Books that show New England style decor for both the home and garden.

These are a few books that I have myself or that are on my bucket list to read. 

Carolyne Roehm:  At Home in the Garden 

In this exquisitely lush volume, lifestyle legend Carolyne Roehm celebrates her gardens as outdoor living rooms, revealing how she chooses the plants, flowers, and layouts; how she entertains guests with gorgeous table settings and breathtaking arrangements; and how she savors the hours among the blooms.

Each of the gardens at her historic Connecticut home, Weatherstone, has been lovingly crafted to serve as an outdoor living room, where the hours may be passed at work, alone, or enjoyed with company. In the Parterre Gardens bordering the south side of the home, Roehm created a fantasy of snow in spring with white tulips and Sargentina crabapple trees.

Behind the Times on Purpose: The Charlotte Inn by Nina Bramhall (2014) 

I have this book in my library and I have had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful luxury inn on Martha's Vineyard.  It truly is Behind the Times on Purpose!   It is set on a quiet street in the old whaling village of Edgartown on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, MA. and is filled with antiques, and the finest of furnishings. The grounds are private, romantic, and beautiful. This is the second volume documenting the extraordinary collections in the inn as well promoting a lifestyle that, as the title says, is behind the times on purpose.

At Home with Carolyn Roehm 

Imparting fresh ideas and inspiration for knockout events on any budget, At Home with Carolyne Roehmfollows the calendar’s seasons to provide year-round suggestions for place settings, floral arrangements, and menus. Emphasizing creativity and natural elements, Carolyne Roehm’s tips are not exclusively geared toward elegant functions: Picnics, cozy fireside meals for two, afternoon teas, and formal dinner parties are treated with equal verve. Drawing on ingredients and imagery appropriate for spring, summer, winter, and fall and all the major holidays, this handsome collection yields a trove of simple but sophisticated recipes along with perfect tabletop and decorative accents to accompany them. Biscuit sandwiches of Mustard-Glazed and Smoked Cheddar; Shrimp and White Bean Salad; Zucchini and Watercress Soup; and Fudgy Rum Chocolate Cake are just a few of the delicious and easy-to-prepare dishes. For successful festive occasions that friends and family will remember for years, from a grand New Year’s Eve gala to a spring brunch with a floral theme, At Home with Carolyne Roehm is itself glorious cause for celebration.

Living Where Land Meets Sea

I have had the pleasure of touring one the PSD Architects homes on Cape Cod and it was stunning.  I was also gifted this book by PSD Architects. It is full of interior design inspiration and full color photos featuring 35 homes designed and built by Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders (PSD).

It's the Little Things

Featuring beautiful design vignettes and arrangements from today’s top designers, Susanna Salk’s It’s the Little Things inspires us to be personal and artful with our decorating choices, creating spaces that reflect our personality. This jewel of a decorating book looks at the design details that make up a room’s decor, the stylish little touches that can help any room transcend the ordinary. Whether through the luxurious trim and tassel of a bedroom curtain, the whimsy of a uniquely upholstered chair in the dining room, a loose but lush visual landscape on an entry hall table, or a deeply personal arrangement of treasures upon a dressing table, this book celebrates how chic design can be when expressed through personal details and provides a wealth of vignettes to inspire home owners and designers.

Living In New England

Just as New England served as the cradle of so much of American history, so, too, has the architecture of New England come to define the American idea of home. From the colonial farmhouse in the Rhode Island countryside to the shingle-style beach cottage on Martha's Vineyard or the simple saltbox on a village square in Massachusetts, New England has evolved a distinctive residential tradition that is quintessentially American. With purity, simplicity, and a respect for the past as its hallmarks, the style we associate with New England has again come to the forefront.Celebrating houses and interiors from Maine to Connecticut, "Living in New England" shows us the old and delights us with the new by introducing us to some of the area's most inventive and elegant interiors. 

The Welcoming House

I had to pick this book up during a visit to my local bookstore and it just had to come home with me. Each page is filled with eye-candy photos, classic interior design styles with a mix of new.  You will not be disappointed if you love classic and traditional interiors that are welcoming and inviting. 

The owners of the acclaimed stores and decorating firm Circa Interiors present eight stylish, beautiful homes blending comfort, beauty, and function with classic Southern hospitality. A house with an open door is like a friend with an open heart: inviting, generous of spirit, and constant at the core. In their first book, Jane Schwab and Cindy Smith present beautifully arranged interiors in which the trademarks of their style—subtle color palettes, graceful furniture, an emphasis on comfort and entertaining—harmonize to create fresh yet classic rooms. Walking the reader through each home with their characteristic Southern charm, they share their vision and process, from big-picture topics such as room flow and furniture plans, to the importance of entryways and setting a beautiful table.

New England's Historic Homes & Gardens

"The history of New England indeed, the history of the United States can be experienced firsthand by visiting the homes and estates of the region s most notable residents. From presidents and war heroes to icons of American literature and the arts, the grace and grandeur of these homes offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who shaped our nation.

In New England s Historic Homes & Gardens, Kim Knox Beckius and photographer William H. Johnson breathe life into the history of the region s thirty-six most important and picturesque homes, from the earliest homesteads of the 1600s through the Gilded Age mansions of the early twentieth century. By revealing the human dramas that played out within these remarkable homes, Beckius traces the evolution of the American Dream. Paired with Johnson s exquisite photography, the result is a detailed study of the architectural features, landscape elements, and ingenuity that make these homes examples of classic American style. "

Beth Webb's: An Eye for Beauty: Rooms That Speak to the Senses

Beth Webb believes that regardless of who we are or what kind of style we prefer, beauty and comfort are paramount for any home. Because each room is an environment, her design elevates the everyday by speaking to the five senses. In this lavishly illustrated book, Webb explores the fundamentals of creating a home in which every element we see and touch, and how the room makes us feel, enhance our ability to live well.

Drawing from her background in the fine arts, Webb offers insight into how form, line, and scale render a space timeless and promote a sense of well-being. There should be texture, calm colors, and plenty of visual moments to keep the eye moving. There should be impeccable tailoring and polished details. And most important, there should be soul, meaning that the house must reflect its owners and their evolving lifestyle. Webb gracefully shares ideas, images, and stories illustrating these principles throughout this rich visual resource and design reference.