There is just a plethora of incredible design information out there; between design books, magazines, blogs, podcasts and tv shows you could make a full-time job just out of gathering information. One of my favorite things to do is head to a bookstore or library or just camp out in the middle of my living room with a stack of home decor books and start shuffling through. It makes my as giddy as a little girl about to dig into a giant salted carmel cupcake.
When I crack open that first book my head starts racing with excitement and ideas that by the time I look up hours have passed and I have a slew of photographs, doodles and notes written in every direction. My husband always gets a kick out of my note taking skills, or lack thereof I should say.
Below is a list of the top 10 books that I have continually been turning to for inspiration as of late. They range in styles from modern and minimal to artists homes to flea market style. I love diversity, so that is what you will find in here.
Where do you turn for inspiration and which home decor books can you not live without?
1. Books Do Furnish A Room by Leslie Geddes-Brown
2. Handcrafted Modern by Leslie Williamson
3. living modern: the sourcebook of contemporary interiors by Richard Powers
4. The Art of Living by Barbel Miebach
5. flea market style by Emily Chalmers and Debi Treloar
6. Creative Walls by Geraldine James
7. Metropolitan Home Design 100: The Last Word on Modern Interiors by Michael Lassell
8. a perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life by Mary Randolph Carter
9. Interiors Now! Volume 1 by Angelika Taschen {Volume 2 is available 06/2011}
10. Decorate: 1,000 design ideas for every room in your home by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick
More Info: The Best of 2010 Design & Decor Books
Images: group of books by Alysha Findley, book covers as linked above
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I do same thing with photography books although same happens with home decor books occasionally. And i spend lot of time at bookstores just browsing...
Omg! I just put 90% percent of these books on my Amazon.com wishlist! I can't wait to purchase them.
I have so many books that I was contemplating how I have too much as I pack for a cross-country move; how they're bearing down on me, and I need to do something else w them. The books book is something I need!
I like Domino: The Book of Decorating. Lots of good ideas in there.
In the pic there's a book with the amazing name "Undecorate" but I think it's not in the list. More info please?
@tulpoeid. The book in my picture is Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design by Christiane Lemieux. It ended up not making the cut but is a GREAT book, my list could have been 3x as long :) Enjoy!
Domino's book is still one of my favs too, still very disappointed they closed their doors.
I have a number of books on small spaces or Japanese design which I love. I don't have any of the above but they all look great. The cover of The Art of Living is cool.
I didn't really like undecorate, thinking of selling it on amazon's marketplace.
I'm subscribed to 3 different design magazines for this very reason. I'm currently in the process of pulling out the articles that are my favorite so I can declutter... I have a wonderful compilation of about 300 articles... I love it.
I'm glad to see a list of good books for this too, the more ideas, the better!
I don't need no stinking book! LOL I have more than enough in the way of ideas from all of you *wagging tail*
I flicked through Undecorate and was underwhelmed. If you have looked at World of Interiors, you feel as if you have seen this all before.
Perfect Neutrals by Stephanie Hoppen is a favorite book. This is the older Hoppen, mother of Kelly Hoppen. Unlike her daughter, she is not afraid of color. In fact she believes many colors can be considered a neutral and goes on to demonstrate this.
One of my favorite design books is "HUE" by Kelly Wearstler! I call her the Lady Gaga of interior design =)
I also can't top the Domino book of decorating and can get new ideas even though it's been pored over many times. Where are the Domino people and when are they going to do a comeback?
I was very impressed by Decorate by Holly Becker.
One of my all time favorite publishers of modern design is AM Editores of Mexico. They have a catalog of books that are all PACKED FULL of images. Most of them are printed with Spanish, German, Frenh and English all in concordance. But, being design books, it doesn't matter if they are in Spanish. I've never been dissapointed with ANY of these books
http://www.ameditores.com/english/startup.htm
Another one for Domino's book, but my top favorite has to be the Apartment Therapy book that got me interested in interior design! I never knew that you could incorporate yourself into your home and keep it tasteful. I keep asking for it for Christmas and not getting it. I'm surprised the library wont just let me keep it considering how many times I've borrowed it. If I knew where there was a book store these days I'd go buy it. Guess I'll have to try Amazon.