Where on earth can a person with a keen eye for excellent home décor find libraries with rolling ladders, living rooms covered in sumptuous chinoiserie fabric, monochromatic bedrooms with spiral staircases, and dining room walls lacquered in persimmon red paint, all gathered together in one immensely stylish book? The answer, of course, is Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Décor.
Style and Substance features hundreds of beautifully rendered photographs of the homes of designers, architects, antiques buyers, celebrities, and fashion executives. The contents is divided into public spaces and personal spaces, and further divided down by rooms. It is luxurious and makes no apologies for it, and whether a reader's taste in interior design is clean and modern or cozy and careworn, there is something here to inspire everyone. For the former there is Will Kopelman's home office on page 72, with its crisp white walls, glass-topped desk, and Bertoia wire chairs. For the latter, Julie Greenwood's kitchen on pages 116 and 117 will make even the most anti-materialistic of souls covetous, and it's no small wonder as to why: the antique French furniture and Italian chandelier are a sight to behold when contrasted with the exposed stone walls and floor.
The title is in no way misleading. This is truly the best of Elle Decor. This book is a marvel and a wonder, and should be considered a must read for anyone interested in interior design.