Even though attempts were made to pace myself yesterday, a bit too much stress, labor, and “unexpected adventure” have caught up with me this morning! Every muscle aches, and I must have awakened ten times last night with something or other cramping. Also, the barometric pressure has shifted. Astrologically inclined peeps say it’s a day for productivity and an upcoming new moon in Libra will bring opportunities and growth. You’ve got to love optimism. But productivity is a subjective term, and in 2023, I have aimed to shift my focus from productivity to wellness and freedom. Which is why I’ll be curling up with books as the rain falls and the skies stay grey. If such an afternoon of “productivity” awaits you too, here are 4 design books to join you.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #checkeredfloor #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-checkered-floor.jpg)
Rainy Autumn Afternoon & 4 Design Books
Maybe I did too much outside in the garden yesterday (frantically along with the squirrels!) because I could sense nature’s changes emerging much too quickly.
![Yellow fallen leaves on my patio with vintage dining set - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/fall-briarcliff-leaves-patio-hello-lovely-studio-1.jpg)
One day, you notice just a little change in your Black Walnut trees, and the next day…
![Cozy Copenhagen egg chair with Belgian linen upholstery in a bedroom with grisaille wall mural - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/briarcliff-bedroom-egg-chair-fall-living-well-candle-001.jpg)
well, the next day those trees are nearly bare! It’s that season where it feels entirely right to get cozy, to slow down and to simmer things on the stovetop. To have books nearby to keep you company.
![Yellow fallen leaves on my patio with vintage dining set - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/fall-briarcliff-leaves-dining-set-patio-hello-lovely-studio-2-1.jpg)
Nora Murphy’s Country House Style (Vendome, 2018)
With photography from DuAnne Simon, Nora’s book is a celebration of her own lovely home plus five more gorgeous ones.
![Nora Murphy book cover. Country House Style: Making Your Home a Country House.](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71jUt4-POAL.jpg)
Some of the beautiful country homes spotlighted in Nora’s book are old, while others are new.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #checkeredfloor #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-1440x1087.jpg)
We’re treated to a range of inspiring styles which include: Swedish, Americana, French country, English country, and upscale cabin.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #4thofjuly #countryantiques #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-front-door.jpg)
There’s so much to admire about these various country flavors. One of my favorite elements of beautiful country style is the ease.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #farmsink #countrykitchens #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-kitchen-sink.jpg)
Photos of Country Simplicity
The thing is, even ease involves countless details and restraint. Country simplicity certainly doesn’t indicate a less thoughtful approach to design than other decorating styles.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #countrydiningroom #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-dining-room.jpg)
In Nora Murphy’s dining room (above), an iron tuteur gives shape to plumes of catmint in an old Swedish herring bucket.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #purpletransferware #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-dining-room-pitcher.jpg)
It is pure delight me to see how seemingly disparate decor details can magically work together to create a unique identity for a country house. Sometimes we can appreciate such details while browsing a blog or Pinterest, but with actual pages in our hands…
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #connecticutfarmhouse #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-living-room.jpg)
well, old school has its charms. Throughout the country home tours in Nora’s book, we’re treated to studies in classic style…
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #greenkitchen #countrykitchen #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-kitchen.jpg)
and it’s never a one-size-fits-all or formulaic classicism. Rather, it is rooted in nature with pleasing proportions and nostalgic nods to the timeless.
![Nora Murphy Country House (Vendome, 2018). #gardensheds #americancountry #americanfarmhouse](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/001-nora-murphy-country-house-2018-garden.jpg)
Oh, and any book featuring the work of my pal, Amy Chalmers (Maison Decor)? That book is a friend of mine.
![Fall front door of historic home - Nora Murphy Country House. #falldecor #frontdoor #fallporch](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fall-front-porch-door-basket-noramurphycountryhouse.jpg)
Living Well By Design (Vendome, 2021)
You’ll cherish this book.
