My Favorite Design Books {Part 2}

Remember this nerdy post of mine from over a month ago?
Nope, I haven’t forgotten about it, as I did promise to give you seven more of my recommended titles. I guess I still haven’t found a way to effectively and efficiently balance blogging and freelance work. (I am proud of myself today though, because I was able to check off every single item from today’s 10-item to-do list.) *beams*
So let’s cut to the chase. Here are 7 more design books that I highly recommend you should read, browse through, and get inspiration from.
{all book covers from Amazon or their authors’ respective websites; all other images by me}


8. Undecorate by Christiane Lemieux


Ever felt dumbed down by alienating design concepts? Sometimes, when there’s just too many design principles floating around, you just want to say “Well can’t I just fix my house the way I want to fix it?” This book says “Yes you can.” While I will not do you a disservice and say that absolutely anything goes—because it that were true, then what’s the point of having all these design books and magazines and websites and blogs in the first place?—I will acquiesce to the fact that not everyone has the same tastes and preferences. Beauty is still subjective, always has and always will be in the eye of the beholder. And that’s what this book is about. Your own personal style is what will make your home beautiful to you. No matter what other people will say. Don’t decorate for others; decorate for yourself. And in the process, undecorate, if you must. Break the rules. Lose the formality. Let your own spirit run free.
9. Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Real Design Solutions


Who hasn’t heard of Apartment Therapy? Maxwell Ryan has made quite a name for himself, with Forbes calling Apartment Therapy “one of the most influential interior design sites on the Web.”  I don’t think there is ever a design topic that this website hasn’t discussed—and that says a lot considering that I research about home and interiors almost every day. This book presents what the title says: real homes with real people who have found their own design solutions to the unique design challenges different people face in their own homes. (Whoa, how long-winded was that last sentence?) It’s interesting to see how some homes often have to eschew design rules just to fit into the needs, preferences, and lifestyles of the people who live in them.
10. Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small Cool Spaces


Let’s face it: It’s a big, big world of condominiums out there. Gone are the days when a young couple could easily invest their hard-earned money in a plot of spacious land, build their own home on, and grow their family in. Nowadays, condos and small apartments and vertical townhouses are the way to go. Most bedrooms barely reach the 50-sqm mark. This collection from Apartment Therapy help solve the small-space dilemma with waaaay interesting solutions, like an under-bed kitchen, for one.
11. A Girl’s Guide to Decorating by Abigail Ahern


Chock-full of ideas that let a girl of any age decorate her space using her quirky style. I also love the unique tips littering each chapter, and the DIY instructions to cool, and sometimes basic, projects, like painting walls. Because some people—myself included—need extra guidance when doing home projects on their own!
12. Architectural Details: A Visual Guide to 5000 Years of Building Styles 


Again, this isn’t technically an interior design book. But it’s a great read because architectural details can also be applied in interiors—gables, pillars, moulding, you get my drift. These are what makes a room more than just a box. And it’s particularly interesting to see how some architectural patterns and details make their way into soft furnishings—like key patterns that used to adorn ancient Greek cornices are now found in hems of drapery or across linens.
13. Decorate Workshop: Design and Style Your Space in 8 Creative Steps by Holly Becker

If you love design workbooks and answering questionnaires about personal style, then this book is for you. From start to finish, it gives you a step-by-step view of how to begin your decorating journey: how to find your own style, how to create a moodboard, how to set your budget, etc. It’s a great resource for when you feel stumped or don’t know where to begin.
14. Sarah Style: An Inspiring Room-by-Room Guide to Designing Your Perfect Home by Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson is one of Canada’s most prominent interior designers. I follow her on Instagram where she often gives plenty of useful tips on how to combine function and beautiful aesthetics and apply them into your home. Her works are good examples of transitional design, a style that I am slowly exploring, as it can get a bit expensive. But I believe the transitional style is what is clearly defining the present stage of interior design from across the globe. It’s true that there are plenty of design styles popular now, but transitional design is that one style that has emerged that I can truly say belongs to the post-millenium era.
(That, and I don’t really know what I’m talking about LOL.)
Well, that’s it! I hope you found something you like on my list. Happy reading!