INTERIOR INSPIRATION
BY KATE KINGSTON
Kate Kingston, Managing Director of Kingston Shaw, an award winning
interior design company with offices on the Wirral, London and Dubai,
shares with us the latest trends for creating the perfect home.
YOU CAN JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER:
BETTER TO JUDGE A SPACE BY ITS BOOKS!
I don’t know about you but I love a good read and have collected
coffee table books about design for years. I find them not only
inspirational and motivational but let’s face it they are the ultimate
styling accessory. Have you ever wondered where the phenomenon
of the coffee table book came from and what was the first book with
that title?
Firstly, a coffee table book is an oversized, most often hard-covered book
intended for display on a table or a location where it is available to guests
to spark conversation.
Usually, the subject matter is non-fiction and based on photos, in order
to be skimmed or appreciated quickly by guests or the reader.
The current usage of the term “coffee table book” goes back at least as
far as the 19th century. Usage of the term is often traced back to David
Brower and his idea for a book series that combined nature photography
with brief text on the subject. At the time, Brower was the executive
director of the Sierra Club. In outlining his idea, Brower described: “A
page size big enough to carry a given image’s dynamic. The eye must
be required to move about within the boundaries of the image, not
encompass it all in one glance.”
The first book to definitively earn the label of coffee table book was 'This is
the American Earth', published in 1960. The book included photographs
by Ansel Adams, as well as text by Nancy Newhall. The book started the
'Exhibit Format' series, which went on to include 20 titles.
I have picked a few of my favourites to share with you, and as it is nearing
the festive season, they may just inspire a present or two.
1. Published to coincide with the 70th
anniversary of Farrow & Ball, this guide
shows you how to use paint and paper to
transform your home and the best ways of
embracing the joys of home decoration.
2. Elements of Style is a uniquely personal and
practical decorating guide that shows how
designing a home can be an outlet of personal
expression and an exercise in self-discovery.
Erin draws on her ten years of experience in
the interior design industry, so it comprises
of stunning photography and useful hints.
64 wirrallife.com
3. 'The Finer Things'. Christiane Lemieux
set out to answer this question by
interviewing the world's greatest experts.
Weaving together the insights and
guidance of dozens of wallpaper and paint
specialists, textile fabricators, accessories,
artisans, and interior designers, Lemieux
has curated an unparalleled education
in recognizing the hallmarks of timeless,
heirloom-quality pieces.
4. Influential art director and stylist Hans
Blomquist starts off by exploring the
essence of his style. If you are obsessed with
making your home look and feel natural
this is the book for you. Blomquest’s use of
texture is second to none!
5. No one who knows me will be surprised
to see this book on the list, as we have
featured in it a couple of times and it
is considered the ‘Who’s Who ‘ of the
interiors world. A valuable source of
inspiration!
6. At once a style guide, an inspirational
tome, and a how-to volume on creating
one’s home, this book will serve as a go-
to reference for all those seeking to spur
their own creativity as they embark on the
creation of home. 'The House that Pinterest
Built' defines what home and house mean
to the celebrated movie star, who is known
for her love affair with houses and design.
Filled with ideas that reveal a personal yet
engaging aesthetic.
7. This lavishly photographed interiors
book shows how to leave behind design
"rules" to create truly beautiful, original
interiors. For over 20 years, Kit Kemp has
been at the forefront of the international
design community, with her signature style
that mixes contemporary elements with
antiques and junk-shop finds, luxurious
fabrics with printed wallpapers and hand
finished detailing with collections of
simple objects that create impact.