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Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired by Literature
For those who have ever lost themselves in the stylish worlds of novels like Sense and Sensibility, The Age of Innocence, Wuthering Heights, The Picture of Dorian Gray and countless others, this design book embraces the fantasy of time and place, showing you how to bring some of those elements into your own home.
Lisa Giramonti inspires a new approach to by teaching us through the lens of worlds we may already know and love. With gorgeous photographs by World of Interiors photographer Ivan Terestchenko, aspirational quotes, and tailored reading lists, Novel Interiors reveals the essence and details of interiors mentioned in great literary works. This is a stunning, photo-driven book that shares enchanting and timeless ways to live more elegantly.
Lisa Giramonti inspires a new approach to by teaching us through the lens of worlds we may already know and love. With gorgeous photographs by World of Interiors photographer Ivan Terestchenko, aspirational quotes, and tailored reading lists, Novel Interiors reveals the essence and details of interiors mentioned in great literary works. This is a stunning, photo-driven book that shares enchanting and timeless ways to live more elegantly.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 2, 2014
19 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 9, 2015
I expected from the way the book was described that the rooms would be more directly related to the books. Like, "Your next challenge is to redecorate this beach-front cottage in a manner that visitors recognize as representing Wuthering Heights." That kind of thing. Instead it's just rooms with vaguely historical styles or touches, paired with quotes.
The specific suggestions are all along staggeringly obvious lines: if you like books add more shelving (duh), frame a copy of a cover you like, choose art from the period of your favorite books.
The specific suggestions are all along staggeringly obvious lines: if you like books add more shelving (duh), frame a copy of a cover you like, choose art from the period of your favorite books.
May 31, 2015
Yesterday here was so cold, only in the fifties and windy and rainy, a perfect day to page through this wonderful books. Rooms decorated in the style of some of our favorite classics, along with quotes from the books and explanations from the author. Some of the rooms were just great, some a little too colorful or clutter for me, but entertaining reading. I even found a little out door searing area, a cafe from The Sun also Rises from Hemingway, have the perfect spot for this. It will make a great private reading and eating nook. Think I may need to buy this book, it has a great reading list at the end, some of which I had never heard.
April 18, 2017
When I first got this book, I thought Giramonti was going to recreate rooms in literature. For example, Anne of Green Gables bedroom or the living room of Gatsby or etc. etc.
I was surprised to find instead that this is a how-to-decorate book. Giramonti goes through different classic books and breaks down some basic styles, and then teaches you how to incorporate them into your real-life living space.
The styles:
Shall I put the kettle on?
Home as a well-worn sanctuary. This was my favorite and the 'style' I go for in my own home. Comfy, charming, with mismatched china and lots of overstuffed furniture good for lounging on. It doesn't matter if things are worn, it gives them style. Tons of books.
All my status updates are from this section.
Book Inspirations for this section:
Little Women
Sense and Sensibility
Persuasion
Emma
David Copperfield
Our Mutual Friend
Bleak House
Middlemarch
The Mill on the Floss
Cranford
North and South
Wives and Daughters
The Wind in the Willows
Lark Rise to Candleford
Orley Farm
The Small House at Allington
Remembrance of things past.
Stately, elegant, expensive simplicity. Gold rimmed china, plants, cane, wicker, bamboo, monogrammed stuff, silhouette portraits.
Loving
A London Life
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family
The Pursuit of Love
The Edwardians
Vanity Fair
Brideshead Revisited
The Age of Innocence
Living au naturel
Simple, authentic, decorating with branches, austere, no clutter, rustic, lots of wood, stone, and earthenware. Shells, driftwood, etc.
Wuthering Heights
My Ántonia
The Professor's House
Cold Comfort Farm
The Return of the Native
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The Country of the Pointed Firs
Sons and Lovers
Lady Chatterley's Lover
The Captain's Doll
Anne of Green Gables
Walden
Oh, the glamour of it all.
Glamorous, luxurious, elegant. Not much color, lots of white. Lots of mirrors. Gold and silver, sleek furniture. Geometric patterns. Lace curtains. Black-and-white photography on the walls.
The Green Hat
Jigsaw: An Unsentimental Education
The Great Gatsby
Tender Is the Night
The Good Soldier
The Sun Also Rises
A Moveable Feast
Devoted Ladies
The Razor's Edge
Crazy Pavements
Anything goes.
Color, art, and random objects everywhere.
The Wilder Shores of Love
Out of Africa
Trilby
My Family and Other Animals
Justine and the whole quartet
Katherine Mansfield
I Capture the Castle
The Voyage Out
Mrs. Dalloway
The Years
To the Lighthouse
Sometimes a fantasy.
I couldn't really get at what she was trying to say in this section. Tons of color, very weird furniture, and shells and turtle statues glued to the walls. It was very... interesting.
