Novel Inspiration
In the age of technology, Google, YouTube, and Pinterest have dominated our searches for design inspiration. The issue with search engines is that they cater to your digital personality and who they think you are, not who you are designing for and not who you may wish you were. This makes designing from curated sources all the more valuable. The list below includes some of the more graphic, visually compelling books I’ve come across over the past few years. They would make for great coffee table books in your new space or gifts for that friend you have who is also a closet design enthusiast. The books are listed in no particular order, with a special treat at the end. All titles are active links for any you want to explore further. The best part of most design books is the wealth of knowledge communicated visually. They draw in an audience without the need for an extensive monologue and their inspiration is accessible to the wandering visitor.
Interior Design Selections
The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home
written by Shea McGee (Author) from Netfix’s “Dream Home Makeover”
Down to Earth: Laid-back Interiors for Modern Living
by Lauren Liess (Author), from HGTV’s “Best House on the Block”
Stephen Sills: A Vision For Design
by Stephen Sills (Author), Tina Turner (Foreword), David Netto (Contributor), Martha Stewart (Contributor)
Architectural Design Selections
Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style
by Architectural Digest (Author), Amy Astley (Introduction), Anna Wintour (Foreword)
Gio Ponti in the American West
by Taisto Makela (Author), Darrin Alfred (Contributor), Jorge Silvetti (Contributor), Salvatore Licitra (Contributor)
Supplementary Selections
The Great Escapes book was a matching friend’s gift I did to manifest adventure. The Taschen Collection has them all over the world. As for the Annie Leibovitz, I’ve been eyeing this one for a while now and adore her wor
Great Escapes 2019 Africa: The Hotel Book
by Angelika Taschen (Editor)
A search through these titles may lead you down the inevitable rabbit hole of all the books you wish you had, but a shameless buy or two is guilt quickly forgotten. I do try and buy Kindle editions when available and not for decor as these books are larger and difficult to carry around when traveling. That being said, I’ve spent enough days in the past on a park blanket handing out books to those walking by that my future library is by no means full, nor may it ever be. Let me know which ones you’ve discovered.
