Illustration by Babeth Lafon
Finally, it’s fall, which means cooler temps, which means we’re allowed to curl up and hibernate with a stack of books. In September, celebrated Atlanta interior designer Suzanne Kasler is releasing Sophisticated Simplicity, a tome replete with a litany of previously unseen, lavish interiors in her signature classic style. Here, she shares a handful of design books that have influenced her, plus a new title she is looking forward to. “Each time I look at these books, I see different ideas and inspirations,” Kasler says. “Some have been in print a long time and still inspire!”
Dwellings: Living with Great Style by Stephen Sills and James Huniford (released in 2003)
The famed designers—whose client roster has included Anna Wintour and Vera Wang—teamed up with former Elle Decor editor-in-chief Michael Boodro for a tight, indispensable guidebook for any design lover. Images reflect their timeless, classic style, and just the right amount of text provides useful insight on designers’ philosophy and process. Gorgeous architectural detail and wall treatments abound.
Style by Saladino by John Saladino and Barbara Stoeltie (released in 2000)
Architectural designer John Saladino is widely known for his mastery of light, scale, and drama, mixing the old and humble with the flashy and new. “This book well reflects his special style,” says Kasler. It’s out of print and something of a collector’s item, but copies can be found on Amazon and 1stdibs.
Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits by Victoria Hagan (released in 2010)
An iconic designer best known for a knack of looking outward and relating interiors to the surrounding landscape and architecture, Hagan works to weave the view from outside in. Colors and silhouettes are sophisticated, elegant, and unexpected. It is required reading for anyone interested in the new American Classic aesthetic.
New Read!
Inspired Design: The 100 Most Important Interior Designers of the Past 100 Years by Jennifer Boles (coming in October)
The authoritative writer and blogger Jennifer Boles has been thoughtfully documenting the interior design world on her website, The Peak of Chic, since 2008. So, it’s appropriate that this Atlanta native is the one to compile such a definitive list. As designers from Sister Parish to Kelly Wearstler are named off, lush photos of their most important rooms accompany their profiles.
This article appears in our Fall 2018 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.