Self-Portrait With Friends: The Selected Diaries of Cecil Beaton, 1926-1974
Les Enfants Terribles
Chéri
The Child Of Pleasure
Vainglory
Inclinations
Against Nature
Marcel Proust
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tl;dr - It's like looking at the interior decorating Pintrest or Instagram of someone who really loves books. I would have appreciated some more modern books in the mix. And I would have preferred the 'fantasy' section to deal with actual fantasy novels, and not whatever she was doing here.
I was surprised to find instead that this is a how-to-decorate book. Giramonti goes through different classic books and breaks down some basic styles, and then teaches you how to incorporate them into your real-life living space.
The styles:
Shall I put the kettle on?
Home as a well-worn sanctuary. This was my favorite and the 'style' I go for in my own home. Comfy, charming, with mismatched china and lots of overstuffed furniture good for lounging on. It doesn't matter if things are worn, it gives them style. Tons of books.
All my status updates are from this section.
Book Inspirations for this section:
Little Women
Sense and Sensibility
Persuasion
Emma
David Copperfield
Our Mutual Friend
Bleak House
Middlemarch
The Mill on the Floss
Cranford
North and South
Wives and Daughters
The Wind in the Willows
Lark Rise to Candleford
Orley Farm
The Small House at Allington
Remembrance of things past.
Stately, elegant, expensive simplicity. Gold rimmed china, plants, cane, wicker, bamboo, monogrammed stuff, silhouette portraits.
Loving
A London Life
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family
The Pursuit of Love
The Edwardians
Vanity Fair
Brideshead Revisited
The Age of Innocence
Living au naturel
Simple, authentic, decorating with branches, austere, no clutter, rustic, lots of wood, stone, and earthenware. Shells, driftwood, etc.
Wuthering Heights
My Ántonia
The Professor's House
Cold Comfort Farm
The Return of the Native
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The Country of the Pointed Firs
Sons and Lovers
Lady Chatterley's Lover
The Captain's Doll
Anne of Green Gables
Walden
Oh, the glamour of it all.
Glamorous, luxurious, elegant. Not much color, lots of white. Lots of mirrors. Gold and silver, sleek furniture. Geometric patterns. Lace curtains. Black-and-white photography on the walls.
The Green Hat
Jigsaw: An Unsentimental Education
The Great Gatsby
Tender Is the Night
The Good Soldier
The Sun Also Rises
A Moveable Feast
Devoted Ladies
The Razor's Edge
Crazy Pavements
Anything goes.
Color, art, and random objects everywhere.
The Wilder Shores of Love
Out of Africa
Trilby
My Family and Other Animals
Justine and the whole quartet
Katherine Mansfield
I Capture the Castle
The Voyage Out
Mrs. Dalloway
The Years
To the Lighthouse
Sometimes a fantasy.
I couldn't really get at what she was trying to say in this section. Tons of color, very weird furniture, and shells and turtle statues glued to the walls. It was very... interesting.
Self-Portrait With Friends: The Selected Diaries of Cecil Beaton, 1926-1974
Les Enfants Terribles
Chéri
The Child Of Pleasure
Vainglory
Inclinations
Against Nature
Marcel Proust
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tl;dr - It's like looking at the interior decorating Pintrest or Instagram of someone who really loves books. I would have appreciated some more modern books in the mix. And I would have preferred the 'fantasy' section to deal with actual fantasy novels, and not whatever she was doing here.
September 30, 2020
Some pretty spaces to ponder; the first two styles of home (shabby British cottage and elegant estate with a side of tchotchkes) particularly appealed to me, and I liked Giramonti’s lists of objets to acquire if these are your interior styles (e.g., brass candlesticks, preserved beetles, moss-laden ferns). But it was a disappointment to discover that almost all of these houses are in the dreadful metropolis of Los Angeles. A shame for a book that purports to be broad-ranging.
April 3, 2015
Enjoyable book of interiors with some good literary quotes. Will it get me off my ass to redo a room? No.
February 13, 2015
I bought this book because of the title, expecting it to be filled with illustrations of some of the very rooms my favorite authors have described in their books. That didn’t turn out to be the case, but it didn’t matter because what the book actually does is even better. The author is an interior designer and an avid reader who has created a charming guide to decorating that incorporates some of the same features we find in the rooms we read about in literature. This gorgeous book is as beautiful to look at as it is to read because the stunning photographs of contemporary rooms have been carefully chosen to capture the essence of the literary quotes that accompany them. For example a full page photograph of a leather armchair conveniently placed in front of a blazing fireplace is accompanied by the following quote from The Wind in the Willows: “When they got home, the Rat made a bright fire in the parlor and planted the Mole in an armchair in front of it.” Giramonti draws from over 60 classic novels and I was happy to see so many of my favorite authors represented, including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy as well as Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Willa Cather and many others. The author of this wonderfully engaging book feels stories are important but “it’s what happens between the plot lines of a novel that creates the most indelible impression. . .what you really remember are all those tiny details that pull you into the beautiful worlds you hate to leave.” In addition to offering decorating tips based on the rooms in those beautiful worlds, she includes a list of all the books she has quoted from, along with short descriptions of what makes them so visually memorable. (It’s tempting to confine my reading for the next few years to every novel that gets mentioned in this book.) This isn’t just a book about decorating. It’s a lovely glimpse into what we find so enchanting about the houses and rooms we inhabit when we read our favorite books.
