Books for Home Lovers

The festive season affords some precious downtime to catch up with reading. What better books to turn to than this selection of inspiring reads for those that take an interest in the design of their homes.

BOOKS DO FURNISH A ROOM

This has to be the perfect book on books. Not a manual on what to read but an inspiring book on how to store your books. As Leslie Geddes-Brown, its author, says, "Books are there to be read - and to furnish a room."

For those with an ever increasing collection of tomes, storage is a continual problem whether you've run out of shelf space or are looking for an ingenious storage solution. Lesle Geddes-Brown comes to the rescue with this book studded with fabulous photographs showing how other bibliophiles do it. Whether you have a library or wanting to get some order into your children's collection of books, you will find inspiration here.

Books bring character to a room and seen as a collection almost act as an auto-biography of its owners. From the grand to whacky, Books Do Furnish A Room will delight and with some close-up scrutiny of the photographs will be as illuminating.

To read the full review, click here.
Published by Merrell. £24.95
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WALLPAPER: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Charlotte Abraham's book on Wallpaper is a sumptuous treat that traces its history, through key developments to its manufacture and use in the home. The book is divided into three sections, profiling key designers and manufacturers. Within each section, Abrahams has chosen forty-eight examples of the best, which are reproduced in full size. There is advice on how and where to use wallpaper, mixing florals and geometrics and large scale designs with small prints. Corners, alcoves, cupboard interiors are all ripe for the use of wallpaper, as well as single walls to create bold statements.

Wallpaper is enjoying a renaissance and if you have an interest in home design and decorating, Charlotte Abraham's book is the perfect starting point. Each wallpaper featured in the book is named, along with details of suppliers. There is also practical information on how to hang wallpaper, matching patterns and dealing with tricky areas, making this The Ultimate Guide.

To read the full review, click here.
Published by Quadrille. £30
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ROMANTIC IRISH HOMES

Irish homes definitely have a distinctive personality and Robert O'Byrne catches this in his latest book. One of the best known writers on architecture, fine art and design in Ireland, O'Byrne has chosen fifteen of Ireland's finest homes ranging from simple farmhouses to a fully fledged mansion, yet they all share the same native empathy. Many of the houses featured here have never previously been photographed, making this book a unique insight into domestic architecture in Ireland.

What makes these homes different to their counterparts in England or northern Europe? Given Ireland's inclination towards damp weather, the houses provide a sanctuary from the rain, using colours that work well in artificial light, whilst lifting the heart.

The photography by Simon Brown shows the houses to be whimsical and quirky. You'll find everything in these photographs from ancient wiring, damp corners and faded curtains, shown against dramatic vistas. Some of these houses may have seen better days, but they are loved and lived in and every bit as charming as the Irish people themselves.

Published by Merrell. £25
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LAURA ASHLEY

Martin Wood has written a charming and highly readable account of Laura Ashley and the design empire that she built with her husband, Bernard. As he says, "Laura and Bernard Ashley were a remarkable couple ..." and indeed they were. From the first days of printing neck scarves at their kitchen table in Pimlico in 1953 to the creation of this international brand, Wood has drawn on material and first hand accounts from family friends and colleagues.

Martin Wood chronicles the designs, products and styles that made the brand such a huge household name. He cites Laura Ashley's sources of inspiration and Bernard's eye for design, all of which is accompanied by over 200 photographs and drawings, many of which have never been seen before in public.

This is a fascinating story, well told although cut short by Laura Ashley's untimely death in 1985.

Published by Frances Lincoln. £35
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