I am a lover of books…

Everywhere I go, I find a book to take home with me and our home at the beach is no exception. We don’t have many shopping options here on Bald Head Island, but I still manage to find a new coffee table book to pour over every year. These books are great for rainy day inspiration and ideas for decorating and living well. Here are a few of my favorites…

Island Life by India Hicks and David Flint Wood is my favorite of these books and the one I’ve had the longest. It is starting to look a little worn out because I’ve opened it for inspiration so many times. This book is filled with pictures of their homes in the Caribbean…casual, fabulous family homes. The rooms are ones for sandy feet, family meals and seaside living at its best.

Living on the Coast by Barclay Butera is filled with examples of fabulous homes that are glamorous but completely livable.

Breathtaking is the best word to describe the homes in this book by Annie Kelly! You’ll feel like you’ve gotten a personal tour of the homes of tastemakers such as Jonathan Adler to Simon Dooan (the creative ambassador of Barney’s New York). Filled with casual interiors for real seaside living!

Another one of my favorites…Coastal Modern by Tim Clarke showcases fifteen of the most extraordinary homes by the sea. His philosophy is that “nothing is too precious for everyday and flip-flops are welcome."

The Way We Live By the Sea is showcases how seaside dwellers all over the world, link their homes to the sea with terraces, decks, and private beaches and also gives fabulous examples of the materials and textures that bring the seaside theme into the interior design of the homes.

Nathan Turner’s American Style focuses on more than coastal homes, but offers no less inspiration! I love the beautifully designed homes as well as his entertaining ideas and recipes! You’ll want to throw a party after looking through this book!

This is the only book on the list that I don’t own (just ordered it). I’ve seen this book everywhere and can’t wait to pour over it when I’m back at the beach next month. This book features beaches from more than twenty cities across six continents!

I’d love to have suggestions for other books to add to my collection!