Living bright

"Colour is without doubt the single most exciting and powerful component in any home's interior," contends fashion and interior designer Williamson (Matthew Williamson: Fashion, Print and Coloring Book) in this alluring guide. Recounting the development of his vibrant style, Williamson describes how his mother's colorful garb instilled a love of bold tones that he further explored during a formative stint working for a textile factory in New Delhi as part of his fashion studies. Photos showcase interiors Williamson has designed, highlighting the "calming putty" pinks of the author's London flat, the teal wallpaper and blue bedframe in a suite he designed for a Mallorca hotel, and the red beaded lace curtains and purple sofa in his "student bedsit in the mid-90s." Williamson dispenses tips on how to emulate his approach, suggesting that readers "try starting with just three colours," with the palest reserved for the walls and ceiling, and that such graphic motifs as stripes or checks often go well with floral patterns. The precise advice elevates this above typical interior design guides, and historical color-related trivia fascinates ("The colour orange in English is named after the fruit, which was introduced to the country from Spain in the 15th century. Before then, what we think of as orange was simply called yellow-red"). The result is a vivid exploration of Williamson's style. (Oct.)

Award-winning designer Williamson, a guest judge on the BBC's Interior Design Masters TV show, implores readers to find their own style by creating a personal "design DNA" board. This decorating guide is broken up by color: red, yellow, pink, green, orange, purple, and blue. Each chapter includes historical information or an anecdote, concrete ideas on how to incorporate the featured color, and examples. A handful of red dahlias or a red vase, a yellow wall, green velvet seating, and pink trim on a table are some of Williamson's design ideas. There are also quotes about some of the colors, and between chapters there's information on designing spaces for adults and children, elevating a room, creating a vintage feel in a newer home, and making design updates on a tight budget. And, of course, beautiful color boards are sprinkled throughout, along with stunning images of Williamson's work, showcasing each of the colors in a variety of hues, styles, and placements. VERDICT A fun, functional, and vibrant guide that teaches readers how to bring color into spaces in easy and creative ways.--Whitney Bates-Gomez