Hello decoristas! With only one week left until Christmas, you may be looking for a few last minute gift ideas! If there is a decorista on your list, perhaps the following design and decor book suggestions will help you cross those names off your gift list. And you might find that perfect one for yourself too! I love decor books for a variety of reasons; they are beautiful to look through, provide inspiration and ideas and they are perfect for displaying on a coffee table, shelf or as part of a vignette. Some of my faves include:
Brian Gluckstein: The Art of Home (Brian Gluckstein, September 2018)
This beautiful hard cover book features a collection of homes that are luxurious, chic and livable. The homes depicted range from city to beach to chalet and the country and illustrate that From a stylish New York apartment and a tailored beach house to a timeless Aspen chalet and a refined country estate, these stunning homes reveal that well planned spaces are essential for every style and taste. The book also reveals that carefully combined statement pieces can create a beautiful, chic ambiance.
Inspired Design: The 100 Most Important Designers of the Pat 100 Years (Jennifer Boles, October 2018)
Most decor books feature the of one designer/decorator or one period, trend or room. Inspired Design features “the” names for the entire 100-year history of interior design. Each profile is accompanied by 3 to 4 photos of their best work and reinforces what we can learn from them as well as how they influenced and changed decorating forever. A delight and a way to understand the influences that shape our individual taste and style.
Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave (Joanna Gaines, November 2018)
In Homebody, Joanna Gaines walks you through the steps to create comfortable homes that reflect the personalities and stories of the people who live there. Using examples from her own as well as a range of other homes, her comprehensive guide will help you evaluate your priorities and instincts, as well as your likes and dislikes and provides practical steps for navigating and embracing your authentic design style. Going room by room, Joanna provides an in-depth look at how to implement these styles as well as blend the looks you are attracted to create distinctly personal spaces. The removable design template at the back of the book provides a step-by-step guide to planning and sketching out your own design plans and give you the confidence to create beautiful spaces in your own home.
French Accents: Farmhouse French Style for Today’s Home (Anita Joyce, March 2018)
Through stunning photos and tonnes of helpful design ideas, Anita illustrates and explains how to create inviting looks and spaces in which to welcome and entertain family and friends. Ideas are provided for beginner or experienced decorators and designers alike whose taste runs to French or Country French style. Joyce gives a step by step process for assessing your room prior to redecorating and then provides ideas for success whether you are approaching your update all at once or by small steps with one updated item at a time. Her helpful insights, tips and tricks will direct you to shopping sources for authentic French antiques, getting the best deals at auctions and how to re-purpose existing decor to give it a French flavour. Anita also provides tutorials for a variety of decor updates including making your own paint finishes or sewing slipcovers, for example. All of this fantastic info and guidance is of course supported with photos of beautiful French/French Country interiors that have used some of Anita’s techniques and those whose owners have stepped outside the lines to easily and comfortably blend French/French Country with their own style land taste.
Elements of Style: Designing a Home and a Life (Erin Gates, 2014)
While this book is a few years older than the others on the list, it provides a personal and practical decorating guide that illustrates how decorating your home can be an outlet of your own personal style. Erin describes the lessons she has learned in her years as an interior designer and shares disasters encountered during her own kitchen renovation (can you identify with that?!). She brings together honest design and decor advice with stunning photos, illustrations and personal stories.
The book is organized by the rooms in a house and is full of glamour and style as well as practical advice on matters ranging from selecting kitchen counter materials to dressing a bed with pillows, picking a sofa, and decorating a nursery without cartoon characters. An extensive Resource and Shopping Guide will provide an invaluable guide as you set out to update or completely redo your home.
I hope this list provides an idea or two for those last minute purchases and if you gift yourself, you will have beautiful books to read and dream over during the holidays – a perfect time for planning those spring updates!
I want to thank each and every one of you for your year of readership and support – I truly value your comments, input and feedback and look forward to sharing more exciting decor and design information, ideas and inspiration in 2020. And if there is a particular decor and design topic or issue you would like me to write about, send me an email and let me know!
Wishing you all the very best for a peaceful, relaxing holiday season and blessed new year.
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