Our Favorite Design Books – Great Gifts!

I confess, I am as attached to my iPhone and laptop as the next gal, but I’m a bit old school too – I love the feel and smell of a real magazine or book. I keep a stack of design-centric reading material at home and in the office, and I often end the day leafing through the pages, enjoying a dose of eye candy. Of course, interior design books are great for holiday gift-giving if you have a design aficionado on your list, and they are so easy to purchase online! (One size fits all.) So I decided to compile a list of favorites from me, senior designer Beth Kweton, architectural associate Jennifer Cioni Tarello and Lauren Benditzky, junior designer. Here are mine:

“Glamour at Home” by Nancy Corzine.

“Glamorous Rooms” by Jan Showers

“Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style”

I chose all of these books because I love the way these designers mix formal, informal, traditional and transitional. They have an understated grace that doesn’t scream “look at me.” No single item stands out, but everything works together so beautifully. Their rooms are very livable, and always in the best of taste.

Beth’s turn: I would suggest any book by Sarah Susanka on smaller homes, such as “The Not So Big House” and “Creating the Not So Big House.” Her philosophy is quality over quantity, which I subscribe to from both a design and a personal point of view.

Jennifer's turn: I agree with Beth's choice. Additionally, Sarah Susanka's approach is very functional.

Lauren’s turn:

“Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.” Domino is not only inspirational (it’s full of great graphics), it’s really informative for someone trying to get the big picture for interior design. It’s a stylish how-to in a sense.

“The Big Book of Chic” by Miles Redd This is a go-to coffee table book for any design lover. It’s jam-packed with two-page spreads of luxe interior photography. Nothing but swoon-worthy!

“Elements of Style” by Erin Gates. This blogger/designer turned author gives her perspective on the current interior design industry, trends, styles – another go-to guide to design.