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You can learn a lot about a person by what they read. As a child it was a special treat when I was able to go to the library or bookstore. In fact, going to the library and bookstore is still a passion for me today. I use books for inspiration, guidance or just to let my mind wonder… some of my current favorites are:

Flamant Home Interiors: Here and Elsewhere
by Raoul Buyle (text) & Bart Van Leuven (photography)

From Amazon: Showcases the interiors of Flamant, a leading Belgian interior design company.

Personal Note: I purchased this book, at Flamant, several years ago on a trip to Paris. The cover of my book is different from the one shown on Amazon, but the ISBN number is the same. Flamant is among my favorite shops in Europe. The look is simple, quiet and serene, yet rich with warmth, character, patina and texture. The colors are complex neutrals inspired by organic, simple textures and finishes. This book is rich with quality photos, and wonderfully inspired quotes about nature and design. The book highlights the founders of Flamant… three brothers and their individual roles within the company and their home and design philosophies. A great visual treat and look into this great brand.

Kitchen Centric
by Mick De Giulio and Karen Klages Grace

From Amazon: Kitchen Centric puts a new spin on the typical kitchen design book by offering readers a book that is part art book, part fantasy, and part field guide. Internationally known kitchen designer Mick De Giulio takes readers on a guided tour through eighteen of his favorite kitchen projects in urban lofts, suburban homes, manor houses, mountain retreats, and an early twentieth-century barn. Delicious photographs roll through these kitchens, one after the next, like short films. Words are few, but critical if a bit quirky, like excerpts from De Giulio’s own designer’s journal. He takes his audience behind the scenes, explaining his challenges, his thinking, his choices, his process, and ultimately, his belief that kitchens are more central to American homes than ever before.

Personal Note: I had the honor and privilege to attend a seminar presented by these two authors at NeoCon in Chicago this past June. The presentation was enjoyable and it was a special treat to meet the authors and hear first-hand of their design philosophies. They have a quiet elegance and simplicity about themselves as well as their work. My favorite quote from the presentation was “Simplicity is the absence of things.”… Mick De Giulio. Their passion for deign and understanding of the power of design was inspirational and refreshing.

Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With
by Stephanie Hoppen – photography by Luke White

From Amazon: Use color with confidence!
• Personalized decorating without the stress
• Sourcebook of product information, plus how to match and coordinate colors
• Hundreds of color photos plus swatches of paint and fabric eliminate guesswork

Think neutrals are beige, cream, taupe, white, and black? Think again. In a new world of color and design, neutrals go beyond these basics to embrace real colors that real people can live with. In Perfect Neutrals, Stephanie Hopper showcases the vast variety of new neutrals—from sage green to soft lilac, from cool silver to whispered gold. With her help, anyone can put these tones together and add accents to create dramatic effects. Rich photographs demonstrate how to balance colors, how layering works with different shades of color, how to add texture with fabric, and more. Case studies feature paint and fabrics that are widely available from such national brands as Restoration Hardware, Benjamin Moore, Farrow & Ball, and other companies. In the past, choosing just the right neutral to suit a room or a mood was hard. Perfect Neutrals makes it easy.

Personal Note: Another great addition to a reference library. It shows how vibrant and exciting neutrals can be. I especially appreciate the resource directory at the back of the book with resource credits for, paint colors, swatches, and resources. As stimulating as it is informative!

Charlotte Moss Decorates: The Art of Creating Elegant and Inspired Rooms
by Charlotte Moss

From Amazon: The interior designer’s singular vision revealed through an extraordinary collection of her acclaimed rooms. With her inimitable flair for style, Charlotte Moss has led a celebrated career in the interior design world. Recently honored with Elle Decor’s Vision Award, Moss’s design philosophy of “couture living” describes her preference for gracefully curated spaces in which one is meant to live, enjoy, and entertain. Charlotte Moss Decorates affords the reader a glimpse into the methods behind her magic. For each of the rooms featured—from a sumptuous Directoire-style bedroom inspired by the incomparable Pauline de Rothschild to a gentlemen’s billiard room with rich details and a smart tailored feel—Moss breaks down the various stages of her design process, revealing her inspiration and storyboards, as well as sketches and notes she develops for every project. In each chapter, she offers the reader quick “doses” of decorating advice with her signature “Why Not?” decorating maxims. The book also includes Moss’s recommendations for her favorite flowers and fragrances for the final flourish in creating the perfect room. Her interiors, with a nod to both the historical elegance of the past and the modern necessities of today (comfort and livability), are truly sublime spaces. With over 200 sumptuous photographs, Moss graciously invites the reader to be engaged, inspired, and “ready to decorate.”

Personal Note: I’ve enjoyed this book and found it to be a great reference book and a valued addition to my library.

These books can be found at Amazon.com or click on the titles above for an instant link to Amazon.com.