{"id":38965,"date":"2025-09-26T12:38:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T12:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/38965\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T12:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T12:38:11","slug":"11-interior-design-books-pros-reference-and-recommend-time-and-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/38965\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Interior Design Books Pros Reference (and Recommend!) Time and Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

The digital age may have streamlined design project timelines and workflows, but it has yet to replace a studio\u2019s reference library. Spreading open large interior design books across a desk\u2014whether for inspiration, learning, or just a break\u2014still offers something no screen can match. And while it’s always nice to survey the season\u2019s buzzy new releases<\/a>, every practice has its tried-and-trues.<\/p>\n

We asked designers for their all-time favorite interior design books\u2014the ones with folded corners, loosened bindings, and coffee stains from years of use. (Some of the pros we interviewed even admitted to being on their second or third copies of select titles!) From historical compendiums to heartening monographs, see below for their 11 recommended reads.<\/p>\n

The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones<\/p>\n

The Grammar of Ornament<\/p>\n

By Owen Jones (1856)<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst published in 1856, it\u2019s a compendium of decorative motifs across cultures and centuries\u2014Greek, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, and beyond. Its rigor and breadth make it an unparalleled reference, and it\u2019s a reminder that design is a continuum: Every pattern and object has a lineage, and innovation often begins with looking back.\u201d\u2014Sarah Lederman, Sarah Lederman Interiors<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Hampton on Decorating by Mark Hampton<\/p>\n

Mark Hampton on Decorating<\/p>\n

By Mark Hampton (1989)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe division of subject matter by rooms and color and the masterful explanations are forever inspiring.\u201d \u2014Ellen Hamilton, Hamilton Design Associates<\/a><\/p>\n

Case Study Houses by Elizabeth A. T. Smith<\/p>\n

Case Study Houses<\/p>\n

By Elizabeth A. T. Smith (2002)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s an easy one: Case Study Houses. There\u2019s something about that era of residential architecture in the United States that continues to resonate with me. The clarity of ideas, the integration of indoor and outdoor living, and the experimentation with form and material all inform nearly every design decision I make today.\u201d\u2014Mathew McGrane, Mathew McGrane Architect<\/a><\/p>\n

Jacques Grange: Interiors by Pierre Passebon<\/p>\n

Jacques Grange: Interiors<\/p>\n

By Pierre Passebon (2009)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe keep coming back to Jacques Grange: Interiors. Jacques has been an inspiration to the studio for a long time. His way of blending art into interiors feels effortless, and his versatility across different styles is something we really admire. His work has definitely shaped how we think about styling and living with art in our own projects.\u201d\u2014Lauren Geremia, Geremia Design<\/a><\/p>\n

The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard<\/p>\n

The Poetics of Space<\/p>\n

By Gaston Bachelard (1958)<\/p>\n

\u201cI go back to this book because it looks at space from the inside out and how we actually live in rooms, corners, and everyday places. As a designer, it\u2019s a reminder that renderings and drawings only tell part of the story. The real challenge is shaping spaces that people feel connected to, and this book helps us keep that perspective at the center of our work.\u201d \u2014Artem Kropovinsky, Arsight Studio<\/a><\/p>\n

Fearless Living by Jean-Phillippe Demeyer<\/p>\n

Fearless Living<\/p>\n

By Jean-Phillippe Demeyer (2018)<\/p>\n

\u201cI am obsessed with the boldness, the color, the \u2018I don’t care what you think\u2019 attitude.\u201d \u2014Alicia Cheung, Alicia Cheung Design<\/a><\/p>\n

Arent Pyke: Interiors Beyond the Primary Palette by Arent Pyke<\/p>\n

Arent Pyke: Interiors Beyond the Primary Palette<\/p>\n

By Arent Pyke (2023)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s full of gorgeous details and heavy use of natural materials that are mouth-watering. It never gets old, never disappoints.\u201d \u2014Jennie Bishop, Bishop Studio<\/a><\/p>\n

The Way We Live by Stafford Cliff<\/p>\n

The Way We Live<\/p>\n

By Stafford Cliff (2003)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many fantastic books that cover one style, but The Way We Live has a bit of everything. There are over 1,000 photographs [within it]. On just one page you can see images from San Francisco to Mauritius to Scotland to Cairo. All of Stafford Cliff\u2019s books are wonderful. This is the best starter.\u201d \u2014Frances Merrill, Reath Design<\/a><\/p>\n

Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone<\/p>\n

Live Beautiful<\/p>\n

By Athena Calderone (2020)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a reminder that good design doesn\u2019t have to shout, it just needs to resonate. We turn to it often for its layering, mood, and the emotional intelligence behind the spaces. It aligns with how we design: intention-first, beauty-second, always timeless.\u201d \u2014Lauren Lerner, Living with Lolo<\/a><\/p>\n

Fornasetti: The Complete Universe by Barnaba Fornasetti<\/p>\n

Fornasetti: The Complete Universe<\/p>\n

By Barnaba Fornasetti (2010)<\/p>\n

\u201cFornasetti was one of one\u2014and so much more than the famous faces on candles. His career was prolific, experimental, endlessly curious, and full of wit. Every time I open the book, I end up going down a different path of inspiration: Sometimes it\u2019s the surrealist patterns, sometimes the unexpected juxtapositions, sometimes the color combinations or just the sheer playfulness. It\u2019s a reminder that design is allowed to invite wonder.\u201d \u2014Meeshie Fahmy, Haus of Meeshie<\/a><\/p>\n

A Place to Call Home by Gil Schafer III<\/p>\n

A Place to Call Home<\/p>\n

By Gil Schafer III (2017)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book inspires me time and time again. The intricate millwork, the small details, and the seemingly effortless luxury he executes so well are intoxicating.\u201d\u2014Nicole Fisher, Nicole Fisher Interiors<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The digital age may have streamlined design project timelines and workflows, but it has yet to replace a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":38966,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[27271,412,2686,146,2664,85,46],"class_list":{"0":"post-38965","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-ad-pro","9":"tag-books","10":"tag-ecommerce","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-features","13":"tag-il","14":"tag-israel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}