5 Top Books on Interior and Garden Design April 2015

“Choosing a monochrome interior is a minimalist stance, a refusal to get caught up in the drama of colour with all the attendant complications of what goes with what. For a monochromist, the rainbow is not an option, but there are infinite nuances of black, white and that colour in between, grey.” So says Hilary Robertson, the well-known interiors stylist and journalist. She candidly explains how she is naturally voracious and loves colour, but has come to realise the value of exercising a little rigour and the rewards this can bring.

Apart from its timelessness, practicality and restfulness, Robertson notes that such schemes can effortlessly gel a vastly eclectic collection of objects from different historical eras or cultures. A thoroughly rigorous approach to colour will always exert a distinctly ‘interior designed’ look if that is what you need, as opposed to an organic and natural look. The truth is that it’s far more difficult to create successful interiors that have grown organically where there are many competing colours, shapes, textures and historical eras. A disciplined approach involving a restricted palette is an easier shortcut to achieve a harmonious scheme. In this beautifully curated and photographed book, Robertson illustrates just how to bring the look right up to date, visiting 13 inspiring homes of artists and designers from London to Paris, Copenhagen, rural Sweden and NYC.