Today I wanted to answer a great remodeling question a reader asked me last week!
Reader Question: What is your favorite design book for getting ideas for a remodel?
I consult a range of design books when planning a remodel. Below I share five favorites and explain how each one has influenced choices I made in my own home.
1. Not So Big Remodeling
This is less a photography book and more a practical guide. Written by an architect, it focuses on making homes more livable and inviting without always adding square footage. The book is full of helpful principles for improving layout, flow, and character during a remodel. I turn to it for ideas that prioritize comfort and function over simply making spaces larger.
2. Timeless
Timeless is a long-standing favorite. Its photography and architectural details have been invaluable when I’m deciding on classic design elements. Even though the homes are often larger and grander than mine, the book highlights principles—proportions, moldings, material choices—that I can adapt to a smaller scale. Studying these images gives me confidence and often sparks new ideas for my remodel.
The author, Patrick Ahearn, brings strong architectural sensibility that I respect. Books like this are educational: they teach you to recognize well-executed details so you can incorporate them thoughtfully into your own projects.
3. A Pattern Language
A Pattern Language is different from most design books—it contains few photos and relies on drawings and descriptive text. It’s a classic that explains why certain spaces and architectural choices work. Reading it requires concentration, but the payoff is a deeper understanding of why some designs feel right. The concepts in this book help me evaluate why I’m drawn to particular layouts or elements, and they inform decisions when designing or remodeling a home.
While it covers neighborhoods and communities as well, I find the sections about the home especially useful. If you enjoy studying the reasoning behind design choices, this book is worth tracking down at a library or used bookstore.
4. The Great American House
This is a beautiful coffee-table book that celebrates classic American architecture. I often look to architecture-focused books when remodeling because they showcase construction details—woodwork, ceiling treatments, millwork, and historical fixtures—that inspire my choices. The book is a great reference for timeless details you can adapt to contemporary homes.
5. A Place to Call Home
This is one of my all-time favorites. Gil Schafer, who also authored The Great American House, presents homes that may not match my personal style exactly, but I find many rooms and details irresistible. The book is a joyful source of inspiration—full of thoughtfully designed spaces and architectural moments that I return to again and again during a remodel.
Do you study design books for inspiration when you remodel? I hope this list gives you a useful place to start and encourages you to look to architecture and design books for both practical guidance and visual inspiration.
See more home and garden inspiration books I love HERE.