BOOK SMART: DESIGN SPONGE

Design sponge at Home, Grace Bonney

Get it. Read it. Love it. This book smart read is an essential for any design enthusiast. It covers it all! Tons of tips, diys, and all the basics. It's a great guide to all things interior design. Soak it up you design sponge you, xx

Aloha

BOOK SMART: COASTAL MODERN

Coastal Modern by Tim Clarke

It's been awhile since I posted about a good read and after digging into this one over the weekend I had to share! Today's feature is the perfect choice for a little book smart design session. Whether you like coastal decor or not this read has plenty of inspiring elements for all design tastes. Dive into some sensational spaces and drift away to the sand and the sea. Happy reading!

"Coastal Modern shares my aesthetic of breezy elegance in more than 250 transporting photographs by award-winning photographer Noah Webb (Dwell, Vanity Fair, Travel + Leisure). These pages feature dozens of seamlessly connected indoor/outdoor spaces (many with jaw dropping views) and sprawling rooms with clean lines, organic shapes and materials, a mix of textures and colors inspired by the sea and the sand." - Notes from Tim Clarke website

Aloha

BOOK SMART: STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

It's time for another good read, let Style and Substance, The Best of Elle Decor guide you through 240 pages of dazzling rooms. Covering every style, packed with decorating tips, and opening the door to breathtaking homes all around the world, this book is one to have in your library.

Aloha

happy reading!

BOOK SMART: NEW RELEASE! KATIE RIDDER ROOMS

Through the pages of the newly released Katie Ridder Rooms you'll be sure to find her signature designs of playful patterns and extraordinary colors. Artful, elegant, and simply cheerful is how I would describe praised NYC based interior designer Katie Ridder's work. Her attention to scale and color are amazing in addition to her approach on mixing styles. This is a sure winner to have in your home full of daring inspiration! Get your copy today.

Aloha

BOOK SMART: THE COMFORTABLE HOME

Founders and owners of the two decade old Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture company, this duo shares all their secrets on buying for your home. Both Williams and Gold understand the importance of investing in the right pieces that will last you for years to come. In this week's Book Smart read you'll find practical tips for 'investing in your nest'. Visit a book store and sneak a peek or get your copy today!

Aloha

I GOT THE BLUES

Got the Blues? If you don't, you should. You haven't heard it's the new thing?

Everyone loves a shade of blue in some way, shape, or form. Be it in a brilliant Scalamandre fabric, gracing the porcelain skin of a vase, or smoothed over a wall ..we all have a blue we fall for. House Beautiful's comprehensive 'BLUE' book is the ideal go to for getting a POSH blue look. Go pick up this great read and start your week of with a strong case of the Blues. ;)

Aloha!

BOOK SMART: ALLEGRA HICKS, AN EYE FOR DESIGN

'Distinctive, painterly fabrics are the hallmark of the designer Allegra Hicks' -The Telegraph, UK

Hugely loved and respected London based designer Allegra Hicks offers everything from women's ready to wear to interior textiles and now she's gracing the bookshelves. Of course I have my own copy if for nothing else.. the pattern on the cover itself. Brilliant and completely applicable. This read, at only $26 [steal], is packed with rich textiles, savvy tips, and 224 pages of colorful inspiration. Pick it up and hear what she has to say, like how she feels about textures, 'I don’t feel that design should be overpowering,’ she says. 'Different textures, colours and patterns create little stories in which one can feel at home. Texture is very important because that’s what makes a place feel luxurious without huge expense.’ Just a tiny taste of her thoughts. Oh, and another favorite, 'Scale is important in any design whether it’s a rug, a dress or a piece of jewellery,’ she says. 'A repeat of a small leaf looks like a leaf but, on a very large scale, the same leaf becomes an abstract design. And you’ve got to interest the eye at different heights, whether you’re sitting or standing.' She's dead on. Love her, love her book. Go get it or swing by barnes&noble for a while and dive in!

Aloha

BETWEEN THE BINES

some of my absolute favorite design reads

Beauty, Couture, Design, Stories, Advice, Inspiration.

Some mornings are just meant for indulging. Early Saturday morning in Hawaii is my pick. With the chiseled mountains in view, windows open letting in the ocean breeze & my husband laying beside me locked in to the iPad reading the latest news, it's time to go between the bines. Burying my face into these little bad boys is of the upmost fun when I just want to cuddle up & feel fabulous. {recommended while in a silk & lace tank, high bun, and aquaphor coated lips...well, it works for me :)}

Aloha & happy Saturday loves!

BOOK SMART: MADE TO ORDER

Dive Into

Made to order: by Campion Platt

Press releases surrounding the book state, 'Clean and simple design coupled with an embrace of color, beautifully crafted millwork, and environmentally friendly materials are hallmarks of the work of Campion Platt'. Showcasing over 200 color rich images from eighteen projects from city chic lofts to grand country estates you'll be hooked fast. Renown writer Jay McInerney says this about Campion, "I discovered that Campion was almost obsessively concerned with fabrics and finishes, which resulted in a very visually rich environment. " Sit down, take a rest and indulge in this fantastic read of Platt's beautiful projects...

Happy Monday!

