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

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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

Designer Spotlight: David Hicks

I recently worked with Ashley Hicks, designer and son of legendary designer David Hicks, on an article for eBay’s new lifestyle site, The Inside Source, “Ashley Hicks on His Father, David,” to promote his new book, David Hicks: A Life of Design. The book is worth an actual read, rather than a simple flip to look at the pretty pictures.

What struck me most, besides Hicks’ incredibly privileged, glam lifestyle, was how many of his design innovations endured. A number of features seen in his room throughout the ’60s and ’70s, are au courant today.

Left: David Hicks at home, Albany, London (Derry Moore)

Right: David Hicks, summer 1958 with his pug, Algy (David Hicks Archive)

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CHANDELIERS and ORNATE MIRRORS IN THE BATHROOM

Left: David Hicks  (David Hicks Archive)    |      Right: Vogue

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SHEEPSKIN THROW RUGS BESIDE THE BEDLeft: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath) |  Right: Robin Pelissier

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DEEP PURPLE PARLORS

Top: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath)

Bottom: Steven Gambrel

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FUR THROWS  and  GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath)

Left: Jeff Andrews Design    |    Right: Color Theory

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OVERSIZE FLORAL WALLPAPERDavid Hicks (David Hicks Archive)

M. Design

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ZEBRA SKIN RUGS IN THE LIBRARY

Left: David Hicks  (David Hicks Archive)
Right: Alessandra Branca, Architectural Digest

LUCITE FURNITURE WITH BLACK WALLS

David Hicks (photo by John T. Hill)

Spruce Design & Decor

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TRELLIS PATTERNS IN KELLY GREEN

Left: David Hicks (photo by Norman McGrath) Right: Mark Hampton

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