![Melissa Penfold Living Well By Design (Vencome, 2021) book cover](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-book-cover.jpg)
In fact, as you make your holiday gift lists, add this one! Here it is on my favorite cozy reading chair:
![Cozy Copenhagen egg chair with Belgian linen upholstery in a bedroom with grisaille wall mural - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/briarcliff-bedroom-egg-chair-fall-living-well-candle-005.jpg)
While I love my design picture books, make no mistake! This title is much more than pretty pictures in which to escape.
![Cheerful green breakfast room designed by Tom Scheerer with sofa, oval tulip table, bamboo chairs, and walls papered in 1890s botanical prints by Joao Barbosa Rodrigues. #timelessdesign #greenwallpaper #tomscheerer](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.172.jpg)
In fact, I recommend scheduling an appointment with your interiors lovin’ self to spend a few hours to engage with it.
![A gorgeous French inspired kitchen with open shelving, marble, and timeless design - from Melissa Penfold's Living Well By Design (Vendome, 2021).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-french-kitchen-1440x955.jpg)
You may notice your pulse quickening at times, your eyes widening, and your passion for design reigniting.
Melissa Penfold’s First Design Book
This is Australia-based stylemaker Ms. Penfold’s first book, and goodness, I rarely feel the need to read every word of a design book. However, this one’s different.
![Sophisticated global style in a space with built-ins and design by Lynda Kerry. African tribal cushions, Chinese ceramic lamps, Indian lanterns, Indonesian chairs, bamboo tables.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.156.jpg)
Seeking timeless design wisdom to apply to your own home? No matter the style or size, there’s a wealth of design advice along with plenty of secrets.
![Universe quote on Hello Lovely by Aldous Huxley. #aldoushuxley #universequotes #wisdomquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/0001-INSPIRATIONAL-QUOTE-indigo-BLUE-universe-aldous-huxley.jpg)
Pressed for time? I won’t tell if you first simply flip through the glorious photography (Abbie Melle) of interiors designed for living well. These designs aren’t meant to be copied…but they just may inspire and energize you to scheme and dream.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
![A Design Lover's Cozy Autumn Day - check out these gorgeous books and finds for a stay at home self-care moment! Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/a-design-lovers-cozy-autumn-day-hello-lovely-studio-banner.jpg)
Living Well at Home
There is so much in the 2020s that binds our hearts and minds. But home. Home is still full of promise as a sanctuary for rest and regrouping. It’s where seeds of hope are planted, where it has a chance to bloom.
![Emily Dickinson quote about hope on Hello Lovely. #hopequotes #emilydickinsonquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/hope-quote-hello-lovely-studio-emily-dickinson-perches-in-soul.jpg)
As the planet changes and cultures shift, the future depends on us to be a people of hope.
![Dramatic entry with antique ceiling beams and arched custom front doors with glass in home by architect Brad Norris. #timelessdesign #rusticarchitecture #sticksandstones #bespokehomes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.47.jpg)
Is feathering a nest a frivolous, superficial, silly thing when more important matters heed our attention? Sometimes.
![Brené Brown inspirational quote about self-kindness on Hello Lovely Studio. #kindnessquotes #selfkindness #selfcare #brenebrownquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/brene-brown-inspiring-quote-self-kindness-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
But planting yourself in beauty can be a fruitful enterprise. Freedom to uniquely feather our nests creates opportunities for self-expression and lovely moments to bring us back to our senses, bring us back to ourselves.
![Luxurious and timeless kitchen by Thomas Hamel with steel-framed doors and windows. From Melissa Penfold book LIVING WELL BY DESIGN. #bespokekitchens #timelesskitchen #neutralkitchen #steelwindows](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.86.jpg)
Are There Secrets to Living Well?
Living well means something different to each of us, and Penfold’s book repeatedly asserts it has little to do with budgets or square footage.
![Vintage leather chair near dormer window in a cozy nook of bedroom at Wollumbi. From Melissa Penfold's book LIVING WELL BY DESIGN (Vendome, 2021).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.70.jpg)
For example, if you have only 500 square feet in which to live well? While this home tour is not from the book, it’s illustrates the point. Secret doors, streamlined everything, and a minimalist aesthetic are reminders creativity is true wellth.
Wasn’t that apartment a lovely example of innovative design honoring the past yet feeling freshly timeless?
