Interior design books showing some savvy

Jill Harris, who co-owns Posh Bed & Bath in Benicia with her daughter, Natasha, calls herself a late bloomer. “After years of working for Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers in Benicia, I went back to school at California State University, Sacramento to get a B.A. in interior design.” She says Posh is a gateway for her interior design clients. “My interior design business, JH Interiors, focuses on residential design, specializing in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.” Harris believes that reading books on interior design can definitely help clients who are planning projects. “You need to understand your style preferences and what you want. You don’t need to know the technical aspects but you need to know what you like.” If you want to cultivate your interior design savvy, check out Harris’ recommendations: a book on bungalows, another on color and one on residential lighting.

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Harris says she met Paul Duchscherer when he was a top designer at Bradbury & Bradbury. “He is one of the greats. His book, The Bungalow: America’s Arts and Crafts Home (Studio, $32.05) with photography by Douglas Keister, covers all aspects of the bungalow from predominant woods to lighting and carpeting. The book has great photography and the bungalows in this book range from the basic to the grand. There’s even a Benicia bungalow in the book.” You don’t have to live in a Craftsman-style bungalow to appreciate this book about the popular architectural style of the early 20th century. Duchscherer discusses the bungalow’s influences and evolution while Keister’s eye for color and design brings all the architectural elements to life.

Harris met Christine Barnes, author of Color for Your Home (Oxmoor House, used book prices vary), at a seminar at The Mart in San Francisco. “She makes it very easy to understand the language of color. Color can be difficult. Barnes includes several color wheels that show how colors work together. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to decorate with color or paint.” Color for Your Home covers fundamental color theory, color combination and how to use patterns and textures. Barnes also includes a six-step process that’s invaluable for choosing your color strategy. This book provides lots of new tools to help you think about color and your environment.

Harris also met interior designer Randall Whitehead at The Mart. “His book, Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide (Wiley, $75), covers functional as well as ambient lighting. He uses photos and diagrams to illustrate different lighting techniques. Lighting is so essential because it impacts every aspect of design and influences everything. If you’re investing a lot of money in interior design, you need to understand lighting.” She says his background in theater design sets him apart. “He understands how lighting affects mood, color, everything.” Whitehead balances practical advice with technical information with emphasis on light layering, how to use a variety of lighting sources together to create “architectural bling.” The book also includes a large section on color, room-based lighting design strategies, and common lighting mistakes.

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