December 16, 2014
What is better than reading a novel? Living in a house decorated around one! Novel Interiors by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti is a beautiful book highlighting rooms/homes that are inspired by literature. "You don't just read a good book, you inhabit it."
This book is filled with gorgeous photographs. Also quotes from over sixty works of literature, which help tie in even the smallest decorating element.
Can't you just imagine what the room from Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence should look like with this passage from the book: "He was rather proud of his home...The chairs were only wooden, and the sofa was old...{but} there was a simplicity in everything and plenty of books."
What about "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers...Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them." Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
This is the perfect coffee table book for any book lover and designer. Such original, classic ideas tying our love for reading into a relaxing home in which to read. :)
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.
This book is filled with gorgeous photographs. Also quotes from over sixty works of literature, which help tie in even the smallest decorating element.
Can't you just imagine what the room from Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence should look like with this passage from the book: "He was rather proud of his home...The chairs were only wooden, and the sofa was old...{but} there was a simplicity in everything and plenty of books."
What about "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers...Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them." Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
This is the perfect coffee table book for any book lover and designer. Such original, classic ideas tying our love for reading into a relaxing home in which to read. :)
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2019
This is such a fun book! I was under the impression that the idea was designing with books, but it's actually designing based on numerous settings within classic novels. It is organized by various styles which is a nice feature considering many interior design books focus on just one. Fun quotes are interspersed among the wonderful pictures, and the explanatory sections are incredibly flexible. Rather than insisting that a chair be set in a particular corner with a specifically sized window, Giramonti ultimately says, if this is your style shop for these kinds of things and the rest will fall into place.
March 3, 2020
This book is the antidote to look-alike home decor. Using quotes from classic novels as a jumping off point, the author highlights ways to use old design elements in a modern home. She praises the "decrepitude" of a tattered chair and the misshapen cushions of a "much-loved" sofa.
The ideas here are whimsical. The author recommends adding fabric curtains to a dining-room cabinet to hide the stuff you don't want seen. Then she suggests displaying toilet paper in an antique glass-fronted bathroom cabinet.
Use fine china every day, especially in a reading spot.
Symmetry soothes the brain and makes even a cluttered room feel spacious. If the architecture isn't symmetrical, put a pair of objects around a door or other focal point for a more harmonious feel.
A curtain in a doorway is called a portiere.
The ideas here are whimsical. The author recommends adding fabric curtains to a dining-room cabinet to hide the stuff you don't want seen. Then she suggests displaying toilet paper in an antique glass-fronted bathroom cabinet.
Use fine china every day, especially in a reading spot.
Symmetry soothes the brain and makes even a cluttered room feel spacious. If the architecture isn't symmetrical, put a pair of objects around a door or other focal point for a more harmonious feel.
A curtain in a doorway is called a portiere.
April 1, 2019
So much fun! As someone who loves both books and decorating, this really hit a sweet spot for me.
January 15, 2015
As a book lover, I was drawn to Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired by Literature by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti. The book is divided in different design aesthetics that are based on different classic novels. Even if you are able to choose a favorite novel, it would still be beneficial to read through all of various aesthetics for inspiration. I think it should been emphasized the literature is referred to are classics. Ivan Terestchenko gives the visuals to the artfully crafted words. The photograph are clear and expressive, drawing the reader into the different rooms.
There are sidebars some of which are called "A Lesson From the Books" which guides the reader to personalize their home even more. My favorite example is "Naming Your House" which list famous literary names of homes. It also gives you a tips on how to name your own home. This book also touches on the creating inspired environments with outside plants. I appreciated the inclusion of The "Medicinal Potted Garden" which list herbs and their uses.I close to the end of the book before a child’s room were mentioned. Children’s rooms are addressed in one of the more whimsical sections of the book. I would have liked children’s rooms to mentioned in each of the design aesthetic. Giramonti ends each chapter with “The Finishing Touches” with a list of accessories to add to the room to make it more complete. The end of the book lists authors and their works that are the sources of inspiration for the featured homes.
