design books Archives

Winter Design Books

I am always looking for new design books to add to my collection, and this year some great new titles have been released.

Interior design books are much more than a source of inspiration for me. They’re a valuable resource, too. I am always looking for new books to add to my collection, and this year some great new titles have been released. It’s always fascinating to read about another designer’s approach to a project or to see an interior take shape from another perspective. I never get tired of looking at beautiful photos in a well done design book!

Any of these books would make a great holiday or hostess gift.

Here are my picks for design books.

1. Carrier and Company: Positively Chic Interiors

2. Jeffrey Bilhuber: American Master

3. Mrs. Howard, Room by Room

4. Greg Natale: The Tailored Interior

5. Mark A. Hutker: A Sense of Place: Houses on Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod

6. Brian J. McCarthy and Bunny Williams: Parrish-Hadley Tree of Life

7. Michael S. Smith: The Curated House: Creating Style, Beauty, and Balance

8. John Ike, Thomas A. Kligerman, Joel Barkley, Marc Kristal: The New Shingled House

9. John Barman: Interior Design

10. The High Line

11. Paul Vincent Wiseman: Inner Spaces

Spring Design Books

Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect.

Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect. I am always keeping an eye out for new releases that might be full of inspiration. While design books are an investment for me, they make great coffee table books for anyone interested in interior design. Here are a few new books I can’t wait to browse through.

Windsor Smith, Homefront: Design for Modern Living

Charlotte Moss, Garden Inspirations

Anouska Hempel, Ansouska Hempel

Nicki Haslam, A Designer’s Life

New Design Books

Over the weekend, I picked up three great new design books.

Over the weekend, I picked up three great new design books. I can’t wait to delve more deeply into them!

The first one is Suzanne Kasler: Timeless Style. This is her second book and it beautifully demonstrates her skill at creating layered interiors with wonderful details.

I also bought Simply Serene by Thomas Pheasant. He has such a sophisticated way of designing!

The third book I added to my collection is Tom Scheerer Decorates. Tom Scheerer has such a relaxed approach to his interiors, illustrating a well-lived life with so many layers.

Have you discovered any must-have design books lately?

Cover image via Burlap and Crystal

S.R. Gambrel

One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995.

One of my favorite design firms, New York-basked S.R. Gambrel, was founded by Steven Gambrel in 1995. Gambrel studied architecture at the University of Virginia and has had his designs featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House and Garden, New York Magazine, and many others. He also recently published his first book featuring his own design projects titled Steven Gambrel: Time and Place.

time and place — Steven Gambrel: Time and Place

S.R. Gambrel’s designs are bold and masculine with no reservations. His work’s unexpected grandeur comes from a flair for pulling elements together. He uses an eclectic mix of pieces for dynamic results. I’ve found that seeing things from Gambrel’s architectural view makes me a better designer.

steven gambrel design — A great combination of colors in this Southampton space.

Steven Gambrel’s incredible interiors often include his own custom designed furniture, rugs, and lighting. He carries his love of modern married with traditional to his furnishings. Gambrel’s designs show careful attention to the impact of details. Each piece could be an antique or found item. Urban Electric recently launched a collaboration with Steven Gambrel featuring a collection that celebrates hand-made American craftsmanship. The line is elegant and modern with pieces that are functional and practical but still exhibit interesting scale and attention to detail.

gambrel malplaquet lighting — Malplaquet by S.R. Gambrel for Urban Electric

grayfoy pendant — The Grayfoy pendant by S.R Gambrel – The hand-blown violet glass is subtle yet so sophisticated.

stanton chair by gambrel — Stanton Chair: The contrast channel and button detail is key!

gambrel lighting — Lighting by S.R. Gambrel. Gorgeous!

Must-Have Books

Any bookstore or website you visit is sure to have an overwhelming number of design books to choose from, but which ones are worth your time and money?

Books about interior design are definitely not hard to find. Any bookstore or website you visit is sure to have an overwhelming number of design books to choose from, but which ones are worth your time and money?

I’d suggest you start with the designers you love. Whose work speaks to you and reflects your own style best? If he or she has a book, it will probably be a good investment. You can also check out your favorite design magazines for book suggestions and reviews to get an idea where to start. Finally, following interior design blogs or websites will introduce you to books others have found inspiring and useful.

On that note, I’d like to share some of my favorite books by incredible designers. These invaluable resources contain so much creativity and inspiration, from the overall themes down to the smallest details.