Decorating Books

Domino: The Book of Decorating: A room-by-room guide to creating a home that makes you happy

Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, Dara Caponigro

Amazon Price: $21.12 List Price: $32.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $19.40

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Stylized but interesting interpretation of home decor 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you happen to like the mismatched, eclectic style of Domino, then you'll find this book full of interesting design inspiration. You need to look carefully, however, for if you have very traditional tastes and/or dislike the shabby chic look, you may well be disappointed.

A book we all should have! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a book we all should buy to reference from time to time and ofcourse, for our remodeling projects. Even if you don't want to follow every word of it, it is very handy to just get ideas for decoraring some parts of your space. You can start by selecting a room and it's theme and then proceed with the help of pictures and examples. The photographs are very nice and the quality of the book is excellent. I would certainly recomend this wonderful reference guide!

Editorial Review:

Domino: The Book of Decorating cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders' secrets from today's premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual. The editors take readers room by room, tapping the best ideas from domino magazine and culling insights from their own experiences. With an eye to making design accessible and exciting, this book demystifies the decorating process and provides the tools for making spaces that are personal, functional and fabulous.

A Passion for Blue and White

Carolyne Roehm

Amazon Price: $37.80 List Price: $60.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Broadway Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $31.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Product Description

“Nature’s quintessential color combination of blue and white never ceases to amaze me. The look of pristine snow against deep blue Aspen skies; spires of blue and white delphinium in a garden; Connecticut’s spring mornings where the apple blossoms and nodding heads of white narcissus are in contrast to soft blue skies and vibrant green grass—these and many more images found in nature have informed my work for the last thirty-five years. From fashion to interiors, and tabletop to gardens, the presence of blue and white is a constant in my past collections as well as throughout my previous eight books. It seems natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination.” —from the Introduction

This private tour of the dazzling homes of legendary style-setter Carolyne Roehm showcases her favorite color combination in more than three hundred glorious photographs.

From the time designer Carolyne Roehm rented her first small apartment in New York in her twenties, she has loved blue and white. In that one-bedroom flat, she draped the walls, chairs, sofa, and a canopy bed in an inexpensive blue and white sheeting fabric designed by her boss, Oscar de la Renta, and began collecting blue-and-white porcelain from around the world—initially bargain reproductions and eventually museum-quality pieces—from China, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.

Today, Carolyne Roehm presides over a magnificent duplex in Manhattan, an antique-filled stone house in Connecticut, and a chic yet rustic home in Aspen, all of which contain rooms decorated in blue and white, featuring accents from her collections of china, ceramics, glassware, linens, furniture, and decorative pieces. These rooms employ the whole spectrum of blues, from delicate sky to the deepest, boldest navy, evoking moods ranging from tranquil to vibrant.

In A Passion for Blue and White, Carolyne Roehm takes us inside her homes (including her former pied-à-terre in Paris) in never-before-seen photographs of these stunning rooms. She also reveals how she has used blue and white to magnificent effect outdoors in Connecticut around her pool and in her gardens—and even how she used the combination in designing a wedding for a friend.

She provides inspiration for tabletop design, flower arranging, and gift-wrapping, suitable for all budgets. Her ceramic, textile, and glass collections (endless sources of her creativity) can be emulated by anyone with trips to flea markets, thrift shops, and inexpensive import stores as well as antique stores and galleries.

A swatch of French fabric began Carolyne Roehm’s lifetime love affair with blue and white. In this book, she demonstrates through her own decorating and designs, how this combination works its magic on everything from upholstery and drapes to napkins and tablecloths, wrapping paper and ribbons. For anyone with a passion for blue and white, here is the ultimate style guide and Carolyne Roehm’s most gorgeous book yet.

Amazon.com Exclusive: An Interview with Carolyne Roehm

Q: Reviewers are calling your new book “gorgeous” and your “most self-expressive book”. What inspired you to write A Passion for Blue and White?
CR: Blue and white has always been a big part of my world, and this passion is reflected in the books I’ve done, whether the subject matter was flowers, entertaining, or creating beautifully wrapped gifts. It seemed natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination. Blue and White gives me a design focus – one that’s endlessly rewarding.

