THE WELL READ GIRL

Kate Spade sure knows her books AND her pocket books - Spade stores have almost as many vintage display books as they do bags. Which gave her an idea...

Books that are purses!!!

Notice that these clutches are a numbered series from "Kate Spade Publishing." Try to collect every "volume!"

Now you can "read" ...even if you're not in the library!

Or anywhere in particular...

If you'd like to find your own great vintage book covers to decorate with, visit the Database of Vintage Book Covers.

Or just throw down some cash at Anthropologie...

Book covers in spades - these are Andy Spade's displays. Do try this at home:  just print out some of the covers from the Database (above) and frame them! Your walls will be well read.

And, if you'd like to pretend your laptop is a vintage bookstore, visit Kate Spade's special online section "Arguments for Looking at Books Instead of Reading Them," to download wallpapers/book covers with vintage designs.
Images:  Database of Vintage Book Covers, Andy Spade images, Kate Spade ads, more Kate Spade ads.

C is for Cute

I came across a darling book this week - it's a fashion alphabet, called When Royals Wore Ruffles. The illustrations, by Chesley McLaren, are wonderfully whimsical. McLaren is no stranger to fashion - she's sketched looks from Chanel to McQueen, and her work has been featured by Henri Bendel, Express, and Estee Lauder. And, she illustrated Town and Country's Social Graces. Need I say more? (SUCH a T&C fan!) Without further ado, a sampling of her illustrations (see below for book information).

All images, Amazon.com. To purchase, visit When Royals Wore Ruffles: A Funny and Fashionable Alphabet!

HUE: Decorating With Color

In the design world, Kelly Wearstler is as divisive as Lady Gaga's costume choices are for the fashion set. So if you're a nay skip on down to the next post. If you're a yay, feast your eyes! Thanks to Amazon.com's nifty book preview gadget, here are excerpts from Wearstler's upcoming book, and Hue is certainly the obvious title for this tome. It could also be called brave: this woman is NOT afraid of color. She has cornered color, beat it up, and sentenced it to 20 years. Pattern will soon follow.

Kelly Wearstler is armed with Birds of Paradise, concrete shells, and peach sofas - and she is here to conquer.

Some of my favorite scenes from Wearstler's first book, Modern Glamor, are of her shopping in to the trade only stores. The goods are mouth-watering - just like these trims below.

Mellow yellow, canary yellow, sunny yellow, I love all yellow. Notice the interesting effect on the walls - can't tell from the pic, but it's obviously a wallpaper or leather. The bed is faintly chinoiserie, and the central light is faintly mushroom.

Kelly Wearstler is Palm Beach on speed.

Her influences are truly global (her second home, featured in Domicilium Decoratus, includes numerous exotic pieces from Eastern and Central Asia). Here the fabric is a lovely Indian ikat, and the teapot evokes India with a burnished glaze and lotus adornment. Lovely, soft shades.

And sometimes, you just wonder what's going on. Sitting in hands? My issue is with that cottage lattice window - it's fighting the room. If you're going to spend a billion dollars on antiques, get new windows! But maybe the windows go better with the outside of the house? Get a new house!! You have a billion dollars, after all.

On the other hand... (ha ha), this looks normal. As normal as Wearstler gets! Love the layering with different shades and textures in orange.

Hue is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

All images, Amazon.com.

Best New Book: Tony Duquette

Everything about the late TD bespoke opulance, from the superfluous letters of his surname to his motto, "more is more," now the title of a new book on Duquette. This glossy tome by TD firm president Hutton Wilkinson builds upon Duquette's UCLA lecture, "The Enchanted Vision," and features layer upon layer of luscious photographs. The book also proves the versatile nature of his vision, from set design to jewelry. I was inspired to track down some images of Duquette jewelry currently available (Wilkinson is keeping the firm going). It's safe to say, opulence is alive and well. Have you ever seen anything so exquisitely decadent? And yes, it's all real.

Pic 1, amazon.com. Pic 2, Elle.com. All others, tonyduquette.com.

The Curtained Bookcase

Last week, I posted about book storage solutions, and one of my favorites (and yours too!) was a curtained bookcase. A curtain-covered bookcase is such a versatile idea - why? Well, it gives you two completely separate walls for the price of one, it protects your treasures (or conceals your clutter), and it can completely change the feel of a room. Let's pull back the curtain, shall we?

