In need of some inspiration—or coffee table decoration? You’re in luck. A bevy of L.A.-based design luminaries are launching books this fall, presenting their projects via glossy imagery and the printed word. Here are the tomes to try.
Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors
BEAUTY & MISCHIEF: THE DESIGN ALCHEMY OF BLACKMAN CRUZ
A longtime source for eclectic, one-of-a-kind pieces with meaning, L.A.’s Blackman Cruz showroom has drawn in the best of the design business for more than three decades. Now, founders Adam Blackman and David Cruz are opening up about their inspirations and showcasing some of their rare finds in Beauty & Mischief: The Design Alchemy of Blackman Cruz. Written by the founders and Stacie Stukin with a foreword by six-time Emmy-winning television and film writer, director and producer Ryan Murphy, the book highlights the eccentric and the unexpected. Cameron Books, abrams.com
CALL IT HOME: THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
Known for warm, layered interiors that exude an effortlessly chic grace, Amber Lewis has helped define California style for more than a decade. The founder of design firm Amber Interiors—and the corresponding Shoppe by Amber Interiors stores in the Palisades, Calabasas, Newport Beach and Larkspur—highlights eight of the homes she’s designed (including her own) in her new book, Call It Home: The Details That Matter. Travel from mountain retreats to coastal homes via 200-plus dreamy photos and personal essays that dig into her creative process. Clarkson Potter, crownpublishing.com
STAR STYLE: INTERIORS OF MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD
Bold, fashionable and undeniably glamorous, Martyn Lawrence Bullard is known for his showstopping style, attracting A-list clients like Cher, Gwen Stefani and more. His new book Star Style is a lesson in how taking risks pays off, as evident in the pages’ projects, including his own homes in Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Get inspired by Douglas Friedman’s striking photos of Kylie Jenner’s Hidden Hills abode, Cher’s Malibu mansion and many more projects that unveil the inner sanctums of the music, film and fashion industry’s top players. Vendome Press, vendomepress.com
A LIFE IN DESIGN: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF INTERIORS
Kathryn M. Ireland’s career started more than three decades ago in Los Angeles, where she first gained attention for decorating Steve Martin’s home. “With Kathryn, you can shut your eyes, open them five months later, and everything will be perfect,” says Martin, whose own hillside L.A. abode is featured in the book. Since then, she’s tackled countless projects around the world. In A Life in Design: Celebrating 30 Years of Interiors, she presents 20 of her favorite projects—including her own L.A., London and South-of-France homes—all arranged geographically. Expect to see Ireland’s inviting, bohemian style shine in projects in California, the Cotwalds and more. Cico Books, rylandpeters.com
SHAMSHIRI: INTERIORS
Siblings Pamela Shamshiri and Ramtin Shamshiri made waves in the design industry as two of the founding partners of Commune, then again when they launched Studio Shamshiri in 2016. Their firm’s first monograph features several thoughtfully done projects, from midcentury historic masterpieces by Rudolph Schindler and A. Quincy Jones to striking, contemporary homes. A blend of California ease, East Coast glam and European elegance, plus an astute attention to detail and an overall joyful look and feel, preside over all of the featured projects, regardless of style. Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com
STUDIO WILLIAM HEFNER: CALIFORNIA HOMES II
Known for his astute attention to detail in historic and contemporary homes, master architect William Hefner’s new 296-page book highlights his sophisticated, character-filled homes. Beyond architecture, the fifth-generation Californian’s work integrates elegant interiors and lush landscaping, all shining with his attention to detail and appreciation for capturing the Golden State’s dreamy light. The Images Publishing Group, imagespublishing.com
Designer Jake Arnold’s first book debuted in early September.
JAKE ARNOLD: REDEFINING COMFORT
The mix of rich textiles, plastered walls and natural materials have become a go-to design move these days, but L.A.-based Brit Jake Arnold is a big part of why the blend became so popular. The young designer’s projects for famous clients like Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Aaron Paul and Katy Perry all possess a soulful presence, something explored in Arnold’s first book, Redefining Comfort.
Inside, he explores nine projects, from a 1920s Spanish revival home renovation in Brentwood to a ground-up estate in Florida, showcasing the designer’s talent for blending elegance with comfort effortlessly. Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com
KELLY WEARSTLER: SYNCHRONICITY
Blessed with an innate sense of what works well together regardless of style or provenance, much-admired designer Kelly Wearstler has a knack for drawing the eye in with her bold, dazzling interiors. Her first new book in four years, Synchronicity, profiles eight of Wearstler’s projects, from a monochromatic Venice Beach home to a Malibu Beach house and more. It also highlights the dynamic interiors in the Proper hotels she designed in Santa Monica and Austin. Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com
