Books say a lot more than you think! Why this designer buys books for her clients (who don’t read)
“I don’t always share my secre:ts with people but when I do, I have to kill them afterwards.”
— RE:BOOKS
RE:BOOKS: How long have you been an interior designer and what drove you to be one?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Twenty-five years. I have been designing since I could draw. I was eight years old and I had a floor plan of my dream home. When I was 13, I designed my bedroom. I didn't even know this could be a career choice until I was already in my 20s. In those days, only the elite had designers, and there weren't very many out there.
RE:BOOKS: Do you remember the first time a client asked you to pick out books for them? What was your initial reaction to this request?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: We stage a lot of homes for photos. One time I was working on a living room photoshoot and had brought some of my own books to use on their coffee table, and when I sent them pics from my phone to see if they wanted to keep any of the accessories, they asked me to leave the books!
I couldn’t since they were gifts from my father, but I then realized that this was a 'thing'. The second time, we were once again staging, and the client had a rather large bookcase, and virtually no books.
I went to a second-hand store and got bags of classics, art books, photography books, travel guides, and even a few children's books, and loaded it up. They kept them all. So it's less that they come right out and ask, and more that they realize, once we are done, that they actually don't have any books.
I did a bachelor pad once, and the gentleman asked for some "smart" coffee table books. He had seen a table with them in a magazine and wanted his place to feel polished.
RE:BOOKS: How do you pick books for your clients? Do you need to get to know them first? Or do your clients just give you free will to choose books for their homes?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: By the time I get there with my clients, I know them pretty well. So choosing books is easy. And there usually is no guidance.
RE:BOOKS: What’s the largest number of books a client ever asked you to pick out for them? You mentioned you do entire bookshelves. Can you share a couple of examples?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: The largest book project ever is filling entire bookcases. Once, I think I bought more than fifty books. Problem was, it was in a condo and I almost died having to carry them all upstairs. That was back when I worked alone. I would have given anything for my current team to have been there!
RE:BOOKS: Are there any super popular books that you always recommend for coffee tables? Let me rephrase! I’m moving this year. What coffee table books would you suggest I have out for people to see?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: That's a super personal question, but I know you so here are my suggestions for you:
Vogue: The Covers: It's amazing to see years of covers of a magazine run by the most accomplished female editor of our lifetime.
There are lots of super cool rock band coffee table books. There is one with 1,000 album covers. There is one on David Bowie that's great or The Doors. They not only are great if you love the musician, but they make you look cool too. ;) And depending on how old you want people to think you are, you can totally fake your age...
I recommend to everyone a book that I personally own and love. Earth from Above. Get the big one, the small version is nowhere near as impressive. People love that book. I think it's the most beautiful book I have ever seen.
RE:BOOKS: What are clients’ reactions upon seeing the books you picked for their shelves? Are they surprised? Happy with your choices?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Mostly they don't really care. If you are asking someone to buy you books, it's not the books you care about. I actually hope that after I leave, they pick a few up and read them.
Coffee table books get more oohs and ahs, as they tend to be filled with pretty pictures, and not too many words.
RE:BOOKS: But I know a handful of people who have asked their designers to pick out books. Is this one of the most hidden secrets in the interior designer world?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Actually, it’s not! The most hidden secret in the interior design world is that we always see people's dirty laundry. And we sometimes have to rifle through the pile to find a floor register.
RE:BOOKS: How do you decide what books to chose for people’s bookshelves or coffee table (or washrooms)? Do you base the books that would look good/match the home or home decor? Or do you base the books you choose to match the homeowner’s personality? Or both?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: I think I choose whatever is available that tells the story of them and their family. If they have no children, I don't buy Dr. Seuss. If they are both chefs, I might get some cookbooks or travel guides for foodies. It's mostly about them. And sometimes, it's about what story I want the photoshoot to tell.
RE:BOOKS: What was the craziest ask from a client when they asked you to buy books for them? What was the largest budget you were given?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: I once had a lady ask me to colour-coordinate her bookshelf like a photo she saw on Pinterest. That's the worst possible thing you can ask of a designer, in my opinion. One budget I had was hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I’ll leave it at that!
RE:BOOKS: If a client asks you to decide on what books to have out or place on their bookshelves, how long do you spend thinking about what books your clients should have? Do you put as much thought into the book picks as you do, let’s say, for the colour of paint or furniture? And where do you buy books for your clients?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: I like books to look a little used. It's usually just a walk-through at the store and seeing what is available and I think will work. Often I will go in and find one great book, and then it starts to become an entire collection. Books don't always have to match anything. Like art, they are a love game.
RE:BOOKS: Fun question! Have clients who asked for you to pick out books for their homes made you want to read them? And do you think they read them? Best guess?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: I hope I have inspired a love of reading. But who knows? Maybe I should leave your first book at their homes so they get hooked on you! I read so much already that I have usually read most of what I buy and bring over anyway.
RE:BOOKS: Finally, why do you think clients ask you to do this? To look more cultured? More well-read? Any other reasons?
INTERIOR DESIGNER: I think people see books as a status symbol. For instance, a great book about Coco Chanel on your coffee table makes you seem fashionable and chic, while a collection of art books may make you seem cultured to your guests.
I also think clients not only want to seem intelligent, but more importantly, in my opinion—and totally biased due to my own extreme love of reading—books create warmth in a space. Books, to me, are like friends that hug you every time you walk into the room.
It takes all kinds to make this world go round. People all have their reasons. This is anonymous, right? My clients would be embarrassed!
RE:BOOKS: My mouth is sealed!