Q: What will the reader find in the book?
CR: Blue and white has been a constant in my interior design work. The book is filled with photos of interiors and outdoor spaces enhanced by collections of ceramics, textiles, porcelain, dishes and linens. I’ve always been inspired by nature and no other combination is as omnipresent as glorious blue and white so I’ve included an endless assortment of ideas for arranging flowers, gardens and bouquets for every season. This is really a book about creating a beautiful environment with style and ease. I’ve also included wonderful ideas for wrapping paper and ribbons, napkins, drapes and linens. Of course I didn’t feel this book would be complete without including a plethora of information on the meaning and history of blue and white, and its use in all of the decorative arts.

Q: Since the holidays are upon us, do you include suggestions that may be useful for the upcoming season?
CR: Yes. During the holiday season, I sometimes stray away from a red-and-green theme and use a blue and white color scheme that works surprisingly well with a green wreath or urns filled with narcissus.

At Christmas, blue and white pieces can show off the traditional deep red flowers of the season including amaryllis, berries and roses.

Q: Do you have other holiday ideas that don’t involve flowers?
CR: Yes, I’ve included photos of holiday cards, invitations, gift tags, menu cards and gift wrap that is beautiful when created in a blue & white color scheme. Elegant card stock is a luxury but it’s incredibly simple and satisfying to use the computer to make invitations, menu cards or holiday gift tags. Guests feel you’ve taken the time to create something special when it’s made by hand.

Q: Any suggestions for those on a budget?
CR: Absolutely. The best thing about blue & white is the ability to collect and display so inexpensively. Chinese porcelain is readily available and inexpensive fabrics can always be purchased at discount outlets. A few of my favorite table setting ideas include mixing white porcelain with a blue and white tablecloth and using white carnations in the centerpiece. It creates a dramatic table inexpensively.

The right flower arrangements can be made inexpensively any time of the year. One of my favorite combinations is mixing white cosmos from the cutting garden with frilly Queen Anne’s lace to create a fresh and simple bouquet. Simple daisies in a cobalt blue glass create a dramatic effect and nothing is more cheerful than bright yellow sunflowers in deep blue glass.

Q: Any final comments?
CR: This book is my personal story of designing and living with this magical color combination. I hope in some small way it will inspire others.

A Look Inside A Passion for Blue and White
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

For the Living Room	For the Bedroom
In the Garden	Interior Arrangements
Floral Arrangements	Tablescapes
For the Holidays	Decorative Arrangements

House Beautiful Colors for Your Home: 300 Designer Favorites (House Beautiful Series)

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Hearst Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $9.35

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What transforms a room from monotone to magical? Color! So, if you’re nervous about splashing that white with bright, this conveniently portable primer based on House Beautiful’s most popular column will help. With special insider advice from top designers, plus a directory of actual paint swatches, this book is the most comprehensive and appealing color resource available today. All the colors are searchable by shade and by room, and every paint is accompanied by its manufacturer, name, and number, so you can match what you want right from the book. The guide’s unique format makes everything easy.
Noted designers with long and distinguished careers offer suggestions for every room and mood. They provide advice on which shades to start with and which to experiment with, the classic palettes they keep coming back to, and how the right colors can simply make us feel good. Gorgeous room shots—such as Paula Perlini’s delphinium blue bedroom and Amanda Keyser’s merlot red walls—are accompanied by the exact brands of paint and their swatches, so you can examine the colors closely.An invaluable guide to color, this book will help you pick the right paints that will add beauty and style to your home.

Christmas with Southern Living 2008: Great Recipes - Easy Entertaining - Festive Decorations - Gift Ideas (Christmas With Southern Living)

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Oxmoor House Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $13.10

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Christmas experts at Southern Living magazine continue the holiday tradition with this all-new 28th edition of Christmas with Southern Living, the cooking, entertaining, and decorating classic that's steeped in gracious Southern style.