Visually, this book is pleasing to browse through even if you are not in the middle of decorating your home. However this is more than a coffee table book, it is a decorating guide that helps the reader turn a house to the home. Many of the aesthetics in this book seem like a slow decorating process. It is about collecting and displaying items that you love, not just items that fit in the theme. I would recommend this book for bibliophiles with a passion for the classics for decoration inspiration.
There are sidebars some of which are called "A Lesson From the Books" which guides the reader to personalize their home even more. My favorite example is "Naming Your House" which list famous literary names of homes. It also gives you a tips on how to name your own home. This book also touches on the creating inspired environments with outside plants. I appreciated the inclusion of The "Medicinal Potted Garden" which list herbs and their uses.I close to the end of the book before a child’s room were mentioned. Children’s rooms are addressed in one of the more whimsical sections of the book. I would have liked children’s rooms to mentioned in each of the design aesthetic. Giramonti ends each chapter with “The Finishing Touches” with a list of accessories to add to the room to make it more complete. The end of the book lists authors and their works that are the sources of inspiration for the featured homes.
Visually, this book is pleasing to browse through even if you are not in the middle of decorating your home. However this is more than a coffee table book, it is a decorating guide that helps the reader turn a house to the home. Many of the aesthetics in this book seem like a slow decorating process. It is about collecting and displaying items that you love, not just items that fit in the theme. I would recommend this book for bibliophiles with a passion for the classics for decoration inspiration.
July 11, 2015
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Anyone who sees in my house knows that mine is a house of people who do a lot of living but not a shit ton of decorating. We pretty much accessorize with books and pet hair. Accordingly, I have a masochistic relationship with decorator magazines and books – I love to see the pictures but the only actual tip I’ve ever managed to put into use involves having a lot of baskets and bins and things so that my disorganized clutter actually looks super organized (it isn’t).
When I came across this book, Novel Interiors, I was pretty darned excited, because hey, decorating tips AND books! Yay! I thought that Novel Interiors would be a book that teaches you how to decorate your house just like specific rooms in literature. I was close, but the book it a little looser, going more for overall styles than any one specific room.
The book is full of gorgeous photos by Ivan Terestchenko, fun quotes, and tips – plus a rather remarkable dose of permission to embrace the pet hair and learn to enjoy imperfection.
Even though this book presents a lot of different styles, they all feature a lot of “stuff”, which is a look I’m trying (futilely) to avoid. So I can’t say that I found this book to be a personal decorating inspiration.
However, it did give me a huge gift. It encouraged me to be more comfortable with my house as it is – the carpet is stained, the couch cushions are messed up because the dog likes to sleep on top of the vertical cushions and now they are scrunched, I have books piled on the floor, and hardily anything matches. Giramonti says that’s totally fine. Piling books on the floor “makes a bold graphic statement.” I always assumed that statement was “I ran out of bookshelf space so I just said the hell with it and started making piles because I was too busy to do anything else,” but Giarmonti seems to think that’s perfectly fine!
- Carrie S.
Anyone who sees in my house knows that mine is a house of people who do a lot of living but not a shit ton of decorating. We pretty much accessorize with books and pet hair. Accordingly, I have a masochistic relationship with decorator magazines and books – I love to see the pictures but the only actual tip I’ve ever managed to put into use involves having a lot of baskets and bins and things so that my disorganized clutter actually looks super organized (it isn’t).
When I came across this book, Novel Interiors, I was pretty darned excited, because hey, decorating tips AND books! Yay! I thought that Novel Interiors would be a book that teaches you how to decorate your house just like specific rooms in literature. I was close, but the book it a little looser, going more for overall styles than any one specific room.
The book is full of gorgeous photos by Ivan Terestchenko, fun quotes, and tips – plus a rather remarkable dose of permission to embrace the pet hair and learn to enjoy imperfection.
Even though this book presents a lot of different styles, they all feature a lot of “stuff”, which is a look I’m trying (futilely) to avoid. So I can’t say that I found this book to be a personal decorating inspiration.
However, it did give me a huge gift. It encouraged me to be more comfortable with my house as it is – the carpet is stained, the couch cushions are messed up because the dog likes to sleep on top of the vertical cushions and now they are scrunched, I have books piled on the floor, and hardily anything matches. Giramonti says that’s totally fine. Piling books on the floor “makes a bold graphic statement.” I always assumed that statement was “I ran out of bookshelf space so I just said the hell with it and started making piles because I was too busy to do anything else,” but Giarmonti seems to think that’s perfectly fine!
- Carrie S.
February 14, 2015
The premise for this book was promising. Unfortunately, the execution of the idea was passable at best.
Don't get me wrong; the pictures were well-done and I even liked many of the tips that author gave. But the actual interior designs were just...meh. They weren't so off that you couldn't see how they might remind you of a certain genre of novel, but it wasn't what I was hoping for.
