6 Beautiful New Design Books You Must Read Now

Louis Cartier’s fascination with Islamic arts, particularly Persian geometric shapes, patterns and color combinations, is celebrated in “Cartier and Islamic Art” (Thames & Hudson; $70; 320 pages), on sale 12 April.

It accompanies a major exhibition that recently ended at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and will reopen from May 14 to September 14. 18 at the Dallas Museum of Art. The book delves into the history of the Cartier family, but it also shows the influence of Islamic art and decorative objects on the Cartier brothers. The pattern of a ceramic tile could become an earring or a brooch, the blossoming of an elaborate design in a wallcovering could result in a beautifully decorated cigarette case or pen box.

“William Morris” By Anna Mason

Perhaps no other designer and manufacturer has had such a profound impact on British culture as William Morris, creator of the ever-popular “Strawberry Thief” and other floral and botanical designs for textiles. Morris was a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement in England, designing furniture, stained glass and interior decorations, democratizing the art along the way.

Now he’s the subject of a new book, “William Morris,” (Thames & Hudson; $75; 432 pages), which marks the 125th anniversary of his death while examining his designs in great detail.

“V&A Sourcebook of Patterns and Ornaments,” by Amelia Calver

For more than a century and a half of its existence, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London has cultivated one of the best collections of patterns and ornaments – two themes that date back to the dawn of time – in the world.

“V&A Sourcebook of Pattern and Ornament” (Thames & Hudson; $50; 400 pages) is organized into four categories, Plants, Animals, Earth and Universe and Abstract Patterns and examines how they may change from generation to generation, including ceramics and clothing to furniture, textiles, jewelry and art.

“A life as a model”, by Anna Spiro

Australian designer Anna Spiro’s new book, “A Life in Pattern” (Thames & Hudson; $60; 256 pages), is a devotion to maximalism and creating pieces with color palettes that are both deep and wide . There are pages of gorgeous studies in calm blue and white and others with lively combinations.

Fans of the mix-and-match style will enjoy this book, and others might be inspired to try changing it up a bit. Spiro recounts his experience decorating Halcyon House, a seaside hotel in New South Wales, and his own inspirations, then lets photos of his many completed projects inspire you to dream in color too.

“Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Pioneering Architect,” by Victoria Kastner

Back when women could barely get into architecture schools, let alone find jobs after graduating, California architect Julia Morgan led the way, designing some 700 structures in her 50 years. years of career. Morgan certainly had talent and drive; she also had a chance meeting and friendship with Phoebe Apperson Hearst when Morgan was a student and Hearst was a benefactor at the University of California, Berkeley. Hearst introduced Morgan to her son, William Randolph Hearst, for whom she designed several homes, including the famous Hearst Castle, which stood for nearly 30 years. This biography (Chronicle Books; $32.50; 240 pages) shows the brilliant mark Morgan left on the country’s architecture before his death in 1957 at the age of 85.

“Homes for Nomads: Interiors of the Well-Travelled”, by Thijs Demeulemeester

“Homes for Nomads” (Lanoo Publishers; $55; 208 pages) combines the work of Belgian journalist Thijs Demeulemeester and photographer Jan Verlinde and visits 19 chic homes in Belgium. They’re a mix of new and old, traditional and contemporary, and each is filled with furniture, artwork, and accessories that represent the planet as a whole. They might also inspire you to buy something interesting on your next trip and find a place for it in your own home.