Color Is Home: A Brave Guide to Designing Classic Interiors

Designer Coote debuts with a lovely look at how to craft a “unique and authentic” home. “Creating a sense of timelessness... is the philosophy that underpins all my projects,” she writes, which means avoiding trends and looking for inspiration everywhere, whether browsing catalogs or traveling. To help readers realize their own timeless interiors, Coote lays out her design principles in easy-to-follow sections dedicated to authenticity (or incorporating one’s personality into design and “inventing your own style”) and functionality (equally as important, as “the best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them”), and suggests getting to work with a mood board. She shares tricks for picking colors (“Choosing a colour that complements the outdoor environment is a great way to start”), deciding on furniture layouts (every seat in a house should be an arm’s reach from a table, she advises), and settling on lighting (try including a mixture of sconces, table lamps, and pendants to avoid harsh overhead fixtures). The lush photos show off interiors that make bold use of color: there’s a stunning green kitchen, a vibrant pink dining room, and a rich blue living area. Readers eager to figure out their own sense of style will love this eye-catching guide. (May)