I wanted a "Sense and Sensibility" room. A "Great Gatsby" room. A room completely inspired by a Charles Dickens book. Instead I got rooms that weren't hideous, but weren't breathtaking, either. They were just rooms- some appealing, some not so much- that the author tried to make seem novel-ish. A few of them were downright unattractive, but many of them were just shrug-worthy- not terrible, but not amazing, either.
My favorite chapters were probably the first two; they reminded me of the types of books that they were supposed to, even if they didn't go quite as far in that direction as I wanted them to. The later chapters were not very much like my decorating style at all, and it was hard for me to appreciate them.
Overall, this book has one or two things to recommend it, but not enough where I'd suggest you'd pay $35 for it.
I received this book for free from bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review.
Don't get me wrong; the pictures were well-done and I even liked many of the tips that author gave. But the actual interior designs were just...meh. They weren't so off that you couldn't see how they might remind you of a certain genre of novel, but it wasn't what I was hoping for.
I wanted a "Sense and Sensibility" room. A "Great Gatsby" room. A room completely inspired by a Charles Dickens book. Instead I got rooms that weren't hideous, but weren't breathtaking, either. They were just rooms- some appealing, some not so much- that the author tried to make seem novel-ish. A few of them were downright unattractive, but many of them were just shrug-worthy- not terrible, but not amazing, either.
My favorite chapters were probably the first two; they reminded me of the types of books that they were supposed to, even if they didn't go quite as far in that direction as I wanted them to. The later chapters were not very much like my decorating style at all, and it was hard for me to appreciate them.
Overall, this book has one or two things to recommend it, but not enough where I'd suggest you'd pay $35 for it.
I received this book for free from bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2017
This book was a delight to hold and inspiring to read. The concept itself was unique--Borgnes Giramonti categorizes various pieces of classic literature according to a decorating style each might fit into and includes quotes from different books as well as gorgeous photographs and "how to" checklists. Admittedly, I did not want to live in all of the rooms, but unlike other reviewers here who seemed to base their assessment of the book on whether they liked the rooms or thought they were on trend, I was just happy to see a book about interiors that embraced literature and didn't assume we all want sleek, sparse, less-is-more houses because that's what we've been told recently is the ideal. Like the authors she highlights here, there is no one single best way to decorate, nor a single way to interpret the descriptions of homes in classic literature. I liked having the opportunity to see her vision and was glad to have stumbled upon the book which then led me to her blog--a true delight. The only thing I might have liked seeing in the book is a little more information about the houses that were featured. It's a fun, beautiful book.
May 4, 2015
Cannot even express how much I loved this book and the idea behind it. Taking classic novels as inspiration for design is genius. Anyone who knows me won't be surprised to find that my style fit perfectly into the "Shall I Put the Kettle On?"chapter, which had Jane Austen among its inspirations. Even is the chapter didn't quite fit my personal style, there was a real sense of connection between the quotes and the rooms that was beautiful to behold.
January 10, 2015
A beautiful book to keep on your coffee table or a book shelf within reach. The pictures and corresponding book quotes are inspiring and just a delight to browse through or look for a decorating idea or two!
March 5, 2015
This was okay but interesting. The pictures of the different shelves, giving the room a bookish kind of theme was nice.
January 24, 2015
Inside the covers of this journey you will find so many insights, a treasury of memories, and an abundance of decorating visions for your home. At first I sat down expecting an enjoyable moment of browsing, which is what I was given. Days later, I returned for a few moments to read the photo captions and was immediately lost in the details of the rooms. A week later my visit lasted through out the lazy morning.
"We don't just read a great story, we inhabit it.
If you're at all like me,
it's what happens between the plot points of a novel that creates the most indelible impression.
Of course, the story line is important, but what you really remember
are all of those tiny details that pull you into beautiful worlds that you hate to leave."
Such a delightful quote. With each page I discovered cherished quotes from books that are such good friends you would find them within my bookcases. With every photo, I would inspect the details in awe. Often there were sighs of contentment, quiet "oohs" and many "ah-hah" nods. At times would recognize an item in my home and memories would flash like snapshots in a photo album. Yet, there were so many more moments where I would daydream of a change in that corner, or a revamping of that area, and of course those moments of additions inside and out on my patio.
You will experience delightful moments of discovery and inspiration as you reconnect with moments from those storytellers that have illuminated imaginations or generations:
"The cottage of content [is] better than the Palace of cold splendor, and that was where love was, all was." David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (pg.23). With an inviting breakfast partially eaten on the kitchen counter just reminding me of a kitchen I once knew.
"It was just what it ought to be, and it looked what it was." Emma by Jane Austen (pgs. 26-27). With furniture that is worn, the trunk as a coffee table and my mother's sketches on the wall... I glanced around my front room and was reassured in the comfort of my home.
