In his new book, “The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home,” interior designer John McClain suggests we ask ourselves, “What would make me the happiest when I walk into my home?”
Reviewing an advance copy (Gibbs-Smith, $45), I have to agree. That might be THE question.
What would make me the happiest? Coming home to people and pets dear to me, of course, in a place that’s clean and orderly — and pretty. I want to see objects and vignettes I love, pieces my husband and I have collected over time that tell stories.
“I want readers – whether homeowners about to embark on their first renovation or seasoned design professionals looking for new ideas – to come away feeling confident and inspired,” he writes.
Readers will want to give their whole home a makeover after looking through this inspiring 114-page tome, illustrated with photos of McClain’s own home, a “Modern Loft Bungalow,” and his other design projects, which range from traditional to contemporary.
“I did not want this to be just another pretty coffee table book,” McClain told me over the phone from his home in Los Angeles. “What I really want this book to do is to start a conversation, a discussion inside your own household that sparks change.”
I was eager to hear more.
Q. Every designer, including you, says to gather inspirational images from magazines or on a Pinterest board to form the foundation of your design. How do you go from that hodgepodge to a design plan?
A. You’re looking for inspiration. When you find something you respond to positively, whether a photo of a room, a rug or a piece of art or furniture, dig deeper. Analyze why you love it. Is it because it reminds you of a favorite