We have good news: summer isn’t over yet! There are still plenty of long, warm days ahead that beg for relaxation. At Beth Haley Design, we prefer to relax with a good book in hand — preferably a book that inspires design ideas, encourages better living, and introduces us to the work of talented individuals around the globe. So this summer, we chose eight design books that were released in the past year. These reads promise to leave us (and you) inspired to tackle that kitchen remodel, start your bathroom renovation, or move to the Greek Islands.

Gio Ponti

Read These Design Books to Inspire Your Next Design (and Travels) | Beth Haley Design

Gio Panti made a lasting impact as an Italian architect and designer with a career that spanned six decades. This new book details his body of work, and it takes a closer look at more than 100 projects paired with biographical essays that provide insight into his unmatched creativity. 

By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers

Summer Reading List | Beth Haley Design

If you want to find all of today’s best contemporary designers in one place, this book is for you. By Design is a showcase of interior designers and their creative practices. The list of featured designers includes Beata Heuman Ltd, Kelly Wearstler Studio, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, and Neri & Hu. If you don’t already know those names, you will be delighted to learn them!

Mid-Century Modernism and the American Body: Race, Gender, and the Politics of Power in Design

Summer Reading List | Beth Haley Design

Kristina Wilson explores mid-century Modernism as a design sensibility and how it influences race, gender, and identity in Mid-Century Modernism and the American Body. This book, which made its debut this spring, explores a new perspective on a design movement and its overall impact on culture. It is a fascinating read that makes you rethink design and culture.

Humane Home: Easy Steps for Sustainable and Green Living

Summer Design Books to Read | Beth Haley Design

Beth Haley is a big proponent of green living, and this book hits the nail on the head with tools, tips, and inspiration for creating a sustainable home. In Humane Home, author Sarah Lozanova challenges us to evaluate how we live and encourages us to act more sustainably. Hoping to live more green? Start here. 

Living in Nature: Contemporary Houses in the Natural World

Summer Design Books to Read | Beth Haley Design

If there is one design ethos that delights us more than most, it is contemporary design. Living Nature is collection of contemporary homes set in breathtakingly beautiful locations that explore all the design style has to offer. The book celebrates homes that complement their surroundings, and the photographs of these works of art will transport you to beautiful places. 

Design Commune: A Love Letter to California

Summer Reading List | Beth Haley Design

Design Commune focuses on a single California design studio founded by Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht. Their book details how they master the California lifestyle and aesthetics in their commercial and resident projects. As designers, they are partial to handcrafted materials, mid-century modern architecture, and vintage designs (all things we love here at Beth Haley Design). This book will leave you daydreaming about life in California.

Travel by Design

Summer Design Books to Read | Beth Haley Design

Travel and design meet in this photo-rich book that visits more than 100 locations across more than 60 countries. Travel by Design carries you from beachside resorts to bustling city streets, and each photograph is as magnificent as the next. Plus, you’ll get tips on where to stay, eat, and shop — all you have to do is decide where to go first.

Katie Ridder: More Rooms

Summer Reading List | Beth Haley Design

Design lovers will recognize the colorful, pattern-filled rooms in Katie Ridder’s latest book. The pages of this book showcase her knack for combining color, texture, and pattern while mastering proportion and scale. Her style is unique and readily identifiable, and her design abilities inspire every who appreciates imaginative design.

What design books are on your summer (or fall) reading list? Let us know!

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