Let me admit that I usually don't read designer coffee table books. I look at the pictures, and if I really like a room, I read the captions. But interior designer Bunny Williams's newest book — filled with breathtaking photographs by the great Fritz von der Schulenburg — is a do-it-yourself primer in disguise.
From lessons in ingenious furniture arrangement to thoughtful shopping ("A common mistake many people make when they are starting out is to go into a store and buy the most comfortable sofa, which becomes the elephant in the room after it's delivered.") and curtain selection ("If you cannot have your curtains made by an accomplished workroom, then keep the design simple.") to expert advice on choosing the right rug or the paint for your walls — it's all here.
And even if you can't spring for custom embroideries or hand-painted murals, read this book for Bunny's advice. She's John Fowler–light (her palette, that is), and she's wholly American. Yay!
Published By Stewart, Tabori & Chang (stcbooks.com);272 pages, $60.
