Favorite Designer Monographs from My Design Library

While gearing up for my singular summer vacation this year I found myself browsing the design section of a nearby bookstore in search of….something.  Like any ordinary fellow I was on the hunt for additions to the half dozen design books, three to four design magazines and two or three fiction books I would need for vacation.  I was going for one week.  One can’t go without options!  Pickings were unfortunately slim in the design section but then, shining like a ray of hope, I saw it.  Alexa Hampton: Design, Style, and Influence!  I grabbed one of only two copies, added in a recent issue of Cabana and left with a sense of hope for the future.  One very sick father and one mildly sick dog later I finished exactly zero books on vacation but returned home intent on reconciling with my sad inner book worm and enjoying what I had missed on vacation.

I suppose Alexa Hampton: Design, Style, and Influence isn’t entirely a monograph as it includes not only her own work but a filling amount of gorgeous images of rooms that have inspired her in her work.  Admittedly, I am not quite finished reading it, but I am already planning to grab her other two books, the first of which appears to be an actual monograph.  Alexa’s writing is charming, funny and informative, all of which comes together to make for a great read. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Design, Style, and Influence for the images and the well told story that connects them all together. 

While I pride myself on my design library, it is a bit on the lighter side when it comes to works on current and 20th century designers and architects.  I love historic design and will not apologize for it!  However, after picking up Design, Style, and Influence I did start to think fondly back on a few of the design monographs I have on more recent designer’s and thought them worth a mention for anyone who share a similar tase in interiors.

While Alexa Hampton's book leans unapologetically towards western classicism, Alidad: The Timeless Home takes a more worldly direction.  The book is heavier on images than it is on text, but oh what those images show!  Alidad’s work spans rooms in western classical styles through absolutely stunning rooms inspired by his Persian homeland and many place in between.  Don’t let me mislead you into thinking the book is purely visual though.  While there are not the LOL’s found in Alexa’s book, the text takes a dive into Alidad’s design ethos and recurring themes and does a nice job at supporting the gorgeous imagery that it accompanies.

Going a little further back in time Renzo Mongiardino: Roomscapes is another can’t miss monograph.  Once again, the images are an absolute feast for the eyes, this time including not only finished work but a large amount of stunning renderings of design concepts done before the work began.  The text is incredibly informative and reads like the overview to a masterclass in using color, pattern, form and light in rooms clearly inspired by historic precedent.  While the spaces show a heavy western classical inspiration, there are a number of clear draws from all around the Mediterranean, from ancient times up through the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Rounding out my group of favorites is one of the first monographs I purchased as I began to populate my library.  Sixty Years of Interior Design: The World of McMillen captivated me from the start.  The majority of images are in black and white and may lack the resolution of the earlier mentioned works, but that is understandable given that this monograph covers work from the 1920s through to the 1970s.  The text, which takes somewhat of a backseat to the images, tells the story of Eleanor McMillen Brown and the design firm she founded.  While the work again leans heavily on western classicism, it does incorporate more contemporary moments with elements like the sleek lines of Art Deco and the vibrant colors of the 1970s making appearances.  The work shown has the added allure of representing an older style of living where entertaining both yourself and your guests was so very different from what often happens today.  There is a sense of grace and thoughtfulness in everyday living (maybe I’ll grab that tagline too) that comes through so clearly and so evocatively in the plethora of black and white images the book offers up that you won’t want to miss out on it.

What are some of your favorite designer monographs for a design library?  Drop me a comment and let me know!