Ive always been someone who gets inspiration from books. I love having them around the house, not just for how they look visually, but because I actually use them. These five books in particular have had a huge influence on my home style. Each one brings something different to the table, from American traditional interiors to elegant European class and together, they’ve helped shape the way I approach decorating, entertaining, gardening and even my own personal dress style. 

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 1. Beautiful by Mark D. Sikes

Mark D. Sikes has a style that just feels fresh, classic, and effortless. His love for blue and white, chinoiserie, and crisp detailing really resonated with me when I first picked up Beautiful. What I’ve taken from his approach is that you can embrace a more traditional style but still keep it feeling light and welcoming, not too formal or fussy. That fresh American traditional look has become part of my own personal style. I’ve brought in blue and white elements, played with symmetry and pattern, and learned how to create balance without things feeling overly “done.” If you’re drawn to that timeless-but-relaxed kind of design, this book is a for you. 

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 2. Provençal Style by Shauna Varvel

 

This book is where my European elegant flair comes from. The textures, the terracotta, the casual table settings under the trees, it’s all there. When I go through this book, I instantly want to drag a table out onto the lawn, place some lavender in a jug, and imagine I’m in the South of France. The Provençal way of living, slow, earthy, and connected to the land, has definitely influenced how I use my garden and outdoor areas. I now lean into those imperfect, weathered details, aged pots, linens that look better a little wrinkled, and tables set for long lunches that stretch into the afternoon.

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3. Entertaining by Veranda 

If you know me, you’ll know I love a well-dressed table. And this book is where so much of that inspiration comes from. Veranda Entertaining is filled with elegant yet inviting setups, from garden lunches to formal dining. As someone who comes from a family that loves to entertain, this book feels like home to me. I’ve taken so many cues from it when setting the table. It’s not about showing off, it’s about creating a beautiful moment for the people you care about. That’s always been my approach to entertaining, and this book really taps into that.

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 4. Designers and Their Dogs by Susanna Salk

This one might just be my favourite in terms of personality. It’s a reminder that your home should be lived in, not kept like a museum. Susanna Salk and Stacey Bewkes travel around the English countryside, visiting the homes of designers (all stunning, by the way), but the best part is that every home features their dogs. It’s taught me that a truly welcoming home is one that has life in it. If there are a few dog hairs on the sofa or paw prints at the door, so what? That’s real life. That’s love. I’ve taken that to heart in my own home, it’s stylish, yes, but it’s also a space homer can run through and occasionally jump up on the sofa. And that’s the way it should be.

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 5. The Art of Outdoor Living by Veranda 

This book has completely inspired the way I think about the garden. It’s full of dreamy gardens, some wild and natural, others perfectly structured. The garden at Robert Couturier’s neoclassical home in Connecticut stood out the most to me. It’s grand, but not cold, it still feels like someone’s home. That’s the balance I’ve tried to find with my  This book always helps spark ideas.

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 I’ve collected lifestyle books for years, and they’ve become such a big part of how I decorate. They’re stacked on shelves, layered on console tables, or left open to a favourite page on the ottoman. They’re not just for flipping through once, they become part of the room, part of the inspiration, and part of the everyday life happening around them 

Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or if you’ve got a favourite I should add to my stack, ’Im always on the lookout for more.