Let the room-makeover dreams begin
1. Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired by Literature
By Lisa Borgnes Giramonti
Potter Style, $35; Dec. 2
Author Lisa Borgnes Giramonti brings a unique vision to this book: She sets out six design aesthetics, each with its own chapter and each inspired by a distinct set of literary classics. Then, within each chapter are beautiful rooms that embody those aesthetics, paired with quotes from authors in a narrative that easily mixes design and literary references, tips and topics, that can help with your own home decorating. For example, in the chapter “Shall I Put the Kettle On?” are cozy, comforting spaces a la The Secret Garden, Little Women and The Wind in the Willows, as well as thoughts about naming your house, the beauty of disorder and the delight of mismatched dining chairs. Other chapters range from “Living au Naturel” (handmade, rustic looks, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights) to “Anything Goes” (art, ideas and people celebrated in a bohemian Out of Africa and I Capture the Castle way).
2. Sarah Style: An Inspiring Room-by-Room Guide to Designing Your Perfect Home
By Sarah Richardson
Gallery Books, $26; Nov. 4
Toronto-based HGTV star Sarah Richardson is the host of four series on the network, including Sarah’s House and Sarah 101. Here, she brings her contemporary sensibilities to a 368-page book packed with ideas and inspiration. The publishers call this a “little black book of style solutions,” and while it is filled with beautiful shots of interiors, it is much more tips-driven than the other books on this list. As the subtitle suggests, the chapters are organized by space: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, Master Bedrooms, Guest Rooms, Family Rooms, Work Spaces, and Kids Areas.
3. Veranda A Passion for Living: Houses of Style and Inspiration
By Carolyn Englefield
Hearst, $60; Oct. 7
Media behemoth Hearst publishes, among many other magazines, the aspirational and glossy Veranda. This book from Carolyn Englefield, who was Veranda’s European editor for 13 years, takes a look at 30 luxurious homes in that region, from Scandinavia to Tuscany to the Alps. The 288-page book includes chapters on The Art of Imperfection, Personal Style, Color and Sense of Place. Englefield notes that the people of these countries tend to create a design sensibility that embraces combining diverse elements — expensive and inexpensive; contemporary and traditional — in relaxed yet elegant spaces. By focusing on passion and personality, Englefield’s examples help readers see how this sensibility can carry over into their own unique homes.
4. Robert Couturier: Designing Paradises
By Tim McKeough
Rizzoli, $60
This is the first monograph of international architect and designer Robert Couturier, who was born in France but set up his firm in New York City in 1987. Known for mixing Old World elegance with contemporary design, he says the key to success is to show “confidence, playfulness and humor.” In his introduction, he writes of his enthusiasm for collecting everything from 17th-century silver to Tibetan rugs and declares that he is “addicted to luxury.” The first part of the book takes a look at the designer’s estate in Kent, Conn., and his 2,500-square-foot apartment over his offices in Manhattan. The second part of the book is devoted to projects for clients, including a Mexican retreat, city apartments (divided into chapters on classic and modern) and an English retreat.
5. Jean-Louis Deniot: Interiors
By Diane Dorrans Saeks
Rizzoli, $65
This is the first book on young French designer Jean-Louis Deniot, who is bit of a supernova on the international scene. Showcasing 18 projects with 250 photos, chapters are devoted to the Left Bank, Right Bank, Paris Weekends (the French countryside), French Style in America and an interview with the designer called “Inside the Mind and Method of Jean-Louis Deniot, “ which delves into his favorite sources and inspirations. His sense of history comes into play in both the architectural details of spaces and the furniture and decor. His spaces mix iconic pieces from various eras with one-off flea market items or even an Ikea throw, creating a surprising and delightful cohesion.
6. Simplicity
By Nancy Braithwaite
Rizzoli, $50; Oct. 21
“There is nothing simple about it, “ writes Atlanta-based Nancy Braithwaite, explaining her concept of “simplicity,” which is both her signature approach to interior design and the title of her first book. Braithwaite is known for creating spaces that are strong but spare, luxurious but minimalist. The 296-page book is filled to the brim with breathtaking images of both interior and exterior spaces, but it also provides a thought-provoking narrative that helps readers understand the principles that work together to pack a powerful visual punch. Simply divided into four chapters — My Elements of Style, Country, Classic and Contemporary — this is a book that will not only look beautiful on the coffee table but also will provide hours of serious contemplation about architecture and composition, as well as color, pattern and texture and the incorporation of art and crafts.