“A Passion for Interiors — A Private Tour,” by Carolyne Roehm ($60, Clarkson Potter)
When most people think of high-end Rocky Mountain interior design, gold gilded furniture, Louis XV chairs, white columns, Victorian portraiture, marble sculptures and bronze busts are far from the first pieces that come to mind. But these classics are signatures in celebrity decorator Carolyne Roehm’s repertoire, and this book illustrates how she applied that aesthetic to a tony Aspen residence. The house is one of three featured in the coffeetable book, which reveals in vivid detail the way Roehm’s spaces are rich works of art come to life through luxurious, layered details and accessories.
In the bedroom of her own Manhattan apartment, for instance, blue and white floral wallpaper is topped with a series of plaster basketweave shelves that each hold a single potted plant. In another vignette, a lace tufted console is paired with an armless chair covered with a floral fabric that mimics the lace, and arranged with a series of white and blue lamps, vessels, picture frames and flowers.
Roehm’s taste will be too formal for some people, and indeed some of these rooms look like they’re straight out of Versailles. But other people who share her “passion for interiors,” and especially classicism, will find her work to be the epitome of grace and glamour. “Practical Green Remodeling — Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes,” by Barry Katz ($24.95, Taunton)
This author is a construction and remodeling expert who sets out in this book to demystify eco-smart building and renovations. Katz simplifies his subject from the start by dividing it into “the three fundamentals of green remodeling” — energy efficiency, resource conservation and healthy living environments. Katz says this is not a how-to book but rather a “what-to book,” meaning this read is designed to be part of the research before the actual renovation. “Why green, why now?” the author asks. Because “people are finally waking up to the realization that our planet is in serious trouble.” “KnitWit: 20 Fun Projects for Beginners and Seasoned Knitters,” by Katie Boyette ($18.95, Sellers)
Just as the crafting crowd is ramping up for holiday gift-giving, this book is a colorful reminder that there’s more to make with yarn and “sticks” than scarfs, hats and blankets. The author is an artist whose interesting knitted animals and monsters seem to have personalities of their own. Whether these patterns are well-suited for beginners is debatable. But two things are certain: A hand-knit gift will put a smile on the face of its recipient, and these creatures are unlike most anything else in a child’s toy chest — especially if those toys were store-bought.
