Summer Reading List

I have two big trips coming up and I always like to have a couple of new books on hand before heading to the airport (which is exactly how you get an unruly book collection that looks like this). I will always end up buying my favorites, but I've started e-reading lately and I'm so happy with how convenient it is!

Have you heard of Oyster? It's like Netflix for eBooks! For $9.95 a month you have access to unlimited books from their library of over 500,000 titles! Which means you can give up or put aside a book that's not quite right for you or for your mood and easily move on to another book. You can read on your iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook HD and computer.

They are offering a free 30-day trial subscription here and I started mine last week. I LOVE it. I'm totally hooked!

Also, it's so silly how much I care about this sort of thing, but I really love that they give you a ton of different page and font options. I like the Penguin-style page above for day reading and the black background for easy-on-the-eyes night reading.

One of my upcoming trips is to New York for work. I'll be staying in Brooklyn for most of the trip, which means some long subway rides. The great thing about Oyster is they let me keep TEN FULL BOOKS in my reader library at once - so no wifi, no problem! Can you tell I'm geeking out? 

We're all a bunch of book nerds over here, so I asked Kate and Heather to give me their summer reading lists to share too. Most of these are books we haven't read yet and we'd love your feedback if you have! 

Here's my list:

Beautiful Ruins - This one looks like a fun, light read. One complaint I've heard is there are too many characters and setting shifts, but I think that might make it an easy book to pop in and out of, in between sessions with my historical floor plans and Eggers (see below).

The Alchemist - Supposedly a very quick, sweet and simple read that leaves you thinking and inspired. I can get behind a book like that.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - I read, and loved, Dave Eggers' What is the What, but held off on this one because I've heard mixed reviews from friends - they either loved it or hated it. I think I'm ready to tackle it now though. Have you read this book?

Paris Mansions and Apartments, 1893 - I had heard this book was a good one and I flipped through it once in a book store and it looked amazing. Seems like a must for any one who gets a kick out of architecture, history and Paris. 

The Midwife of Venice - I was sick last winter and watched an episode of Call the Midwife on Netflix, desperate for distraction. I ended up watching two season's worth of episodes! Ha! I have no idea what this book is about, but it has good reviews and it's a period piece about a midwife, so I think my chances are good.

Once A Runner - I've heard this one described as the Bible of serious running. I am not a hardcore runner now, but I once was, and I truly loved it. Sometimes I read Marathon training books just for fun, so I think this one could be a winner for me.

Heather's List:

The Cost of Lunch, Etc. - I have a weakness for short stories, and I find myself being pulled to stories about women who are trying to wrestle with their inner demons. These stories look like they're going to deliver.

The Sisters Brothers - Confession, while I have been seeing this book in several bookstores and the reviews seem very positive, the thing that makes me most curious to read it is that the author's last name is DeWitt. We're almost certainly not related, but I'm excited to see if it lives up to the family name ;) 

Telegraph Avenue - Michael Chabon is, without a doubt, in the top tier of my favorite authors. I've read a few of his other books, so I've excited to read this one. I'm pretty confident that I'll like it. 

It Chooses You - Miranda July is one of the most brilliant artists of today! I love her movies, and I've read one or two of her short stories before, so I'm very excited to get more of her.

The Girl with the Golden Eyes - I've heard many great things about Balzac. I'm really looking forward to reading this book! 

Kate's List:

Little Bee - A few years ago it seemed like every book club was reading this, yet somehow I missed it. I started to read reviews and they are surprisingly vague because of a supposed pivotal plot twist and the reviewers "don't want to give too much away". I'm interested!

The Light Between Oceans - I cannot wait to read this book (it's next on my list!) I read a quick excerpt before putting it on my read list and it was so beautifully written that I'm finding myself rushing through my current book so I can start this one! 

The Collected Stories of Heinrich Boll - "These diverse, psychologically rich, and morally profound stories explore the consequences of war on individuals and on an entire culture." This book jumped out at me and immediately went to my reading list, I'm a sucker for powerful short stories. 

The Geography of Thought - I read this book back in a college psych class and it's interesting revelations have stayed with me for years so when I saw it on the list I knew I wanted to read it again. It's essentially a look into the differences between eastern and western culture- perception of time, healing, social interactions, medicine, and relationships.

The House of Mirth - My sister has been telling me to read this book for years, turn of the century in New York and high society life, I'm wondering what took me so long. 

My Antonia - This is the first book I recommend to people. It will forever remain a favorite of mine. Willa Cather writes so beautifully about the simplicity of friendship, and so strikingly about the potential of life. 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - I read this book a few years ago and it's still one I think about often. Set around the heartbreak of 9/11, the narrator, a 9 year old, self-proclaimed pacifist, is a quirky, tambourine playing wise guy. This book is powerful, poignant, and emotional. 

The Man Who Would Be King - A collection on my reading list, short stories written by the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. So I mean, it's gotta be good. 

_____

Alright friends, dish! What's on your summer reading list? Also, have you tried Oyster? Here's a list of their most popular titles.

This post was brought to you by Oyster Books. Don't forget to sign up for your free 30-day trial!! Thank you for supporting LGN sponsors!

Book Club: BHG Decorating Book

Isn't it crazy how design trends recycle over time? I love to pick up vintage decorating books at thrift stores and used book stores. I got this 1968 edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book at Goodwill for $2. It's available on Amazon here.

These are some of my favorite images from the book, though there were LOTS more that I loved bits and pieces from. These just looked the most current to me.

