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Art & Culture

5 Essential Art and Design Books Hitting Shelves This Fall

From an inside look at late decorating legend Mario Buatta to the worldly spaces conceived by Laura Gonzalez

By Geoffrey Montes
Elegant lounge with plush seating, wooden bookshelves, large windows, and a stocked bar against a warm-toned ceiling.
The library of the Saint James hotel in Paris as featured in Laura Gonzalez: Interiors. Photo: Matthieu Salvaing; Courtesy of Rizzoli
Cover of "Livable Luxe" by Brigette Romanek, featuring an elegant living room with modern furnishings and marble elements.
Livable Luxe by Brigette Romanek. Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Chroma

1. Livable Luxe

The debut monograph of Los Angeles designer Brigette Romanek brims with casually elegant interiors she’s conceived for A-list clients such as Gwyneth Paltrow, who penned the foreword. Romanek’s own art-filled Laurel Canyon estate offers a wellspring of inspiration. Chronicle Chroma

Artist standing in a spacious studio filled with paintings and art supplies, wearing a red outfit.
Artists at Home by Susie Hodge. Photo: Courtesy of The Quarto Group

2. Artists at Home

Prolific British author Susie Hodge explores the personal sanctuaries of some of the art world’s most influential figures, including Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, and William Morris. She places particular emphasis on examining the relationship between each locale and its owner’s impressive body of work. Frances Lincoln

Book cover with vibrant floral patterns and the title "Interiors: Laura Gonzalez A Certain Atmosphere" by Rizzoli.
Laura Gonzalez: Interiors by Laura Gonzalez. Photo: Courtesy of Rizzoli

3. Laura Gonzalez: Interiors

Known for conjuring worldly spaces layered with joyful patterns and textures (including the Cartier mansion in New York), designer, architect, and tastemaker Laura Gonzalez has vaulted to the top of her profession. This comprehensive volume captures her keen eye for detail, which has shaped her firm since its founding in 2008. Rizzoli

Book cover of "Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator" featuring lamps and a decorative mirror on a blue background.
Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator by Emily Evans Eerdmans. Photo: Courtesy of Rizzoli

4. Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator

When Mario Buatta passed away in 2018, the design community mourned the loss of the “Prince of Chintz,” beloved for his maximalist interiors and irreverent spirit. Here, protégé Emily Evans Eerdmans draws from more than 80 scrapbooks and extensive archives for a peek behind the scenes. Rizzoli

Elegant dining room with a round table, floral centerpiece, chairs, open double doors, and a garden view.
Peter Pennoyer Architects: City | Country by Peter Pennoyer. Photo: Courtesy of Vendome

5. Peter Pennoyer Architects: City | Country 

Infusing classical principles into modern-day architecture has been a lifelong passion for Peter Pennoyer, who has gathered projects in both urban and rural settings for his latest tome. Highlights include spaces composed alongside Jacques Grange, Miles Redd, and Steven Gambrel. Vendome Press

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Fall Issue under the headline “The Artful Life.” Subscribe to the magazine.