Design books filled with ideas for home decor
About this time each year, a new crop of design books pop up like so many flowers.
And, just like a garden bouquet, there’s enough variety to please every kind of taste.
Here are five of the best fresh arrivals ready to be plucked from bookstores and added to your design library. Each offers solutions to common home design and decor problems.
“Nest for Two,” by Allison Serrell (Chronicle Books, $29.95): Casual, eclectic (read: real life) style is showcased in this square hardcover, which focuses on how we can cohesively incorporate a partner’s style into our home. It’s also a beautifully illustrated book that would make a really nice present for a friend’s engagement party if you’re in a pinch for a gift.
What you’ll learn:
• A pretty curtain hung in a doorway can separate spaces (for instance, a hall and a living room) and make a room seem more intimate. It’s also a great way to split up a living room that doubles as a guest room.
• Use baskets to corral magazines, the remote controls and other clutter.
• If a couple shares a workspace at home, carve out enough storage for each person: use baskets or add shelves that reach to the ceiling.
“Charles Faudree’s French Country Signature,” by Charles Faudree with M.J. Van Deventer (Gibbs Smith, $39.95): This rich-looking book features the design work of Charles Faudree, a 25-year veteran in the biz who really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the American interpretation of French country.
Organized by room, the book dispenses information about popular French antiques, Faudree’s favorite fabrics and other notable details. Those wanting to inject more color into their homes (French country design is known for its bright colors) will find the book an excellent resource.
What you’ll learn:
• Don’t be afraid of color or pattern. To create the look, try keeping the same palette and mixing toiles (a scenic printed fabric) with stripes, paisleys and plaids.
• Buy antiques to use as the basis for your interiors. Later, pieces can be moved to other rooms when you’re ready for a different look, which can help keep expenses down.
• In a real French kitchen design, there are no upper cabinets. Remember this if you want to design an authentic space.
“Australia City Living,” by John Gollings and George Michell (Thames & Hudson, $40): We’ve heard about American style, Mediterranean homes, French country and English country for years, but what about Australian design?
Australia City Living breaks it down in an incredibly slick, photo-heavy new hardcover that’s perfect for people who love contemporary style and are longing to see some innovative urban settings and ideas. Chapters are divided by apartment, townhouse, conversion and urban villas.
The book is heavy on photos and light on text, but that’s OK when there’s so much great stuff to see.
What you’ll learn:
• Keep kitchens small and functional to allow more space for living. A minimal approach keeps the kitchen from being segregated and takes advantage of the stylish new mini appliances. This approach is often necessary in urban homes that have limited space.
• An L-shape furniture arrangement made with a sectional sofa or two small sofas can help direct traffic through a room or define a living space from an entry.
• If you have an old, low-rise commercial building and want to do something with it, stick a cool, new apartment on top and add a great terrace.
“Taunton Home’s New Bathroom Idea Book: Cabinets, Countertops, Storage, Flooring, Lighting, Fixtures,” by Andrew Wormer (Taunton, $32): This book, which is packed with photos, is geared toward readers looking for real-life solutions and is a must if you’re planning a bathroom project in the near future. Chapters such as Finishing the Bath in Style, and Lighting, Heating and Ventilation provide portraits of practicality in action.
What you’ll learn:
• How far will your money go? Most major bathroom rehabs, with a gutted interior, new fixture locations and maybe a new window or skylight, fall in the $7,500 to $12,000 range. But budget to $20,000 and beyond if luxury fixtures, materials and big spaces are involved.
• Items such as a large mirror (really large), a pedestal sink and repetitive design elements (color or pattern) can help a cramped bathroom seem bigger.
“Taunton Home’s New Kitchen Idea Book: Cabinets, Countertops, Storage, Flooring, Lighting, Fixtures,” by Joanne Kellar Bouknight (Taunton, $32): A companion to its bath book brother above, this title tackles the kitchen.
What you’ll learn:
• Don’t limit lights to upper cabinets and glass-fronted ones. “Another candidate for cabinet lighting is the notoriously dark and difficult-to-rummage-through corner base cabinet,” says the architect-author of this book.
• Consider your cooking style when you buy appliances. Side-by-side refrigerators generally cost more to buy and run, and many aren’t wide enough for party platters and big frozen pizzas. Bring favorite pans with you to the store to make sure they fit an appliance you’re considering.
• Planning open shelves? Allow 8 inches minimum depth for cookbooks, 8 to 15 inches for dishes and 12 to 18 inches for big items. Also, it’s better to space shelves closer together than to stack things.