Book Styling with Brigette Romanek
Step into the celebrity interior designer’s stunning bookscapes.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Douglas Friedman / Trunk Archive
When asked about her relationship to the printed word and image, interior designer Brigette Romanek's response could be lit in neon and mounted on a client’s wall: "I. LOVE. BOOKS."
"There are books I’ve had for years and years, and every once in a while, I get to look at them like they're new again," she told us. "They are the gift that keeps on giving. Books are treasures.”
Last fall, Romanek further leaned into her love for books by publishing one of her own. Livable Luxe, her first design monograph, is a beautiful contribution to any design lover’s library. Her client (and close pal) Gwyneth Paltrow wrote the foreword to this collection of projects that showcase Romanek's breezy, glamorous style that balances bold, risk-taking artfulness with the universal need for comfort.
Get inspired by how this self-taught, Los Angeles-based mother of two—who also served as a 2023 Booktique Awards judge (thank you, Brigette!)—crafts dazzling and inviting spaces for a roster of celebrity clientele like Beyonce and Joe Jonas—thanks in no small part to the presence of books. Here are a few of our favorite bookscapes from her fantasy-inducing body of work.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Douglas Friedman / Trunk Archive
MORE IS MORE: Think of shelves as a decorative ecosystem, in which books play an essential role in relationship to other objects and overall environments. In this room designed by Brigette (above), the floor-to-ceiling, corner-to-corner shelves compose a mural-like backdrop from a distance. They also form an immersive world unto itself within the chic and cozy space that's ripe for exploration. The conundrum of where to even begin diving into these riches is our absolute favorite type of question.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Douglas Friedman / Trunk Archive
BOOK PARTY: Romanek can be counted on for liberal yet judicious placement of books, as seen in this inviting, multi-textured living room (above). They're a key component of making her eclectic, layered rooms feel equally designed for convivial social gatherings and quiet, contemplative moments. In Romanek's world, books are both conversation pieces and portals to deeply personal experiences.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Douglas Friedman / Trunk Archive
TABLE SERVICE: There’s no prescribed right way or place to leave your beloved tomes, as demonstrated by this artfully arranged space (above) where books serve as a pedestal for a vase of flowers. "Sometimes I use books, when they overflow out of the shelves or bookcase, as a side table," Romanek notes.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Michael P. Clifford
GO FOR BOLD: Romanek doesn't shy away from bold moves, as seen in the ethereal quality of this dining room (above). A short stack of books on a mirrored sideboard quietly tempers the transportive vibe she creates through multiple blue tones and serves as a weightier foil for the petite Calder sculpture placed opposite.
Interior design by Brigette Romanek. Photo by Douglas Friedman / Trunk Archive
TAKING SHAPE: Books accentuate the geometry of a room and its furnishings, such as with this table in a Malibu home (above). Different sizes, orientations, and colors can also help break up the monotony and encourage you or your guests to reach for a volume.
For more design inspiration, peek inside Romanek’s book via the pages below, or click through to purchase and add the tome to your own beautiful bookscapes.
Look inside the book
About the book
Livable Luxe
By Brigette Romanek
Foreword by Gwyneth Paltrow