I’m excited to share with you a review of Katie Ridder’s newest coffee table book, More Rooms. I actually wasn’t super familiar with Katie’s work before reading this, so it was such a pleasure to look through it and read about how she designs spaces. Katie is absolutely unparalleled when it comes to pattern and color – her designs are bold, statement-making, and full of unique details. One thing that really stuck out to me in the book is how Katie’s designs work with the architecture of the homes she’s designing – her goal, as she puts it, is to make the architecture “sing.” Certainly every designer takes the architecture into account, but I felt that this was especially true here….and it’s no wonder, since Katie works with some of the best architects in the business – including her husband, Peter Pennoyer! This is Katie’s first book in almost a decade, so it features some really stunning projects – a double height living room on Fifth Avenue, an apartment that overlooks that garden at the Frick, and many more! 

As I mentioned, Katie is just a master at pattern and color mixing. Her designs are like no one else’s, and I find that the more I look at them, the more I find in them and the more I like them! There are just so many details to take in, and the colors she uses are rich and sumptuous. At the same time (especially in bedrooms), she explains that she keeps the lines very tailored and clean – no ruffles or flounces or anything. I think it’s that dichotomy that makes her work very recognizably hers. 

The book is organized by room, starting with stunning entry halls and staircases, and progressing through living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and so on. All throughout, Katie shares her thoughts on furniture layout, lighting, and other considerations for each space. It’s truly just fun to look through – I went through it cover to cover and found myself totally drawn in to her spaces. They’re captivating! 

With beautiful, crisp images by Eric Piasecki and a seriously gorgeous pattern underneath the lovely dustcover, this book is truly a visual delight and a must-have for any designer lovers’ book collection! If you want more of Katie, you can also listen to this recent episode of one of my favorite design podcasts, How to Decorate, for a fantastic interview. 

First image courtesy of Vendome, and thank you to Vendome for the review copy of this book!