10 Books On My Decorating-Entertaining Book Wish List

I’m always scoping out the latest decorating, gardening and entertaining books and oh my goodness, I’ve come across some scrumptious ones lately!

Click the title of any book to read more about that particular book.

The Gentleman’s Farm: Elegant Country House Living

If the book is anything like the room pictured on the cover, I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. The reviews look good, too!

 

The Housekeeper’s Tale: The Women Who Really Ran the English Country House

This sounds so interesting…a real look into the life of the housekeeper of a large English country house, and apparently it’s nothing like what we’ve seen on Downton Abbey.

 

A House in the Country by Peter Pennoyer

This cover gets me every time! If the book is half as beautiful as the cover, it will be awesome!

 

Wanderlust: Interiors That Bring the World Home

With my interest in travel, this one is high on my wish list!

 

Veranda Retreats by Mario Lopez-Cordero

Retreat: even the word sounds intriguing. Definitely on my wish list!

 

Historic Charleston & the Lowcountry by Steve Gross

I’ve always wanted to go on a tour of the old homes and beautiful gardens in Charleston. One day! This book will have to do in the meantime.

 

Christmas at Designers’ Homes Across America

How do the designers decorate their own homes for Christmas? I want to know!

 

It’s the Little Things: Creating Big Moments In Your Home Through The Stylish Small Stuff

I love books like this. I have a book by Henrietta Spencer Churchill that’s along the same lines that I really enjoy!

 

The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme

This looked interesting and it’s getting great reviews!

 

Julia Reed’s South

This book has been on my wish list for a while. I have other books by Julia Reed and love them all. One of my favorites by her is One Man’s Folly. I also love

Julia Reed's South

What books are on your wish list? I would love to know!

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Comments

  1. Scrumptious sums it up!!! Great list!!

  2. I want ALL of these. So that would make my list the same as yours now 😉 I would add–“Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating,” by Lauren Liess.

  3. Some of those books have now been added to my list of must reads. I just bought the Kindle version of “My Stylish French Girlfriends ” by Sharon Santoni. So far I’m finding it pretty interesting. They are all women she met by chance and are now friends she admires and you get to see either their homes or their place of business. I have been decorating in the country style since the late 70’s. We sold our home and now live in a small three bedroom apartment but I still use a lot of plaids with roosters and florals to decorate. Thanks for sharing.

  4. These books look amazing. Can you recommend a book with lots of ideas for building something small in the mountains for great deas. I love all your posts and ideas. Thanks Susan.

  5. Cyndi Raines says

    Boy! They all do sound great. My immediate top 4, are the” Gentleman’s Farm”, the “Housekeeper’s Tale”, the “A House in the Country” and the “It’s the Little Things”. Thanks , I’ll have to look them up the next time I’m in Barnes and Nobles.

  6. The books look wonderful, all of them. Crazy as it sounds, I rarely buy books, but instead I am a writer myself just beginning to consider submitting. We are retired but always have projects. My husband just took up art a year ago and sometimes I illustrate the children’s books I write besides everything else I put on paper. But you and I definitely have the same taste in books. Your upcoming trip looks incredible. I had an African geography teacher in college that went to Moracco. He had quite the stories. Rugs are the thing to buy and to make the colors more vibrant they lay them outside in the street…imagine….even camels walk all over them etc etc. I don’t even like to think about that.

  7. Hi Susan! I will save you some big bucks. The best part of Wanderlust is the cover… This book was a real disappointment and very expensive. Save your dollars on this one.

    The others look fabulous and I have put several on my Amazon list!

  8. What a great list!

  9. Maggie Amis says

    Lovely – Thank you for sharing –

    I don’t know if you are a fan of the English Countryside- but, I have started watching a show on Netflix called “Escape to the Country” where they show 3 homes in the country in England to potential buyers – The talk of homes built in the 1600 – and 1700’s, and their uses, and they always explore some part of that country – and things that they are famous for.

  10. Sandra Grindstaff says

    I’m a big Christmas decorating fanatic and pre-ordered the Christmas book. I was very disappointed when it arrived; it’s definitely ho-hum. Wait until it’s available used – I probably wouldn’t have been so disappointed if I had spent so much on the book.

  11. Antoinette says

    There are so many wonderful decorating books on the market and it all depends what type of decor you’re looking for. Here are three of my favorites: For the beachy decor, I love “Waterside Cottages” by Barbara Jacksier (I’m moving to a coastal town and this book has given me some great ideas)! For the Francophile (in which I am), I love “Provencal Escapes” by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. This book features charming rustic retreats in the South of France tucked in magical settings! If you’re looking for Italian rustic decor, I would highly recommend “Restoring a Home in Italy” by Elizabeth Minchilli. The author is American but moved to Italy when she married her Italian husband who’s an architect. Her book features gorgeous homes in the Italian countryside, some with stunning views that have been lovingly restored including her own home. Her book also gives you a lot of information that comes in handy if you are restoring a home. I have many other decor books that I own and love, but these three are among the top on my list!

  12. Pretty books. I have such a weakness for books and have a lot, including many interiors and garden books, to the point where I am having to sit on my hands to not buy- or go to the library. I have already apologized in advance to my daughter who will have to clear out our things someday 🙂

  13. Found The Year of Cosy at my local library! Added The Gentleman’s Farm, Housekeeper’s Tale and another to my Barnes & Noble list. Great ideas!

  14. Great springboard list of books. That Elegant Country Farm is calling my name, along with Retreats…..thanks for scoping these out and sharing.

  15. Susan: I am late in catching up, but want to encourage you to go to Charleston, you will love it!! For seeing a number of houses and gardens, I think the best times are during the Spring and Fall House and Garden Tour Weeks. There are different tours on different days as well as evening tours, and include private homes and gardens that are only open during this time. That said, if those times are impossible, there are some wonderful homes that are preserved and open to the public through the Historic Charleston Foundation. And, just walking the historic area and admiring homes and peeking through the wonderful iron gates is fascinating. Wishful thinking, but perhaps you could organize a BNOTP Charleston adventure so those of us who have “met” online could meet and tour with you in person.

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