Book Review - Segreto:Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors

I have an obsession with beautiful design books, as many of you do, and recently added a new one to my ever growing collection. I received a complimentary copy of Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors and have really enjoyed flipping through all 300 pages of inspiring spaces. Segreto Finishes is a premier decorative painting and plastering company in Houston, TX. Leslie Sinclair, the owner, self- published this book, which is filled with stunning interiors, focusing on why different finishes were chosen for different architectural and design styles.

Each chapter walks you through stunning homes that have plastered walls, stenciled ceilings, custom finished cabinetry and so much more! Although my style is usually more transitional and modern, the traditional interiors of this book are absolutely amazing and I'm left feeling inspired. It's a great reminder that there's so much more you can do with a wall than simply paint it! And custom finishes really do add that special touch to a surface. Below are some images from the book to give you an idea of what to expect. You can see more of the book and read personal notes from Leslie Sinclair on her blog  by clicking here.

Would you like to WIN a  copy of this gorgeous book? If so, please leave a comment at the end of this post! The winner will be announced next week. To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” from the website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here. Happy Friday and have a great weekend! xoxo - Julie

[IMAGES COURTESY OF SEGRETO FINISHES; IMAGES #4 AND #8 WERE TAKEN BY MY CAMERA OF THE BOOK ITSELF]

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What's New: Fabulous Decorating Books

There are a plethora of fantastic home decor books that have recently been released, along with several publications that will be released in the coming months. While I haven't had that chance to personally review all of the books featured in today's post, I've selected the ones that look the most interesting and exciting to me. My apartment is filled with stacks of big, colorful art & design books, which I refer to quite often for inspiration. You can never have too many fabulous books, right?! Which book catches your eye in today's round-up? Any others that you'd like to share with us?

[A beautiful library designed by Windsor Smith. I love the way she arranged the books by color. Image found here]

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[Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney]

[Martyn Lawrence-Bullard: Live, Love, and Decorate; I'll be reviewing my advanced copy over the weekend and will report back to you about it next week!]

 [The New French Interior by Penny Drue Baird]

 [Patina Style by Brooke Giannetti & Steve Giannetti]

[Preston Bailey Flowers: Centerpieces, Place Setting, Ceremonies, and Parties; I'll be sharing my personal review of this book in the coming weeks!]
 

 [Michael S. Smith Kitchens & Baths]

 [Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Inspiration and Cues from Today's Top Designers written by Susanna Salk]

 [Black and White (and a Bit in Between): Timeless Interiors, Dramatic Accents, and Stylish Collections written by Celerie Kemble; I can't WAIT to get my hands on this book!]

[The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well by Deborah Needleman]

 [Essentially Irish by Josephine Ryan]

[Katie Ridder Rooms written by Heather Smith MacIsaac]

[Exotic Taste: Orientalist Interiors written by Emmanuelle Gaillard]

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Accessorizing with Books

I'm obsessed with big, chunky design/decorating/art books and have stacks of them around my apartment. Most people tend to shove all of their books in a bookcase or onto shelving, but there are many other creative ways to organize and arrange them. If you're looking for a quick update, gather up the books around your house and try something new! I've rounded up some great examples to get your creative juices flowing. And if you have ideas or ways you enjoy arranging books, let us know :)

Stack them high enough to double as an accent table 

Stack them at different heights on a chest and accessorize with found objects

Add color and interest to a room by filling in the open space below a table or nightstand with books

Pile them on a cool chair

If you have a kitchen or dining table you don't use very often, fill the table with beautiful books and accessories

If you do place your books in a bookcase, make things more interesting by arranging them by color. You can always remove the book jackets (especially from hardback novels), which might give you more solid colors to work with. 

Stacked books double as a tiny accent table in a super small space

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IMAGE CREDITS: LONNY MAG; HOUSE & HOME

Styling Bookshelves

Today I'm sharing some fabulous ideas on how to organize and style bookshelves. I discovered all of these wonderful photos via Real Simple. There are so many clever and easy ways to make the most of your bookcase or shelving. The goal is for your shelves to be functional as well as stylish and put together.

I love the idea of layering empty frames of all sizes in a bookcase or on a mantle. If you have any old / unused picture frames, spray paint them with a fresh coat of color for an instant new look.

Another way to add interest and make the objects on your shelves stand out is to paint the background an accent color. I like how they've grouped together a collection of white vases and fun shaped glasses.

Colorful boxes keep this cabinet organized and stylish.

Fill a jar with seashells or any other found object and use as a bookend.

Display a collection of clocks, globes, etc. alongside stacks of neutral books.

A clever way to disguise your bookshelves by hanging simple fabric panels.

Create different heights by stacking books on their sides as well as arranging them upright. Mix in different objects such as boxes, bowls, etc.

I love all of the funky letters mixed in with books and interesting objects.

The deep teal accent paint looks fresh and makes the colorful books really pop.

Quote of the Week

"The best decoration in the world is a roomful of books."

- Billy Baldwin

PHOTO CREDITS: (1) JJ LOCATIONS; (2) ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST; (3-5) POINT CLICK HOME

***belle maison give-away***

For today's "giving back" Tuesdays post, I wanted to give something away to one lucky visitor/reader of my blog. I recently did a post about upcoming design books that have not yet been released and received a ton of comments about the new Domino Book of Decorating. Everyone is so excited about this book (myself included), that I decided to give someone a chance to win it! All you have to do is leave me a comment answering one question: what do you feel is the most important room in a home and why?

Thank you for participating! I really value your input and comments. Good luck to all :)

The winner will be announced Friday Night (September 19th).

Get Yours: Hot New Design Books

I can't wait for the following design books to be released, especially Domino's Book of Decorating (below). All of these will make great additions to my design library, which is desperately in need of new and inspiring reads! Domino: The Book of Decorating: A room-by-room guide to creating a home that makes you happy - By Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, Dara Caponigro (release date 10-14-08)
Regency Redux: High Style Interiors - Napoleonic, Classical Moderne, Hollywood Regency, and Contemporary - By Emily Eerdmans (release date 10-21-08)

Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste - Creating Modern Rooms with a Traditional Twist -

By Celerie Kemble (release date 11-4-08)

Liaigre - By Christian Liaigre, Thomas Luntz (release date 9-3-08)

Michael S.Smith Houses - By Michael Smith, Christine Pittel (release date 10-21-08)

A Passion for Blue & White - Carolyne Roehm (release date 10-28-08)

To pre-order your book(s) of choice through the belle bookstore (sponsored by amazon) or to browse through a list of recommended design books, click here. Happy reading!