There’s nothing like a tome that’s page-turning and chic all at once. Here are some reads that are great to look through and beautiful to display in your home.
BY: Zibby Owens
I’m obsessed with wallpaper. I could read home design magazines, browse through websites, and devour social media posts. In my novel Blank, my main character, Pippa, has a secret side hustle as an “open house bandit” with a viral Instagram account depicting the best homes around. (Confession: I will always pull over for an open house, especially in the Hamptons.)
But what I really love are gorgeous coffee-table books packed with luscious photographs and covet-worthy décor. Display these on your Hamptons side tables to start even better conversations and motivate you to, perhaps, at least pick up the pillows all over the floor.
The Decorated Home: Living with Style and Joy, by Meg Braff
Think: Southampton, Nantucket, Locust Valley. Designer Meg Braff is not only the nicest woman in the design industry, she’s also an entrepreneur, an artist, and immensely talented. She even has her own line of wallpaper. (See: wallpaper obsession.)
Entertaining Beautifully, by Aerin Lauder
Aerin Lauder, whose family has been in the Hamptons for decades, is the gold standard. Classic. Elegant. Refined. Aspirational. Seemingly effortless. Her Aerin stores and tableware capture that timeless vibe.
Dream Spaces, by Victoria Hagan
If you like blue (my favorite color), you’ll love Victoria Hagan’s homes — and you’ll be able to spot one from a mile away. Her signature color offers beachy, breezy style meets uptown sophistication.
Perspective, by Stephen Gambrel
Dark lacquer walls and whimsy? Stephen Gambrel’s interiors are packed with personal photos, loaded with sumptuous fabrics, and designed to make you feel cocooned.
Island Whimsy: Designing a Paradise, by the Sea by Celerie Kemble
Beach chic? Yes, please. Hamptons regular Celerie Kemble exudes that rarefied country club feeling, and she’s the ultimate insider.
James Huniford: At Home, by James Huniford
“Ford” Huniford is the master of calm, found objects, historic Bridgehampton, and making the most unlikely pairings look natural and visually perfect for all his projects.
Cullman & Kravis Interiors, by Elissa Cullman
Decadent or simple, Ellie Cullman has been setting the standard for interior design for decades with elegance, class, exceptional taste, and a gift for pairing multiple fabrics to create a cozy, captivating home.
Oliver Cope Architect: City-Country-Sea
Charming, gifted, and ultra-knowledgable, industry leader Oliver Cope designs homes for real living that create a sense of elegance, scale, comfort, and interaction with the outdoors.
