Art and accessories provide the finishing touches in a room. They can fill in a blank space and they can tell stories about our lives. But, framed art can be expensive. Where to start? It can take quite a while to collect enough art to create a decent gallery wall or fill a niche. I … Read more
One of the big perks of being a design blogger is that publishers send me some pretty great design books. Hefty, gorgeous coffee table books. Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, I do receive these books as complimentary press copies, but I only write posts on the books I like. I’ve previously called these … Read more
The summer is almost over (sorry, but it’s true!) and I though it was almost past time to post about this gorgeous book I received from the folks at The Vendome Press. OUT EAST Houses and Gardens of the Hamptons is written by Jennifer Ash Rudick with photos by Tria Giovan. The houses and gardens … Read more
I’ve long been a fan of decorator and blogger Lauren Liess so was excited for her when she announced her first book was in the works. Titled HABITAT: The Field Guide to Decorating, the book was officially published by Abrams last week and it’s really fantastic. Five years ago we interviewed Lauren on The … Read more
click on image to enlarge My good friend Brian Lies‘ book “Bats at the Library” was featured as a “Good Thing” on Martha Stewarts’ show today! Martha made Brian’s bat craft on air and showed illustrations from the book. Everybody in the audience got a copy of the book. She even had her designers make … Read more
I’ve been reading (with envy) all the posts around the Domino: Book of Decorating launch parties that have been held recently. From the New York design elite to the LA party chez Wearstler – this book is making the rounds! So, finally, the Domino gals – Dara Capanigro (whom I interviewed least year) and Domino … Read more
The lovely folks at Rizzoli sent me an advance copy of Florence de Dampierre‘s new book “French Chic – The Art of Decorating Houses”. And I must say it – ooh la la! Florence de Dampierre is an interior designer and decorative arts historian. Her book gives us a room by room tour of her … Read more
I was sent two novels this summer that are “industry based” and the results were mixed. I was so looking forward to “Die, Decorator, Die” by Franklin H. Levy with Pheonix Books. It’s about the cutthroat (literally) world of decorators, and it’s set in Boston! Well, what could be better than to be a Boston-based … Read more
“I’ve looked at love from both sides now…” as the song goes. This weeks 8th episode of Outlander marked the “mid-season finale” of Season 1, which won’t return until April with eight more episodes covering Book 1 (also called Outlander) of the now eight book series. Starz has already announced their commitment to Season 2 … Read more
One of my favorite books of late 2013 is “Fifth Avenue Style” by interior designer, and fabulous Instagram user, Howard Slatkin, published by The Vendome Press. The book, shot by Tria Giovan, focuses on Howard’s own New York apartment and is a feast for the eyes. First, let me say that this book was the … Read more
My friend Brian Lies has a new book out! The followup to his New York Times best selling children’s book Bats at the Beach is Bats at the Library (Houghton Mifflin ©2008)! Brian Lies at the ALA, Summer 2008 Brian both writes and illustrates these amazing tales of a group of bats who have a … Read more
©Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light by Axel Vervoordt, Flammarion, 2013 This fall has been an amazing one for the release of gorgeous new books and the new Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light book is truly one of the standouts. His ability to mix the old with the new into gorgeous and harmonious interiors … Read more
Working Space: An Insight into the Creative Heart Hardie Grant, 2013), takes a journalistic approach to showcasing the work spaces of 24 creatives from different fields of endeavor. Martyn Thompson, who hails from Australia with stop-overs in Paris and London, has been in the States for 14 years. His photography has been seen in … Read more
Candice Olson Favorite Design Challenges (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013). Fans of HGTV’s Divine Design will love this 200+ page book featuring 24 projects that faced particularly difficult challenges of space, multi-use needs and more. Each project includes “before” photos, a materials board, Candice’s had renderings and beautiful large “after” photos, along with Candice’s signature … Read more
I’m very lucky to be on the press list for some of our favorite publishers of shelter books, but sometimes I get a little backlogged in my reading and reviewing. So, welcome to Book Week on ::Surroundings::! photo via Hollister Hovey Heirloom Modern: Homes filled with objects bought, bequeathed, beloved, and worth handing down written … Read more
Love Where You Live: At Home in the Country by Joan Osofsky & Abby Adams, Rizzoli, New York, 2013. “I’ve learned that the best homes – the ones that are beautiful comfortable and that weather the years – are those that truly reflect their owners’ passions” – Joan Osofsky This is definitely NOT a book … Read more