BOOK SMART: A LA CARTE

Not only a perfect coffee table accessory, but a fantastic read :)

A La Carte; The Elements of an Elegant Home, Sherrill Canet

Sherrill Canet is recognized for her ability to create absolutely beautiful interiors. Incorporating her love of antiques and fine detail into all of her designs, she creates gracious and comfortable settings. Her work includes an eclectic mix of the old and new, giving her clients' homes a classic and timeless appeal. Pick up this book to dive into her approach on design and much much more!

XO

BOOK SMART: COASTAL LIVING STYLE

Let these pages take you away to a place of sunshine and sand

Coastal Living's Beach House Style

First things first DON'T shy away from beach decor simply because you don’t live by the water! Beach House Style makes it clear in this fabulous book, is not a place, but a frame of mind. Between these bines you'll find help as a reader to decide what kind of beach house decor that you'd like to focus on, because what is commonplace at New England beaches is not quite the same, of course, as decor at beaches in Key West, the Caribbean, or in Southern California. This read covers it all! Along with hundreds of colorful pictures, Beach House Style provides a wealth of decorating ideas, including paint colors, furniture, lighting fixtures, beach accessories, kids room ideas, ceramic tile ideas, awesome outdoor spaces, and so much more!

happy reading

Book Smart: The Soul Of A House

Add it to your library

From the publishers note:

"From best-selling author and design icon Chris Madden comes the first book on her design philosophy, and how to achieve her comfortable, chic style. Design expert Chris Madden has spent years chronicling other people’s beautiful rooms. Now, for the first time, she presents her own design sensibility as illustrated by examples such as her elegant one hundred-year-old carriage house in upstate New York and a mid-century modern family getaway in the mountains of Vermont. Organized by type of room, each house is explored—from entryways to bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, mudrooms, greenhouses, and terraces, as well as specialty rooms like yoga studios and a man’s study—through rich photography and dozens of practical styling tips. Readers learn how to layer fabrics and colors for seasonal decorating; how to repurpose materials; and how to recognize a room’s quality of light. Also featured are sidebars on caring for guests, collecting, and living in an old house versus a modern house. An avid gardener, Madden explores the way outdoor space frames and supports a house. This lush and elegant volume is an eminently practical resource of ideas for creating rooms in which to celebrate family, entertain friends, and provide personal sanctuary."

happy reading

Book Smart: New York Parties

New York Parties & Private Views : Jamee Gregory

Ever wonder what it would be like to step inside a glamourous New York party? You don't have to.. Get an inside some of the most prestigious NYC events with this read! Pick up your own copy for some serious eye candy and entirely inspirational events! A posh woman can never have too many tricks on hosting a to-die-for party.

XO 

Book Smart: The New Traditional

This week's Book Smart feature is from Washington DC's Darryl Carter

REINVENT - BALANCE - DEFINE YOUR HOME

Carter is a distinguished leader in the design world being recognized in numerous publications such as, Elle Decor, Town and Country, Metropolitan Home, and O at Home just to name a few. He presents a fresh take on American design. In The New Traditional Carter blends classic and modern elements to create personal environments. Cuddle up and enjoy!

happy reading

Book Smart

This week's Book Smart feature is....

To Your Taste- Celerie Kemble

Celebrate the beauty of traditional design while breaking some of it's rules. Celerie encourages relaxed yet exciting, versatile & original, completely livable spaces. Pick up a copy of her book to be inspired and to also gain countless advice.

happy reading!

Book Smart

This weeks featured "book smart" read is

Domino: The Book of Decorating

a room by room guide to decorating a home that will make you happy

a MUST buy/read

Absolutely positively one of my favorite design books out there. This little magic maker will revolutionize your decorating brain. Between these bines you will find guidance and answers on ANY decorating aspect you could possibly question. This book encompasses tips on decorating beyond any level I've seen thus far. Domino gives extensive step by step guide to decorating your home to your specific style. Pick your copy up today, promise you'll thank me later.

happy reading

Book Smart

Who doesn't want to feel inspired? Especially by gorgeous rooms...

here is your weekly "book smart" entry

check out this great read Rooms To Inspire; Decorating With America's Best Designers: Annie Kelly

As said by the Washington Post, "Rooms to Inspire is a wonderfully thought out and well photographed collection of the homes of thirteen trendsetters from East Coast to West. Each offers unique opinions and thoughts on asthetics, color, and making a well-decorated home feel like home. This book “makes quality decorating seem attainable."

happy reading :)

Book Smart

Sit down, cuddle up, and read..

Around the holidays is a great time for a good read. From here on out I would like to try to give you a "book smart" post once a week. Would love to show you some wonderful reads I've enjoyed at least once. So if you are hungry to dive into the books look for this post weekly. I look forward to sharing these with you!

First on the list is: The Art of Tile - Designing with Time Honored and New Tiles by Jen Renzi

Jen Renzi (former senior editor of Interior Design magazine) covers a plentiful amount of applications in this comprehensive book of tiles. Being of one of the most versatile building products, tile can be used in a multitude of ways. From indoor to outdoor, flooring to countertops, back splashes to decorative art, the styles and varieties of tiles create endless options. Pick this up and take in almost an infinite amount of tile. Featuring design lessons, real life installations, and an impressive catalog of over 1,000 choices of tile this book is a must see!

happy reading :)