![Inspirational quote on Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/000001-barbara-barry-quote-hello-lovely-studio-black-and-white.jpg)
Diversity in Design
Living well looks and feels different to each of us. Still, you’re sure to score ideas for possibilities that may suit you on these pages. (Bonus; we’re treated to never before seen spaces from design royalty such as Bunny Williams!)
![Bunny Williams's kitchen with dark Donald Kaufman Color custom colour and terrazzo floor (Durite) in a 1920's Gothic Revival New York apartment. #bunnywilliams #blackcabinets #kitchendesign #bespokekitchen #galleykitchens](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.87.jpg)
Above is the legendary designer Bunny Williams’ New York apartment kitchen featured in the book. While we don’t know the custom paint color of the kitchen cabinets above, peek at these ideas for a similar look:
“Following the latest fashions will not necessarily bring you happiness in your home, but embracing its setting certainly will.”
Embracing Your Unique Setting
![Timeless room with wall of windows, settee, console table, and Westie resting on a rug. From Melissa Penfold's LIVING WELL BY DESIGN.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.54.jpg)
“Embracing its setting?” It need not mean installing a second bank of windows above your existing bank of windows to increase the joy of a picturesque mountain view.
![Sweeping mountain view through double-height windows in a home by architect James Carter and interior design by Jane Hawkins Hoke. #windowarchitecture #eleganthomes #janehawkinshoke](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.37.jpg)
Rather, consider mindful strokes to welcome in more natural light, to screen the view from your windows, and to connect with nature.
![McAlpine House designed house exterior with windows reflecting cityscape - from Melissa Penfold's LIVING WELL BY DESIGN. #houseexteriors #mcalpinehouse #housearchitecture](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/001-living-well-by-design-melissa-penfold-p.36.jpg)
If you admire timeless design, stunning interiors from around the globe, and secrets demystifying the process, you’re in business!
![LIVING WELL BY DESIGN by Melissa Penfold on my Belgian linen egg chair - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/briarcliff-bedroom-egg-chair-fall-living-well-candle.jpg)
![Mary Oliver quote on Hello Lovely Studio to encourage and uplift. #maryoliver #encouragementquote #naturequotes #poetry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/encouragement-quote-hello-lovely-studio-self-care-mary-oliver-worrying.jpg)
CASA CABANA (Vendome, 2021): Joyful Italian Fabrics, Color & Style
You’re in for such a treat as CASA CABANA spotlights a gorgeous collection of photography, personal essays, and Italian recipes.
![CASA CABANA (Vendome, 2021) book cover](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-fabric-book-covers.jpg)
The author, Martina Mondadori is the founder and editor of cult interiors magazine Cabana.
![Toile de Jouy director chairs - Casa Cabana by Martina Mondadori. #frenchtoile ##frenchchairs #interiordesigni](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-blue-toile-director-chairs-plates-wall-p215.jpg)
She grew up in Milan, where her father was chairman of one of Italy’s biggest publishing houses.
![Renzo Mongiardino quote on Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cartagena-placemat-green-cabanamagazine-renzo-mongiardino-quote.jpg)
After an early career in publishing and luxury branding, she launched the limited-edition designer magazine Cabana in 2014.
![Blue, red, and white Persia linens from CASA CABANA - Martina Mondadori. #tablescapes #redwhiteblue](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-tablescape-red-blue-floral-flatlay-p281.jpg)
What Contributes to #cabanamood?
To understand Cabana’s mix of pattern, texture, and color, one must look to the tastemakers who inspire it.
![CASA CABANA by Martina Mondadori.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/casa-cabana-002.jpg)
Patrick Kinmonth, William Kent, Studio Peregalli, François Halard, DiMoreStudio, Marian McEvoy, and Robert Kime, Kozumi Yoshida, Rifat Özbek, and Pierre-Louis Mascia are legendary masters and muses behind #cabanamood.
![Vibrant yellow villa exterior with green shutters and Dahlia Tablecloth - Casa Cabana.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-exterior-shutters-green-p209.jpg)
Is CASA CABANA a Decorating Book?
Yes, it is indeed a visual feast with incredibly stylish interiors and home decorating, but it’s so much more.
