I love my interior design books. Nearly every Christmas and my birthday, there’s at least one or two on my list. I’m kind of obsessed with them – I can’t even tell you how many I have in my collection (20? 30? who knows). And while it’s exciting to pour through the pages and discover the beauty that lies within, I have to admit, I will often purchase books simply on the promise of it’s cover. Yep, I totally judge books by their covers and I’m not even ashamed to admit it.
There’s a reason I do this – it’s because I LOVE to display books as accessories in my home. A stack here, a stack there – there’s just something very chic about it. And every time I post pictures with books in it (which I have a lot of them so this is pretty damn often), I will be asked ‘what is that book with the leopard print cover?’ or ‘what is that bright pink book?’ – so it’s pretty clear to me that you’re doing the same thing. It’s fine, we’re all friends here so no judgement. I know how it is ;)
So today, I’m going to talk about book COVERS. Some of them are fantastic inside as well – don’t get me wrong here because I really do take the time to pour over every book from cover to cover when I get them – but that’s not what we’re focusing on today. I want to share the ones that I love having out on display.
Now, you’ll notice one thing – I often remove the paper book jackets from the hardbacks because most of them have surprisingly beautiful hard covers hidden underneath. (I just put the paper jackets away in a drawer – I have a drawer FULL of them!)
I recently purchased two new ones to add to my collection so I’m going to share those first because erm EXCITEMENT.
The first is Erin Gates’ Elements of Style. Oh my god how I die over simple monochrome stripes with gold detailing. Yes please. This is a relatively smaller book but it looks fantastic sat right on the top of a stack. At the moment, I keep moving this around my house because I love it everywhere.
The second book I’ve added is Tom Scheerer Decorates (book jacket removed). This one is one of the biggest in my collection in terms of overall size – perfect for the bottom of a stack because the texture of that weave is just stunning so seeing that peeking out from beneath a couple of others is fabulous.
One I’d asked for and received for Christmas this year is Alegra Hick’s An Eye for Design. Oh the eyes! I mean, that pale blue with black and white is just fab and it’s just a great pattern. The letters are outlined on both the cover and spine in metallic silver (a little hard to see in the pictures) but it’s just a nice touch.
Now this is my most asked about book by far because oh my god LEOPARD PRINT. It’s Jan Showers’ Glamorous Rooms (again sans jacket because why would you want to hide that?!). It’s a shame that the leopard print doesn’t wrap around to the spine but the good news is that this is another really large book so it’s best on the bottom of a stack so you can see that beautiful cover peeking out. Perfect as a makeshift ‘tray’ as well – shove a little vase with a bloom on it, an ornament, a few of your bangles and boom! Instant chic for your bedside table.
Now this next one is more what I would call ‘lifestyle’ rather than just interiors and the jacket is actually very cute itself but I couldn’t help but remove it to reveal this gorgeous combination of bright pink and gold. It’s Kate Spade New York Things We Love. And not only that, the page edges are gold too! Such a pretty book and another big one – so great for a shot of colour.
And finally, as you know how much I love my navy blue at the moment – Style and Substance The Best of Elle Decor. That dark blue of the cover is such a gorgeous jolt of colour and it’s really glossy too. So pretty.
Now what I’m desperate to get my hands on is the gorgeous Adore book (white and gold FTW) but it ships from Australia and at the moment, spending nearly £50 for a pretty book is a bit too pricey for me – but someday, my friends, someday…
So, this is just a TINY portion of the books I own but I thought I’d focus on my favourites otherwise, we’d be here all day. Ahem.
So tell me, do you collect interior design books? Do you have any favourite interior design books that you love to display? Any that I should totally definitely buy next? Do tell, I’d love to know I’m not the only one!
Adore book image via cushandnooks. All others my own.
I need to buy some more books for sure. I’ve been slacking in that department
You can borrow some of mine!! LOL! xxx
OH, you had me at the covers. Some of these I have and now I think I need that Jan Showers book. If it is good on the inside that is just a bonus! Love this post, I am a design book junkie. I just can’t quit them :) xoxo
Yay! It’s beautiful on the inside as well – probably veering a little more towards traditional but absolutely stunningly done! Get it! ;) #badinfluence xxx
Have loads of decor books too, some dating back to the 80s which are no longer in print which are still amazing and relevant even today, so I can’t get rid of them…lovely table vignettes.
Oh that’s amazing! My mum had one from the 70s when I was a kid that I used to look at ALL THE TIME (hmmm wonder why I love it so much now?) – I wish I still had it ;) xxx
Kimberly…Love the covers of Elements of Style and Tom Scheerer Decorates.. total eye candy! And can’t beat Domino! It has long been one of my favorite decor magazines. I love decorating books too..I have a Victorian one and one that I bought while in Paris. But must add these to my collection. :-)
Domino is DEFINITELY a favourite and it’s just so informative and inspiring, definitely a classic now and one every design lover should own :) xxx
Taking off and hiding the dust covers – I SO do this too! I have a dedicated cubby in our living room shelves that behind all the books, there’s a fat stack of dust jackets. I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
I have a collection of design books, but not nearly as impressive as yours. I’ve been meaning to buy Erin Gates’ beauty for a while now. That spine? I mean come. On. (<said like Jimmy circa South Park).
You are DEFINITELY not the only one! When we come round, I’m going to be hunting for that hidden stack so you better put a little gold egg in there for me ;) xxx
Esto siii!!! son libros de diseño!! Me encanta tu colección
Gracias Sofía ! Que es agradable de usted xx
(Lo siento – mi Español no es muy bueno!)
Me acaba de Conocer su blog a través de una publicación en Pinterest. Y me encanto ver estos libros tan bonitos!
Estoy feliz de que me encontré! Gracias!
(Lo siento – mi Español no es muy bueno!) xxx
I love the styling you do with pretty books – I’ve always liked seeing the Domino book particularly – love that aqua!
For some reason, I think I’d struggle to use books in styling – they look so great in other people’s pictures (such as yours) but in my home I reckon I’d be thinking “shouldn’t those books be on a bookshelf?!” and “what if someone wants to read one? I can’t let them – it’ll ruin my display!” Yes… I have issues…
Maria x