If I could spend every evening flipping through interior design books with a cup of tea in hand, I would. Reading always pulls me into a different world no matter what book I pick up, but I always feel like I’m being immersed in my own personalized dreamland when I crack open a design book. Over the past few years, I’ve been slowly picking up the books on my (ever-growing) wish list and am so happy with my current collection!
Not only do I use these books to inspire my own home, they also serve as beautiful decor pieces. Obviously, these authors know a thing or two about design because the covers are just as beautiful as the homes they feature within the pages. I use these books to amp up my bookcase styling, or even to have stacked on my coffee table for some light reading. They are books that I go back to time and time again whenever I need inspiration, or even just to kick back and relax.
Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life by Erin Gates
If I could express Erin’s style in one word it would be bold. The book cover features a black and white vignette with gold details that is reminiscent of Parisian decor, and I love the striped binding and gold writing. The before and after shots of Erin’s home and her hilarious recap of her stressful kitchen renovation add personal details that many can identify with. Although I’ve never designed my own kitchen, I have lived through two kitchen renovations and anyone that has gone through that process knows just how awful it can be. I also love that Erin talks a lot about how everyone’s style changes over the years and how it’s okay to make mistakes in decorating. She admits to painting her favourite cabinet (showcased on the front cover) over and over again through the years and is pretty sure that it will change yet again in a few years. I love that she encourages her readers to take risks and try things out.
Design Bloggers at Home by Ellie Tennant
This is my most recent purchase. I found a copy at Winners (where else?) for $7.99 while in Toronto and instantly scooped it up. I didn’t even open it until I was packing up the day before we drove to Halifax and decided last-minute to throw it into my overnight bag to read while on the road. I don’t know why I didn’t have very high expectations for this book, but that was definitely proved wrong within two minutes of reading. Basically the author, Ellie Tennant, goes around the world visiting popular design bloggers at home and asks questions about what inspires their design, where they find their most precious pieces and how their style has evolved over time. It features beautiful photographs and a wide range of decor styles. If you are a new blogger and don’t know where to start, there is a whole chapter at the end dedicated to setting up a blog and tips & tricks from successful bloggers!
A Hot Glue Gun Mess by Mr. Kate
When this book came in the mail I sat down with it straight away and read it all in one go. I have been following Kate for over a year now and absolutely love her design projects and DIY ideas! This book is a mix of hilarious stories, design inspiration and of course DIY ideas. Kate has a quirky, collected style and refers to her followers fondly as creative weirdos. While the book is mostly filled with personal stories (most of which made me laugh out loud) that tell stories of growing up in Hollywood and experimenting with fashion and lots of animal print, I love that all of the DIY’s relate to the stories she tells. All in all, a very fun read and a great source for quick and inexpensive DIY’s that are sure to fill your rainy days with lots of fun.
Domino: The Book of Decorating by Domino Editors
I’m going to start by saying that I absolutely love the cover of this book! The mint green colour mixed with bright pink accents and Oriental floral design makes my heart flutter. For anyone that struggles with interiors this book would be a handy tool to have around. It goes through colour palettes, furniture styles, lighting, window coverings and everything in between giving ideas and options for every space. Each chapter is split into rooms (ie: entryway, bedroom, kitchen, office etc.) making the book easy to navigate. There are also hand-drawn renderings throughout the book that add an extra flair and I love the ribbon detail that is conventionality attached because it makes it easy to bookmark favourite pages. By far one of my favourites!
Styled by Emily Henderson
I have been following Emily Henderson’s blog and Instagram for a long long time. Her writing style is beautifully simple and she always adds a touch of humour. When this book is featured on my bookshelf the gold binding totally steals the show. This book serves also as a style guide for someone who may need a little bit of guidance in the interiors department. I love that she takes apart each room and talks about why the elements work together, clearly pointing out fail-proof ways to achieve a balanced look in your own home. She showcases many photographs of her own homes over the years to show how her style has evolved over time and loves pointing out her own mistakes so that her readers don’t make the same ones. Still feeling lost? She made a handy “home style quiz” to help you hone in on what you like in a space
I feel like I could go on and on about these books and the many others that have found their way onto my bookshelf, but I will leave it there. If you have read these books, please let me know down below which are your favourites!