![CASA CABANA by Martina Mondadori.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/casa-cabana-005.jpg)
You’ll also find entertaining ideas as well as Italian recipes.
![Awe inspiring architecture - from CASA CABANA by Martina Mondadori.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-fordeabbey-gothic-arches-hall-green-p35.jpg)
The tablescapes and place settings are unlike any you’ll see elsewhere. Tablecloths, china, glasses, and a mix of patterns keep the mood high volume and joyous.
Speaking of Those Tablescapes…
![Julia Cameron creativity art quote on Hello Lovely. #artquotes #creativityquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/0002-inspirational-quote-hello-lovely-studio-creativity-timeless-julia-cameron.jpg)
While my own color style is decidedly pale, I cannot deny the sophistication! Plus, there are more subtle moments. Just look at this more subdued mix:
![CASA CABANA by Martina Mondadori.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/casa-cabana-006.jpg)
![Audrey Hepburn life quote on Hello Lovely. #audreyhepburn #lifequotes #lovequotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/0002-inspirational-quote-hello-lovely-studio-hold-onto-audrey-hepburn-PUMPKIN-SPICE.jpg)
![From Martina Mondadori's CASA CABANA (Vendome, 2021).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-Italian-kitchen-p115.jpg)
More quiet sophistication here:
![CASA CABANA by Martina Mondadori.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/casa-cabana-007.jpg)
Decorating With Color
Cabana style is about adding character and spirit, not perfection and the expected!
Listen to Martina speak with India Hicks about the beauty of imperfection (spoiler alert: India is hilarious!!!).
![Funny quote about day off of work on Hello Lovely. #funnytweets #workhumor](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/funny-humor-quote-hello-lovely-studio-evening-before-day-off-changemymind.jpg)
You will feel as though you are on a delicious voyage as you taste each page of Martina Mondadori’s lovely volume.
![Vivid colorful Rosa Tableccloth (Casa Cabana) and beautiful tablescape with flowers and peaches on a plate - Martina Mondadori. #tablescapes #colorfultablecloth](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/002-casa-cabana-martina-mondadori-tablescape-peaches-flowers-p.178.jpg)
And it is all so effortlessly chic that you will warm up to the idea of becoming more experimental. Whether it is laying a table or layering textures or infusing a room with #gemütlich!
![Gemutlich definition on Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cartagena-placemat-green-cabanamagazine-gemutlich.jpg)
New York Interiors (Vendome, 2021) by Simon Upton
In this book, get ready to welcome unique home design by architects, designers, stylists, writers, and free spirits across New York.
![Galmorous Miles Redd designed fantasy bedroom with teal walls in NEW YORK INTERIORS. #milesredd #glamorousbedrooms #interiordesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-miles-redd-p217.jpg)
These home tours form an amazing collection within a book of stories (editor Karen Howes) and photography by Simon Upton with a forward by Rupert Thomas. Some spaces and homes in NEW YORK INTERIORS have never been seen before!
![New York Interiors (Vendome, 2021) by Simon Upton - book cover. #newyorkinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-book-cover.jpg)
Unique New York Homes Celebrate Diversity
It’s doubtful you’ll see interiors spotlighted here that remind you of your own home! Whether located in the city or countryside, all were dreamed into existence from decidedly personal and bold points of view.
![Steven Gambrel designed Sag Harbor Federal Revival home in NEW YORK INTERIORS by Simon Upton. #interiordesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-steven-gambrell-p302.jpg)
Nothing close to ordinary appears on its striking pages. Consider how Miles Redd describes the process of assembling the bath in his New York townhouse:
“My bathroom I discovered in a salvage warehouse. It came from the Lester Armour House, designed by David Adler, in Lake Bluff…It is by far the biggest room and, from time to time, doubles as a dining room.”
Bathroom as flex room? The largest room? A dining room! See what I mean about letting go of your preconceived notion of design laws!?!
![John Steinbeck New York quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #newyorkquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/new-york-quote-hello-lovely-studio-john-steinbeck.jpg)
Don’t look for floorplan inspiration or resources for your own schemes. Rather, you’ll discover interiors that are a testament to freedom from rules.