One-hundred forty brand-new recipes—the most ever in this book series—include ultimate show-stopping desserts, innovative chocolate and vanilla treats, incredibly easy side dishes, and a Quick & Easy Christmas Dinner that features a freezer-to-oven turkey recipe with a two-ingredient glaze.

Entertaining friends and family is a breeze with the "Simple Christmas" chapter, featuring a collection of two dozen quick recipe options that require little effort yet yield luscious results.

In addition, you'll also discover fresh decorating ideas that begin at the front door and take you all through the house. Whether you fancy a traditional look, whimsical style, or casual elegance, dozens of festive wreaths, garlands, and door and mantel decorations will stir your creativity.

Big, colorful photographs inspire your holiday table settings with designs that are "see and do" simple. From a centerpiece that holds individual take-home bouquets to twig balls stuffed with glittery tinsel garland, you'll be amazed at how quickly your table transforms from everyday to holiday.

Whether you need help planning the perfect holiday menu, baking special treats for giving, or trimming your home with welcoming, seasonal flair, this filled-to-overflowing book from the Christmas cooking and entertaining editors at Southern Living magazine has everything on your wish list for the most wonderful time of the year.

Michael S. Smith Houses

Michael Smith, Christine Pittel

Amazon Price: $31.50 List Price: $50.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rizzoli Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $30.27

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Editorial Review:

Creating your dream house—a prospect as exciting as it is daunting. Michael Smith, a favorite among celebrity clientele, reveals the method of his design magic. Offering thoughtful ideas and practical advice, the designer walks the reader through his process, from the gathering of resource material (from magazines and iconic films to something as simple as a shell or a swatch of vintage fabric), expertly pairing simpler and grander elements (or inexpensive with more extravagant objects), perfecting the editing process, to knowing when a room is finished. Detailing the nearly encyclopedic range of styles he culls from to create his signature style, the designer describes recent examples of his work, beginning with a modest and quirkily designed house in Bel Air, Smith redid for himself. Razed, rebuilt, and decorated over the course of five years, the house allowed Smith to experiment and explore ideas freely and the result is a gracious home, as welcoming as it is stylish. In addition to his California residence, twenty other projects are featured, from a New England clapboard to a Malibu villa overlooking the Pacific to a city townhouse. In each, Smith deconstructs the elements which come together to make the ideal home.

Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste: Creating Modern Rooms with a Traditional Twist

Celerie Kemble

Amazon Price: $29.70 List Price: $45.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $27.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Celebrate what’s beautiful about traditional style while breaking some of its rules: Take a page out of a designer’s book and add your own sense of relaxed whimsy and exuberant personality to create spaces that are versatile, original, and truly livable.

That’s designer Celerie Kemble’s philosophy in a nutshell. It’s all about blending a classic sensibility with a dose of irreverence and a dollop of humor to achieve a home that’s tasteful, eclectic, always evolving, and always welcoming.

Celerie takes you by the hand, gives you a detailed look at many of her signature interiors, and enthusiastically reassures you that, with the right information and attitude, you can overcome challenges and artfully achieve the ultimate design goal—a perfect blend of beauty and comfort.

From finding inspiration in childhood memories, current trends, and favorite belongings to working around real-life design dilemmas (such as a lack of space or light, or awkward floor plans) to selecting just the right furnishings (including rugs, lamps, and accessories), Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste infectiously proves that when making a beautiful home, the process is the best part.

Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols

Daniel K. Reif

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks By: Design World - Model: HQP Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $16.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great Tool 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this for my interior design class. This has proven to be a great asset for furniture placement. The templetes are reuseable

Excellent planning décor and designing tool 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Home Quick Planner is an excellent way to lay out and discover alternative floor plans, decorating ideas and propose major home remodeling changes. I have found it very helpful.

