14. What techniques have you learned that instantly made your models look more realistic?
Edge-coloring; which ironically I find most effective on sets that start with poorer quality graphics.
15. Do you have a dedicated workshop or crafting space? We’d love to hear about your setup.
Before I retired, I worked from home for about six years, and my big old-fashioned oak desk has been gradually transitioning to my new focus. I could use a bigger space, but then my home is teensy.
16. If money and time were no object, what dream book nook would you love to create?
I have been playing with ChatGPT to develop some Book Nook concepts. I find the technology both exciting and terrifying. While I don’t feel totally equipped to actually engineer a Nook, I would love to work with designers at a manufacturer to realize some of my ideas, I think I’ve got some good, developable ones. I will attach one of them.
17. Which upcoming kit or project are you most excited about?
I have a kit coming called “Chinese Street View” that is a fiddly cut and paste kit. I will dive into it when I finish Oriental Tales. Also have a few rare Chinese kits arriving from the Chinese vendor Kingstora that I’m really curious about. Now that I’ve retired I find myself juggling several ongoing projects at a time.
18. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start designing their own original book nooks?
I have set my own reservations about AI aside to play with it, and the results are nothing short of miraculous. But I’ve also been trying to look at ways to transform existing kits into something more my taste/interest. My advice is that this hobby makes your creative juices flow, so just follow them.
19. What does the book nook community mean to you, and how has it influenced your hobby?
The best thing about living in a place like NYC is that there’s a place for everyone into anything and everything here; the worst thing is how urban alienation then keeps us apart. I enjoy how social media makes it possible to interact and build friendships with people who might not have geography in common but do share interests.
20. Finally, where can readers find you online, and is there anything exciting you’d like to share with the Book Nook Workshop community?
* Coffee or tea while building?
Coffee/day; tea night.
* Daytime or late-night builder?
Especially late night and mornings
* Tweezers or fingers?
Trying to learn better tweezer skills
* Warm white or coloured LEDs?
Warm white; still learning to play with color
* Your dream book nook theme in one word?
Legends
Ian’s reviews
Ian’s Wooden Asia Facebook Group
Copyright Book Nook Workshop 2026 – All rights reserved. (David Richards)
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