Here's a GREAT curtain option from Elle Decor. Notice the wonderful combination of color and open space shelving. Note the bed in the lower RH corner. Now look through the shelves... what's on the other side?

Ta da! There's a living room! This is such a great idea for studio spaces or too open room plans. Very similar shelving is available at IKEA - and with some clever curtain and mirror placement, you can give the illusion of a wall while retaining all your natural light. An enthusiastic two thumbs up.

And now a little Old World inspiration - this page from the 1705 Frauen-Zimmer Bibliotheckgen (or Little Lady's Library, as we like to say in English), a guide to book-collecting for women. Obviously, this German damsel was ahead of her day: her bookcases are duly swathed, and the material appears to match the cloth cover on the desk beside her.

Flash-forward: here's a welcome solution for infrequently used books and other items. The curtain takes on the personality of a wall, with a decorative mirror hanging as wall decor. Note the cheery lining on the curtain. (P.S. If you're storing large quantities of books out of sight, it might be helpful to have a record of where things are. I recommend Library Thing - an awesome online version of your library. It includes cover views, subject categories, and for $20, a tool to scan your books directly into the system. It's like having your own library catalogue).

More storage solutions, for mini cases. Curtaining smaller bookcases is a great way to add several square feet of storage space. The stuff you stash doesn't have to be pretty, or even organized: the curtain hides all.

Last look: country chic over at Cote de Texas. With this design, the curtains remain stationary, softening the look of the cases.

By the way, be sure to visit the Cote de Texas page on bookcases for a marvelous selection of book storage options and libraries.

Pic 1 and 2, Elle Decor via Apartment Therapy, Pic 2, http://beineckeearlymodern.wordpress.com/, Pic 3, http://www.bhg.com/decorating/small-spaces/strategies/live-large-in-a-small-space/?page=2, Pic 4, http://www.passingopenwindows.com/. Pic 6, http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2008/08/living-with-books-lots-of-them.html.

All the Pretty Books

If, like me, books are a big part of your life, you've probably struggled with how to display them. Because books are both decorative objects AND something you use, displaying them can be a balancing act between accessing and preserving them, and not letting them take over your home. 

For instance, you should not do this (books as coffee ring and dust collectors):

One of the best guides out there on how to care for your home (and tomes) is Home Comforts, by Cheryl Mendelson. Mendelson has written the modern bible for home and fabric care, and she advises several basics for book care:  keep them away from sun, if possible. Shelve upright instead of stacking when you can (and never put them on the floor), and hang onto book jackets - they protect the book and increase its value.

Here's one of my favorite book display techniques:  color splash!  Arranging by color makes a statement, and depending on what colors you choose to display, and how you combine them, it can be a very original look - and very modern.

Or, you can avoid color altogether and go monochrome, for a more elegant look.

Great SHELVES are also a key for displaying your books. Shelves are to books like frames are to pictures:  they define the look and give it unity. And, they keep your books in good condition.

Good choice for the magazine collector:

For mixing books and display items:

Incorporating art with shelves (just keep in mind those are books you can't access):

Built-ins are perfect for small spaces:

Great for any space:  personalize the most banal bookshelf with color:

CURTAINED bookcases. This is a great idea. Why?  You protect your books from the light and dust, and you can completely change the look of your room - library by day, luxe living room by night. Genius! 

Using wall coverings, instead of shelves, to define the look:

Get more milage out of book storage by using books with other pieces of furniture, like a hall table. The combination of wallpaper, frames, and color is creative and sophisticated.

What are your favorite book display tricks?

pic 1, http://lovinglivingsmall.blogspot.com/2008/08/coffee-table-made-out-of-books.html. pic 2, http://www.instructables.com/community/Anyone-interested-in-table-legs-made-from-books/, pic 3, http://ffffound.com/home/lillylovesyou/found/?offset=25&, pic 4, http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoulterenright/507549974/in/photostream, pic 5, http://www.flickr.com/photos/22876714@N03/3667157718/, pic 6, West Elm, pic 7 - 11, Domino, pic 12, http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html.

The Well-Read Look

I love pretty things, Anthropologie, and books, so when I find pretty books at Anthropologie - perfect! Below are a few snapshots of my favorite tomes - worth the reading, and perfect for decorating - your coffee table, bedstand, or display shelf. 

Valentino:  A Grand Italian Epic

What Would Audrey Do? 

Jaime Hayon Works

Sarah Midda's South of France

This is London

The Cultivated Life

All images, Anthropologie.com