Fine Print: The 15 Best Design Books of 2015

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.

Best Design Books 2015 Eddie Ross Mix

Eddie Ross Modern Mix

Best Design Books 2015 Carrier & Company

The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes by Justina Blakeney

Best Design Books 2015 Greg Natale The Tailored Interior

 The Tailored Interior Greg Natale

fine-print-kinfolk-home

The Kinfolk Home

Best Design Books 2015 Retreat The Modern House In Nature

Retreat: The Modern House In Nature by Ron Broadhurst

Best Design Books 2015 Gardens At First Light By Stacy Bass

Gardens At First Light by Stacy Bass

Best Design Books 2015 India Hicks Island Style

India Hicks Island Style

Best Design Books 2015 Abigail Ahearn Color

Abigail Ahern Color: Transform Your Home

Best Design Books 2015 Carrier & Company

Carrier and Company Positively Chic Interiors

Best Design Books 2015 Carrier & Company

Emily Henderson Styled

Best Design Books 2015 Casa Bohemia

Casa Bohemia: The Spanish Style House
by Linda Leigh Paul and Ricardo Vidargas

Best Design Books 2015 Jeffrey Bilhuber

Jeffrey Bilhuber American Master

Best Design Books 2015 Palm Springs Modern Living

Palm Springs Modern Living by James Schnept

Best Design Books 2015 Beekman 1802 Style

Beekman 1802 Style: The Attraction of Opposites

Best Design Books 2015 Tricia Foley

Tricia Foley Life | Style: Elegant Simplicity at Home

Here’s what one bookshelf looks like at the moment. Note the back issues of Architectural Digest on the upper left shelf.

Styling Your Bookshelf With Design Books And Art

Fine Print: 25 Best Design Books of 2012

The constant stream of books into my home may be the best perk of being a blogger. While I’ve been aiming to pare down my possessions, I still revel in the glossy pages of beautifully photographed rooms. It helps that I have a rather grand set of built in bookshelves in my living room, which looks best when full. Then of course there’s the console table behind the sofa that needs a stack, and the coffee table (a Heywood-Wakefield with a top that turns, inherited from my husband’s grandparents). A couple of these don’t squarely fall in the design category, and I don’t actually own every one, but I did browse and love them all.

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b e s t  d e s i g n  b o o k s  2 0 1 2

STEVEN GAMBREL DESIGN BOOK RIZZOLI 2012

Steven Gambrel Time & Space, Abrams 2012

PLAYFUL HOME KIDS ROOMS ANDREW WEAVING

Playful Home, Rizzoli 2012

KELLY WEARSTLER BOOK RHAPSODY RIZZOLI 2012

Kelly Wearstler Rhapsody, Rizzoli 2012

DIANE KEATON HOUSE DESIGN BOOK

Diane Keaton House, Rizzoli 2012

CLASSICAL CHINESE FURNITURE COFFEE TABLE BOOK

 Classical Chinese Furniture, Vendome Press 2012

BROOKLYN MAKERS CRAFTERS HIPSTERS

Brooklyn Makers, Princeton Architectural Press 2012

SUSANNA SALK DECORATING BOOK 2012

Susanna Salk Be Your Own Decorator, Rizzoli 2012

jennifer-post-architect-pure-space

Jennifer Post Pure Space, Rizzoli 2012

Cupcakes-and-Cashmere-book

Cupcakes and Cashmere, Abrams 2012

HOME NOVOGRATZ COFFEE TABLE BOOK

Home by Novogratz, Artisan 2012

YOUNG HOUSE LOVE BLOG BOOK

Young House Love, Artisan 2012

AMANDA NISBET DAZZLING DESIGN RIZZOLI

Amanda Nisbet Dazzling Design, Stewart, Tabori & Chang 2012

THE ART BOOK NEW EDITION PHAIDON 2012

The Art Book, Phaidon 2012

THIS OLD HOUSE BEST OF BOOK

This Old House The Best Homes, Abrams 2012

alvar-aalto-houses-2012

Alvar Aalto Houses, Princeton Architectural Press 2012

THOM FILICIA AMERICAN BEAUTY BOOK

Thom Filicia American Beauty, Clarkson Potter 2012

Roman-and-Williams-Things-We-Made

Roman and Williams Things We Made, Rizzoli 2012

AM ATELIER INTERIORS DESIGN BOOK

Interiors | Atelier AM, Rizzoli 2012

THE ICONIC INTERIOR

The Iconic Interior, Abrams 2012

200 SMALL APARTMENT IDEAS BOOK

200 Small Apartment Ideas, Firefly Books 2012

ANN GETTY DECORATING STYLE BOOK

Ann Getty Interior Style, Rizzoli 2012

LARS BOLANDER INTERIOR DESIGNER SWEDEN BOOK

 Lars Bolander Interior Design and Inspiration, TeNeues 2012

ERIC COHLER INTERIOR DESIGN COFFEE TABLE BOOK

Eric Cohler Cohler on Design, The Monacelli Press 2012

DARRYL CARTER WASHINGTON DC DECORATOR

Darryl Carter The Collected Home, Clarkson Potter 2012

FRENCH FLAIR MODERN VINTAGE DESIGN BOOK FLAMMARION

French Flair Modern Vintage Interiors, Flammarion 2012