"See!' said Eugene, 'miniature flour-barrel, rolling- pin, spice-box, shelf of brown jars, chopping-board, coffee-mill, dresser elegantly furnished with crockery, saucepans and pans, roasting jack, a charming kettle, an armory of dish-covers. The moral influence of these objects, in forming the domestic virtues, may have an immense influence upon me..." Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens (pgs. 30-31). I adored this pantry. What a great idea. Instead of having a pantry of cans, I could renovate my pantry will all things for guests. Displaying all the wonderful generational items. Adding the decadent jams and biscuits. Folding the guest and holiday linens. And what would I do with my every day stockpile of cans, flours, etc... why hide them on the shelves where all of my guest items once lived!
"Don't let us make it tidy,' said Mary anxiously. 'It wouldn't be a secret garden if it was tidy." The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (pgs. 32-33). I could smell the flowers outside the window. I glimpsed the pots that added layers to the patio's edge... I was ready to go on to the patio and begin replanting!
"The linen...though coarse, was clean and smelt beautifully of lavendar." The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (pgs. 38-39). The whimsy of a built in bed. The detail of items loved, crafted, and cherished. Which room should the construction begin in?
"Every room feels as cozy and welcoming as the kitchen... A home that embraces these qualities is a place friends will return to again and again." (pgs. 48-51). Not only did I fall in love with this kitchen, I realized some of the angles could benefit my kitchen layout. "In Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, there's a blissful-sounding 'wilderness of books' in the March family's library that Jo hurries to every chance she can." Check... I have recreated this image in every home... this is my touch of comfort... my retreat that I share with all who enter our doors.
"Jo hurried to this quiet place, and curling herself up in the easy chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures like a regular bookworm." Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (pgs. 54-55). Recreating our own 'comfy' spot is a must in every home, on any porch, and within any garden. The author has great little hints on creating the "ultimate cozy corner" which brings to life all of your hidden treasures or at least "plants" a seed as to what you could look for when out and about your town.
"In every nook and corner there was some queer little table, or cupboard, or bookcase, or seat, or something or other, that made me think there was not such another good corner in the room; until I looked at the next one, and found it equal to it, if not better." David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (pgs. 58-59). With an abundance of treasures from the past, I value that everywhere, everyday generational touch. Not every photo lends to my liking... yet every quote offered an insight into the depth of inspiration from authors I have known.
Beyond the quotes, beyond the images, there are the best "tidbits" from what to look for when you are out and about, or suggestions for naming your home. Maybe you want a quick reference about color and texture choices. Maybe a suggestion or two for entertaining with just the right touches. Or maybe you just enjoy literary connections. This book offers a treasure with every browse!
There are so many delightful treasures within every photo and behind every quote,
Enjoy your discoveries, your memories, and your quest in redecorating even the smallest area of your home.
MrsK http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
"We don't just read a great story, we inhabit it.
If you're at all like me,
it's what happens between the plot points of a novel that creates the most indelible impression.
Of course, the story line is important, but what you really remember
are all of those tiny details that pull you into beautiful worlds that you hate to leave."
Such a delightful quote. With each page I discovered cherished quotes from books that are such good friends you would find them within my bookcases. With every photo, I would inspect the details in awe. Often there were sighs of contentment, quiet "oohs" and many "ah-hah" nods. At times would recognize an item in my home and memories would flash like snapshots in a photo album. Yet, there were so many more moments where I would daydream of a change in that corner, or a revamping of that area, and of course those moments of additions inside and out on my patio.
You will experience delightful moments of discovery and inspiration as you reconnect with moments from those storytellers that have illuminated imaginations or generations:
"The cottage of content [is] better than the Palace of cold splendor, and that was where love was, all was." David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (pg.23). With an inviting breakfast partially eaten on the kitchen counter just reminding me of a kitchen I once knew.
"It was just what it ought to be, and it looked what it was." Emma by Jane Austen (pgs. 26-27). With furniture that is worn, the trunk as a coffee table and my mother's sketches on the wall... I glanced around my front room and was reassured in the comfort of my home.
"See!' said Eugene, 'miniature flour-barrel, rolling- pin, spice-box, shelf of brown jars, chopping-board, coffee-mill, dresser elegantly furnished with crockery, saucepans and pans, roasting jack, a charming kettle, an armory of dish-covers. The moral influence of these objects, in forming the domestic virtues, may have an immense influence upon me..." Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens (pgs. 30-31). I adored this pantry. What a great idea. Instead of having a pantry of cans, I could renovate my pantry will all things for guests. Displaying all the wonderful generational items. Adding the decadent jams and biscuits. Folding the guest and holiday linens. And what would I do with my every day stockpile of cans, flours, etc... why hide them on the shelves where all of my guest items once lived!
