Although I hesitate to bring most forms of paper into my home—brochures, receipts, bills, press releases, invitations, business cards— I still love books. Especially glossy design books. I don’t leaf through them nearly enough, but I appreciate being surrounded by them. Our living room in Boston, like many traditional Back Bay condos, has double built-in bookshelves flanking the fireplace, trimmed in traditional molding and calling out for impressive tomes.
I used to save decor magazines, which filled the top shelves nicely, but with the advent of Pinterest et al, tear sheets are just clutter. Besides, I now have enough coffee table books and small artworks to fill in all 16 shelves stylishly. Thanks to Rizzoli, who sends me all the best books, and the other publishers who send along design titles as well. I looked at all of them, and these are my favorite 15 design books of 2015.
Here’s an assortment of amazing rugs in a wide range of price points. Some you’ve surely seen before, but I love them so much that I couldn’t leave them out. I recently purchased one of these rugs for our playroom-turning-family room. It has lots of colors, the pattern is more geometric than free form, and it’s not expensive. Anyone wanna guess? (There’s a clue in the Montage: Patterned Rugs post.) Also, look for a couple of designs for which you see the original and it’s much lower priced knock-off. (Hint: They’re both stripey.)