Check out that fabric! Looks straight out of the Quadrille showroom!

How adorable is this kids room? The gallery wall is cute and casual. I love how the wallpaper and bedding match (looks like a small ticking stripe with an orange trim border)

Look at those gorgeous dark walls! (wish they would have done the ceiling too though). The white drapes keep things fresh (but they should be a couple inches longer I think). Love the desk on casters with the little green benches. And I'll always love campaigner wicker furniture.

More dark walls. Look at the horizontal stripes on that sofa! So cool. I love the art and the big potted tree. Doesn't this look like a Ruthie Sommers room?

Except for those horrible olive club chairs, this room looks like it could be in Elle Decor. I love the blue walls with all that amazing paneling!!

Here's that same room from another angle. I'm all about wall murals lately, so this shot gets me giddy. (stay tuned for an upcoming client project involving scenic wallpaper!!). -- Also, love the trimmed out curtains here and the bronze statue on the coffee table. Not loving that weird plant wall thing, the matchy-matchy furniture sets (and those chairs again. yuck! among other things, the scale is really off)

Take away the blue shag, and this could be a Mary McDonald room. (PS are you watching Million Dollar Decorators?! Yikes!!)

This entry feels so California to me! I like the mix of ethnic style with those more trad art pieces. The tufting on the bench cushion is lovely and I really want that brass planter!

Stripes on the ceiling, floral on the walls! So very Kate Spade! I like the green color on the canopy bed, but the pom pom bedspread needs to go. How do you even sit on that comfortably?

My heart stopped when I saw this little settee. It's perfect in every way! Also love the wall color, the floor tile and even the drapes! Cute with the double tie-backs!

What do you think? Kind of crazy (a little disappointing maybe?) how much we reuse design ideas over and over again!

Priceless

It's the new book by Tom Davis. I JUST finished it. Head spinning a little!!!

This is one of those books that NEEDED to be written. We NEED this book to exist. Not just like.... oh yeah... that's a good book... like this is an IMPORTANT book.

SOOOOOO who's read it already???? What did you think? Who's gonna read it soon?

I am certain I feel a blog post brewing on the subject. I just wanted to know how many of you are there with me already on this! ;o)

HUGS! Angel

The Night Life of Trees

Here is another set of frame-worthy prints on black paper. These silk-screened images in the book, The Night Life of Trees from Tara Publishing, are absolutely stunning. And might I add, are a little more masculine than floral botanical prints...

From Amazon:

"In the belief of the Gond tribe, the lives of humans and trees are closely entwined. Trees contain the cosmos; when night falls, the spirits they nurture glimmer into life.
A visual ode to trees rendered by tribal artists from India, this handcrafted edition showcases three of the finest living Gond masters. This collection of their distinctive styles is enchanting—an excellent gift for those fascinated by trees, art or folk traditions."

Also, if you get a kick out of the silk screening or book binding process, check out this video on how the books are individually hand made (but do yourself a favor and skip the first two or three minutes).

discovered via Julia Rothman's amazing blog, Book by It's Cover, and GOOP

Photos (other than the multi-page shot above from Book by its Cover) courtesy of another amazing blog, Biliodyssey. And a special thanks to Tara Books.

Good Bones, Great Pieces

I am really loving the blog Good Bones, Great Pieces, which is authored by a mother and daughter design team. (hello, dream!)

Together they decorated this beautiful little apartment in Brooklyn Heights, which was recently featured in Traditional Home. You can read the article here. It's a good one, full of great tips.

I am so, so in love with this little settee from Mitchell Gold. I can never get enough of ticking stripes. That mirror is to die for. And the pop of yellow from the lamp is just perfection.

I think what I love the most about this apartment is that it doesn't look overly decorated. There is a sense of purpose and history with each piece and nothing is too matchy.

That gorgeous cream chair with the brown velvet piping above and below was a $25 Craigslist find.

White is such a good choice when painting furniture for small spaces.

I love the black matting in the framed art series above the bed.

And what a beautful vanity! I think it was clever to give the side table double duty as a vanity.

If you're not already reading the Good Bones, Great Pieces blog, you're really missing out.

WINNER: Restoring a House in the City

The winner of a copy of Restoring a House in the City, chosen from random.org, is Annmarie. Congratulations!


Please contact me with your address when you have a minute, Annmarie.

a gorgeous entry from a home on Beacon Hill,
featured in 'Restoring a House in the City'

And, of course, many thanks to Artisan and Ingrid Abramovitch!

GIVE AWAY: Restoring a House in the City

Thanks to author Ingrid Abramovitch and the lovely people at Artisan Publishing, we have a copy of the amazing book, Restoring A House in the City, up for grabs!

Whether you are currently renovating an old home, or plan to someday take on a huge renovation (me!), or even if you just have an appreciation of beautiful old homes (and amazing decor!!), this book is a great read. Pure eye candy from start to finish, and loads of useful information.

To enter to win your own copy of this big, beautiful coffee table book, please leave a comment here about your dream home. A new build with classic details? A centuries-old townhouse in the city? A charming farmhouse in the country?

After finishing Restoring A House in the City, I definitely would chose a grand brownstone in the metropolis. I'm completely in love with the Greek Revival style especially.

Commenting closes Thursday, February 4 at midnight. Good luck!

Renovating a House in the City

I'm coveting this book, found via the awesomely talented and ever-creative Katy Elliott.

Who, incidentally, tweeted about the song that first plays when you click here. Both Evelyn and I love it, even and especially at 3:00 am.

hugs,
jenny