Several new books have popped up in my mailbox lately and they really make me want to have a proper library to store them all. I am a book-aholic of epic proportions and I have happy to share my latest treasures with you all.

First up is French Chateau Style by Catherine Scotto with photos by Marie-Pierre Morel. A MUST HAVE. 150%. I loved this so much I read it twice in a row. As you all know j’adore les châteaux and this book is about “ordinary” people having the absolute privilege of living and restoring some of the most beautiful châteaux I have ever seen. (This book was tough to photograph because the pages had a matte finish but that made the photos that much more beautiful in person).
The doors of centuries-old French chateaux are thrown wide open in this sumptuous photographic cross-country tour. Readers will gain entry to a stunning array of stylish private homes within beautiful restored buildings, each one representing very different approaches to décor and preservation. From Normandy to Provence and everywhere in between the owners of these chateaux—including decorators, antique dealers, artists, and collectors—represent the epitome of French culture and taste. There’s something for everyone here—whether it’s homes where simplicity and minimalism reign, rooms as exuberantly busy as a 17th-century tapestry, or interiors transformed by surprising, era-bending feats. 

Next is a book as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Currently Classic: Jonathan Rachman Design by Jonathan Rachman and Dean Rhys-Morgan with photographs by Douglas Friedman and Suzanna Scott, and illustrated by Marc-Antoine Coulon. The homes in this book are luxurious and decadent, but there is so much inspiration in each of the projects on how to use colour, how to be adventurous and displaying collections seemingly effortlessly.
Jonathan Rachman’s instantly classic designs come to life in vibrant and sumptuous color in this first monograph on the Sumatran-born, San Francisco–based interior decorator. He opens the doors to his universe in this volume illustrating his eclectic, vividly colorful, and markedly refined style, through various projects undertaken for prestigious clients. Rachman injects his projects with his own wide-reaching, worldly experience, his explorations into provincial flea markets, and his taste for textiles, leather goods, handicrafts, and art objects. In each of his designs, he combines the best materials from the East and the West, devising personalized plans for his clients and creating a timeless approach to interior design.

Doing something a little different today to get in the holiday spirit. And to do that I always gravitate towards Sköna hem because as is the case with this Swedish farm (built in 1854), the Swedes really know how to do simple holiday décor really well. Happy holidays! (Photos: Johanna Hagbard)

Carla Fonts, founder of Dunbar Road Design, comes from a distinguished background as her parents are both part of prominent Havana families. Her grandmother and mother were the type of women who traveled to Paris to purchase table linens for entertaining. In 1958 after being exiled from Cuba, her family eventually made their way to Palm Beach, where her grandmother rented a glamorous 1920s-era home…located on Dunbar Road; hence the inspiration behind Dunbar Road Design’s name and aesthetic. 
And this is their project Serene Abode located in Dallas, Texas and it is just that – serene and effortlessly elegant. Complete with an exquisite kitchen.

I adore this home in Warsaw, Poland designed by Colombe Studio. The fun, vibrant colours and the curvy trim detail repeated throughout – that big glorious mirror, doors, kitchen cabinetry and doorways. The result is unique and whimsical. (Photos: Depasquale+Maffini)

A total refurbishment to create a grand neoclassical duplex with contemporary interventions for our clients London residence. The design incorporates many unique and bespoke elements, for instance the kitchen has been designed by K&H and made by Halstock.
1800 sq ft of curves with touches of sophistication as well as bits of whimsy. Beautiful work by K&H Design.