Editorial Review:

Whether you're building, remodeling, decorating, or just fantasizing, the Home Quick Planner helps you design the perfect floor plan. Go ahead - knock down walls and move furniture, cabinets, appliances, windows & doors - all with one finger. 700 precut, reusable peel & stick furniture and architectural symbols 1/4-inch scale home furniture, every standard kitchen cabinet and appliance, extensive assortment of bathroom fixtures and cabinets, windows, doors, walls, switches, outlets, lights and much more 5,600 square-foot floor plan grid Reusable symbols stick to floor plan grid or directly to your own plan Design details: critical dimensions & clearances Fun and easy way to design your plans and make changes

Candice Olson on Design

Candice Olson

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HGTV Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $9.93

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Inspiring, educational and fun... 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

What makes Candice Olson so appealing on TV, her vibrant personality and animated and often humorous character-is the only thing missing from this book. Everything else you would expect from such a talented individual, even if we have already seen most of it through media, shines through with greatness. Along with this purchase I had acquired another new decorating book on the market, Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser - and though I had never heard of this unique up and coming designer/decorative artist, I was equally impresssed. Heuser's book, a unique blend of how to and professional enlightment, follows the unbelievable artistic make over and restoration of his personal historic home in KY. As does Candice's book, it is also filled with amazing photography, and tons of before, during and after shots - which tremendously helps the reader better comprehend, relate and borrow from the subject. What Olson does with fabric, furniture and lighting - Houser uses decorative paint finishes and custom murals, to breathe new life into tired spaces. I was never so thrilled with both of my purchases, as both authors demonstrate uniquely different approaches to looking at and restyling home interiors with great admiration and obvious know how and success. If you love home interior books with overloads of eye candy, and concept from which to learn and of course borrow from again and again - then you can't go wrong with either of these. ENJOY!!!!!!!

Editorial Review:

Candice’s fresh, honest approach to design shows readers how to create rooms that are beautiful and functional, perfectly geared to what they love and how they live.

With her trademark humor and sense of fun, Candice shares design secrets and dozens of practical tips to help readers plan and execute successful room makeovers.

Room tours illustrate Candice’s approach to design, and quick-read sidebars highlight favorite features and ideas readers can use in their homes.

Includes decorating ideas, tips, and advice to update and reinvent living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, basements, and more!

Decorating Master Class

Ellie Cullman, Tracey Winn Pruzan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Get this book - You CAN Do This 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

I decided to weigh in on this book because 1) I feel so strongly about it and 2) Because of the disparity of opinion regarding whether this book can be used by amateurs, or is simply for professionals only.

I am a homeowner, with a limited budget, in the midst of a new home construction. I saw this book recommended in an issue of architectural digest as really forthcoming about the how-tos of decorating, not just pictures to drool over. I bought the book immediately and I love it. I can't tell you how valuable this book has been. I learned SO much.

I read it through cover to cover, then reviewed every picture again to assess the details, the use of symmetry, asymmetry, patterns, textures, trims, recurring themes and color schemes. It was incredibly informative, useful and inspiring. It completely prepared me to choose the surfaces in my home. It was useful for planning design details, such as how high the mantel should be and the appropriate distance between furniture pieces and how to achieve layers of light.

I have even purchased some of the resource material listed to further educate myself about antique rugs and furniture.

This book is for everybody. It's gorgeous and incredibly helpful.

Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors

Armelle Baron

Amazon Price: $47.25 List Price: $75.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Flammarion Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $46.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Axel Vervoordt began purchasing antiques in his teens and has steadily built a vast collection of exquisite objects from around the world. He is renowned for his prestigious exhibitions at major world antique fairs, including the New York Design Fair and TEFAF Maastricht. His interior designs, in both traditional and modern settings around the world, combine antiques from all continents with a Zen sensuality, and they blend the old with the new to create harmonious interiors. His unusual pairings may include Chinese porcelain with English furniture or a Roman relic alongside a 1930s Flemish painting.
The extent of Vervoordt’s talent is revealed in the twenty-three homes in Europe and the United States presented here through Christian Sarramon’s photographs. The variety of styles reflects Vervoordt’s eclecticism, and his authentic and welcoming interiors are inspirational treasure troves. From the rustic charm of a Swiss chalet to the classic finesse of a Bordeaux château to the modern allure of a Miami mansion, Vervoordt’s creations are perfectly in tune with the character and history of each space.