Do you dream of building or owning a home in a natural setting– a desert oasis, woodsy hideaway, or beachfront property? Designing and decorating your home to reflect its surroundings can add panache and character to a living space. Learn tips on incorporating nature inside and out with these five books.
For inspirational homes surrounded by trees select Into the Woods: Retreats and Dream Houses by Philip Jodidio. Small and square, this book features something for everyone with houses from all over the world and of all different styles. Each entry includes floor plans and architectural notes. You’ll find interiors that showcase sleekly finished wood, innovative designs, and beautiful simplicity– like the Czech Republic hideaway made elegantly from plywood. The interiors of all the homes are minimally furnished with emphasis on structural design and accentuating the surroundings. Best for living in the woods.
$47.50, Hardcover
288 pages, 8 1/2 x 8 ½
Rizzoli
ISBN: 9780847866076
If your idea of a dream home is living somewhere in the desert choose Oasis: Modern Desert Homes Around the World by iO Tillett Wright with photography by Casey Dunn. You’ll find plenty of inspirational homes in iconic American Southwest towns like Joshua Tree, Tucson, Bluff, and Abiquiu– where Georgia O’Keefe kept a home on Ghost Ranch. Journey around the world to places like Casablanca, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, and Aucon, Peru. Fresh colors like white, tan, and jute accent interiors along with natural cacti and decor appropriate to each locale. Cool off in outdoor tubs and pools with long-range views. Visit homes that are both simple– a van amid permanent fixtures– and extraordinary– with wall-sized window views of the desert. Jorge Garcia’s Villa Encuentro demonstrates how to build a home around nature– in this case, a giant boulder. Best for desert living.
$40,00, Hardcover
288 pages, 8 1/2 x 10
Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9780525575153
For incorporating natural design elements that complement a variety of settings, choose Relaxed Rustic: Bring Scandinavian Tranquility and Nature to Your Home by Niki Brantmark. Be inspired by full-color photos of homes in a variety of styles, all influenced by the natural world. Each chapter approaches a different design element: forest, graphical, homestead, and waterside. Learn to use color and texture from the natural world as you style your home. Woodsy interiors feature cast iron accents while graphical houses elegantly contrast black and white color schemes. The homestead section includes a farmhouse with natural interiors like cement and wood walls accentuated by eclectic furniture. The waterside chapter features a variety of dwellings from modern to rustic. Best for natural elements inspired by a variety of locations.
$29.95, Hardcover
176 pages, 8 1/2 x 10
CICO Books
ISBN: 9781782498148
For stunning photography and life-sized inspiration choose Natural Elegance: Luxurious Mountain Living by Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer with illustrations by Nancy Greystone and photography by William Abranowicz. You’ll feel as if you’ve walked into these beautiful mountain homes as you turn the tall pages with full-color photos where the sun perfectly touches glowing surfaces. Be mesmerized by walk-in fireplaces and stone walls amid floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive mountain views. Sleek kitchens with wide islands and plush fabric-covered bedrooms make homes both functional and inviting. Decorations are inspired by the natural world– wide lens elk and bear paintings, 3D butterfly installations, soft animal fur rugs, and an antler chandelier are just some of the pieces on display. This book is truly stunning with design elements both simple and innovative. Best for mountain lovers.
$60.00, Hardcover
256 pages, 10 x 12
The Vendome Press
ISBN: 9780865653726
For those looking to add more plants to their home decor choose Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces by Hilton Carter. This book is both a how-to guide to selecting and keeping plants and a style guide for creating the perfect in-home placement. Learn about ten types of plants with detailed descriptions and information on lighting, temperature, water, and repotting. The bulk of the book features profiles of people from around the world with full-color photography of plant-filled interiors. Greenery climbs up walls, spills across coffee tables and bookcases, and sits alongside couches. The final section includes practical tips on incorporating plants into every room as you travel along your own “plant journey.” Best for living with plants.
$24.99, Hardcover
224 pages, 7 12 x 9 ¼
CICO Books
ISBN: 9781782498759