"Don't let us make it tidy,' said Mary anxiously. 'It wouldn't be a secret garden if it was tidy." The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (pgs. 32-33). I could smell the flowers outside the window. I glimpsed the pots that added layers to the patio's edge... I was ready to go on to the patio and begin replanting!
"The linen...though coarse, was clean and smelt beautifully of lavendar." The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (pgs. 38-39). The whimsy of a built in bed. The detail of items loved, crafted, and cherished. Which room should the construction begin in?
"Every room feels as cozy and welcoming as the kitchen... A home that embraces these qualities is a place friends will return to again and again." (pgs. 48-51). Not only did I fall in love with this kitchen, I realized some of the angles could benefit my kitchen layout. "In Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, there's a blissful-sounding 'wilderness of books' in the March family's library that Jo hurries to every chance she can." Check... I have recreated this image in every home... this is my touch of comfort... my retreat that I share with all who enter our doors.
"Jo hurried to this quiet place, and curling herself up in the easy chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures like a regular bookworm." Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (pgs. 54-55). Recreating our own 'comfy' spot is a must in every home, on any porch, and within any garden. The author has great little hints on creating the "ultimate cozy corner" which brings to life all of your hidden treasures or at least "plants" a seed as to what you could look for when out and about your town.
"In every nook and corner there was some queer little table, or cupboard, or bookcase, or seat, or something or other, that made me think there was not such another good corner in the room; until I looked at the next one, and found it equal to it, if not better." David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (pgs. 58-59). With an abundance of treasures from the past, I value that everywhere, everyday generational touch. Not every photo lends to my liking... yet every quote offered an insight into the depth of inspiration from authors I have known.
Beyond the quotes, beyond the images, there are the best "tidbits" from what to look for when you are out and about, or suggestions for naming your home. Maybe you want a quick reference about color and texture choices. Maybe a suggestion or two for entertaining with just the right touches. Or maybe you just enjoy literary connections. This book offers a treasure with every browse!
There are so many delightful treasures within every photo and behind every quote,
Enjoy your discoveries, your memories, and your quest in redecorating even the smallest area of your home.
MrsK http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
January 31, 2022
I often thumb through coffee table books about interior decorating, but rarely do I read them cover-to-cover. That being said, this one was about spaces inspired by literary quotes. That cinched it for me.
Some of the decorating tips were a little eclectic for my taste, but I think that's part of what the book was trying to express: comparing the creative intellectual "property" of a novel to the personalized creativity of a room.
It was really enjoyable to read and I think the author did a great job at connecting classic literary quotes with contemporary decorating trends.
Some of the decorating tips were a little eclectic for my taste, but I think that's part of what the book was trying to express: comparing the creative intellectual "property" of a novel to the personalized creativity of a room.
It was really enjoyable to read and I think the author did a great job at connecting classic literary quotes with contemporary decorating trends.
December 26, 2019
This book was hella pretty. I, naturally, liked the bookish worlds brought forth in interiors. Also, the lists at the end of each section were pretty useful. Like, you see certain decorative objects but I wouldn't know what to call half of them, so super useful and I screenshotted them to my phone so I'd have them handy.
June 6, 2023
Of course I was going to read this: it combines reading and home design. I like the concept, and some of the rooms (I'm not going for that Jane Austen vibe anytime soon), but would have liked to have one room analyzed in each chapter. An annotated "why this works" would have worked nicely.
April 26, 2024
This was magical and imaginative and just lovely to look through. The types of styles and ideas presented are diverse enough to appeal to pretty much everyone who ever dreamed of living in the pages of their favorite novel. I would definitely come back to this as a unique decorating resource.
February 18, 2025
Wasn’t exactly as I expected- I thought it would be more recreating iconic literary rooms or something— but the designs are generally pretty and less ridiculous than many interior design books. The writing is good and cozy.
August 22, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
I found this varying degrees of useful and if not useful at least fun to read and look at. It had many tips, some more helpful than others, and I found myself screenshotting a few times for future reference (as I borrowed this on Libby).
I found this varying degrees of useful and if not useful at least fun to read and look at. It had many tips, some more helpful than others, and I found myself screenshotting a few times for future reference (as I borrowed this on Libby).
April 20, 2019
Oh, I really did love this book. It's one of the few shelter books (and I've read a TON of them) that I've read every single word of. I loved this one.
February 18, 2020
Love this book.
July 15, 2024
Beautiful photos, interesting approach to interior design
November 23, 2025
Its like pinterest before it drowned in ads and AI
February 1, 2017
Beautiful rooms that will make you wish you can just climb into the pages of this book.
December 27, 2014
Title: Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired By Literature
Author: Lisa Borgnes Giramonti (Photographs by Ivan Terestchenko)
Published: 2014, Pottery Style, Random House LLC.
Summary: This is an interior decorating guide that combines good taste with popular literature ideas. Giramonti describes how many of our favorite classic novels provide excellent insight to home decor.