![Alfredo Paredes designed parlor with rustic wood ceiling and round dining table in an East Village home. #newyorkhomes #aldredoparedes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-alfredo-paredes-dining-room-p241.jpg)
Artfully Soulful Interior Design Without Rules
Playful scale, odd pairings, traditional-yet-modern gestures. Eclectic collections, quirky architecture, and artful objects become backdrops for daily living. It’s a treat to tour such private abodes that elevate the everyday and are so very cherished.
I am smitten with this New York kitchen:
![Classic sophisticated kitchen by Will Kopelman in an Upper East Side Manhattan apartment in NEW YORK INTERIORS. #newyorkkitchens #traditionalkitchens](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-manhattan-kitchen-traditional-p115.jpg)
As you might imagine, the photography is exquisite as Upton captures poignancy in the homes of friends, not strangers. Magic tends to happen when simpatico, hospitality, and a reverence for artful living inform the dynamic.
![Modern Soho Loft Largesse by Timothy Haynes & Kevin Roberts in NEW YORK INTERIORS by Simon Upton. #newyorklofts #modernloft #interiordesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-modern-loft-white-sofa-p129.jpg)
You’ll discover plenty of depth and intimacy within NEW YORK INTERIORS. I wonder how this book will inspire you to adjust your lens. Will you see your own nest with fresh eyes as you consider the spaciousness creative freedom affords?
![Neon art in bedroom designed by Timothy Haynes & Kevin Roberts. #newyorkbedroom #modernart #modernbedrooms](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-modern-bedroom-if-i-cant-have-love-p137.jpg)
New York Energy Inspires Wonder
Perhaps you’ll find yourself awakened by the level of restraint in some of these designs. By the celebration of abundance in others.
![Stephen Sills designed country house interior in NEW YORK INTERIORS by Simon Upton. #interiordesign #newyorkhomes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-stephen-sills-p36.jpg)
I wonder if your senses will fill with wonder as you turn the pages. There is just so much beauty and breadth in how humans express their passions and imagine spaces they call home.
![Stephen Sills designed country house interior in NEW YORK INTERIORS by Simon Upton. #interiordesign #newyorkhomes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-stephen-sills-p268.jpg)
It rings dramatic, but journeying through NEW YORK INTERIORS feels creatively lifegiving. Who can say what fruits will come?
![Stephen Sills designed country house interior in NEW YORK INTERIORS by Simon Upton. #interiordesign #newyorkhomes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-stephen-sills-p36-2-1440x1058.jpg)
Creatives connect in deep ways with their shelters. For example, Aerin Lauder discusses the most important element within a space:
“For me, light is the most important element in any space. It brings warmth and life, while the play of shadows, as the light moves around a room, introduces a constantly changing energy.”
![Agatha Christie New York quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #newyorkquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/new-york-quote-hello-lovely-studio-detective-story-agatha-christie.jpg)
Let Yourself Be Surprised by New York Interiors
I found myself repeatedly surprised and stirred by the heartfelt reflections shared by New Yorkers. Owner of one wildly over-the-top Hudson Valley country house filled with art, Simon Lince writes:
“Our most treasured piece of art is actually a letter from our niece, Katie, who lives in England with her family. She sent us the note when she was learning to write, and it is such a sweet, unabashed expression of love–the perfect emblem for our country home.”
Similarly, this book is a love letter to New York.
![New York Interiors (Vendome, 2021) by Simon Upton - book cover. #newyorkinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-new-york-interiors-simon-upton-book-cover.jpg)
Tour a Serene Brooklyn Home
So many incredible design books available, here are a few I recommend for a rainy autumn day like today.
![A Design Lover's Cozy Autumn Day - check out these gorgeous books and finds for a stay at home self-care moment! Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/a-design-lovers-cozy-autumn-day-hello-lovely-studio-banner.jpg)
And what the heck, a few eclectic FALL FINDS for good measure.
![Eclectic Fall Finds - Hello Lovely Studio](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/fall-finds-hello-lovely-studio-banner-2.jpg)
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
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