My Reflection: This book was absolutely amazing and by far more inspiring than any other coffee table book of its kind. I had originally anticipated reading through this book and writing a review but I ended up taking this book around with me for days, glancing through the pages for hours.
Obviously one of the main pros of this book is the photography. Giramonti provided hundreds of examples with paragraphs of detailed specifics as to why the designs work. Every page is filled with photographs from dining rooms to close up of table decorations. The “Lesson from the Books” were extremely helpful and created hours of inspiring ideas for me. One in particular being the “Naming Your House” which I have know spent a few hours coming up with some clever names for my own. I found myself adding sticky notes to dozens of pages where the designs were particularly unique and intriguing.
This book includes six chapters surrounded by six different themes; my favorite being “Living au Natural”. I loved all the “green” ideas of incorporating plants throughout the house. I was inspired by the idea of includes plants, large and small, throughout the house. One of my favorite ideas was the Medicinal Potted Garden which was Giramonti’s inspiration from Sons and Lovers.
I found the information throughout the book and the detailed paragraphs to be helpful but since many of the them referred to their literary reference I found myself wishing for a quick guide to all the books mentioned. It wasn’t until I had finished looking through the well developed and beautiful photograph that I stumbled across “The Style Gurus” toward the back of the page. This chapter was extremely helpful and I wished that it was presented earlier on in the book; possible as the first chapter instead of one of the last. This information was helpful and organized but I felt that having it at the end of the book created an after thought. After all, this book was inspired by these novels, why should they be thrown in the back?
I really appreciated the sources page “Beauty’s Where you Find It” above everything about this book. Unfortunately after googling many of the sources I realized that a lot of the photographed designs were out of my price range. This didn’t surprise me since it is a designer book with fresh, new ideas inspired by antique and classical decor. I appreciated that Giramonti provided examples and explained why these pricy items worked so that I can find similar items within my price range. Let’s not forget the helpful “Finishing Touches” included at the end of each chapter that gave a detailed list of ideas for decorations that you can incorporate throughout.
Overall, this book was surprisingly more than just a large, heavy coffee table book. This book is to blame for my new inspiration for turning my simple house (which still resembles the Bachelor pad it originally was) to being a refreshing and beautiful home.
Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review."
Author: Lisa Borgnes Giramonti (Photographs by Ivan Terestchenko)
Published: 2014, Pottery Style, Random House LLC.
Summary: This is an interior decorating guide that combines good taste with popular literature ideas. Giramonti describes how many of our favorite classic novels provide excellent insight to home decor.
My Reflection: This book was absolutely amazing and by far more inspiring than any other coffee table book of its kind. I had originally anticipated reading through this book and writing a review but I ended up taking this book around with me for days, glancing through the pages for hours.
Obviously one of the main pros of this book is the photography. Giramonti provided hundreds of examples with paragraphs of detailed specifics as to why the designs work. Every page is filled with photographs from dining rooms to close up of table decorations. The “Lesson from the Books” were extremely helpful and created hours of inspiring ideas for me. One in particular being the “Naming Your House” which I have know spent a few hours coming up with some clever names for my own. I found myself adding sticky notes to dozens of pages where the designs were particularly unique and intriguing.
This book includes six chapters surrounded by six different themes; my favorite being “Living au Natural”. I loved all the “green” ideas of incorporating plants throughout the house. I was inspired by the idea of includes plants, large and small, throughout the house. One of my favorite ideas was the Medicinal Potted Garden which was Giramonti’s inspiration from Sons and Lovers.
I found the information throughout the book and the detailed paragraphs to be helpful but since many of the them referred to their literary reference I found myself wishing for a quick guide to all the books mentioned. It wasn’t until I had finished looking through the well developed and beautiful photograph that I stumbled across “The Style Gurus” toward the back of the page. This chapter was extremely helpful and I wished that it was presented earlier on in the book; possible as the first chapter instead of one of the last. This information was helpful and organized but I felt that having it at the end of the book created an after thought. After all, this book was inspired by these novels, why should they be thrown in the back?
I really appreciated the sources page “Beauty’s Where you Find It” above everything about this book. Unfortunately after googling many of the sources I realized that a lot of the photographed designs were out of my price range. This didn’t surprise me since it is a designer book with fresh, new ideas inspired by antique and classical decor. I appreciated that Giramonti provided examples and explained why these pricy items worked so that I can find similar items within my price range. Let’s not forget the helpful “Finishing Touches” included at the end of each chapter that gave a detailed list of ideas for decorations that you can incorporate throughout.
Overall, this book was surprisingly more than just a large, heavy coffee table book. This book is to blame for my new inspiration for turning my simple house (which still resembles the Bachelor pad it originally was) to being a refreshing and beautiful home.
Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews