Comments on the style saloniste: Books I Love: Part Two of My Homage to Books Old and New, Ripped and Pristine — Plus Lots More Collection Books for Your Pleasure

Hello. I've just discovered your blog. What a ...

2014-08-22T03:50:40.430-07:00

Hello. I've just discovered your blog. What a glorious post. I love books. And people who also love books are high in my estimation. Thank you for allowing us into your library - it's such an intimate and generous thing to do. Beautiful. Thank you.
Best Star

A beautiful bunch of books-some old friends I spy ...

2014-06-10T16:24:43.201-07:00

A beautiful bunch of books-some old friends I spy and new ones I'd like to know. My somewhat ordered library shelves-have spilled out into my bedroom adding bookcases there-the table the floor-a more recent reacquisition of the dining room as office has driven books there. I wouldn't have it any other way!pgt

dear friends- I also received the following love...

2014-06-09T12:51:45.350-07:00

dear friends-

I also received the following lovely comment. Thank you so much.

Diane
Loved your post.So fun to survey your shelves. i recognized so many of the titles ,just like running into old friends.
I always look forward to your posts.I'm never quite sure where we are headed but always enjoy the journey!
Thank you,
Sharron Saffert

Dear Diane, I also greatly enjoyed this very pers...

2014-05-29T12:19:49.734-07:00

Dear Diane,

I also greatly enjoyed this very personal post.
Recently, I had written about you on my blog, regarding your Ann Getty book- am sure all the bloggers on design have now done so as well!
I'm beyond impressed with your library, and your books! Keep up the good work! Your subject matter has never ending potential- how utterly exciting! Would you ever consider a book about Michael Taylor? I know there already is one out, which i have a copy of, but feel that there is even more to the story- perhaps a collaboration? Thanks for the beautiful post on TSS !
Dean

Dear Diane, You are a woman after my own heart. Yo...

2014-05-29T05:41:46.246-07:00

Dear Diane,
You are a woman after my own heart. Your love and interest of books speaks volumes about you! From the time I eight and was given my first (very own) book by an older cousin who mentored me, books have traveled with me through life. We have many of the same interests and seeing your libraries is a thrill! Thank you!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

What SUPER FABULOUS books! the only thing I miss a...

2014-05-28T23:30:23.069-07:00

What SUPER FABULOUS books!
the only thing I miss about New York since moving to Paris is all the fab books I left behind. I had no idea I would be so bereft.
A real loss. what a source of inspiration...

DEAR JENNIFER- Lovely to hear from you. BOOKCAS...

2014-05-28T17:27:18.335-07:00

DEAR JENNIFER-

Lovely to hear from you.

BOOKCASES and BOOKSHELVES…I had some excellent ones made some time ago…and added more…(and that many no longer makes bookshelves…which he did impeccably…not that my shelves, loaded with books…do not bend or wiggle or sag…his woods were solid).
I think…really…any bookshelves you like and that hold your books and that work for your decor…are great. And really …take a look at photos of JACQUES GRANGE apartments…the one at the Palais Royal for example…he has books everywhere and I love that…on chairs and on tables, and stacked and piled on the floor…that's the spirit…It's the 'book arrangements' and the -styled books…and horrors…of horrors…the books arranged by color…that seem so artificial though amusing and witty and I've seen them done really well…but for a long term collector it's anywhere and anyway you like…I love the idea of custom-made shelves or cases or cabinets…and I love seeing books on IKEA shelves…or modules all in white…or stacks not he floor…it's LIVING WITH BOOKS that counts, don't you think. It's the books that animate the room…ripped and ravaged and torn and some in plastic sleeves to keep them together…and others kind of ragged…
Look into having a cabinet made for you…it would be wonderful and you'd love it every day. My shelves are supposed to be adjustable…but I've never changed the shelves…look into that, thought.
fondest to you DIANE

STEFAN- Thank you so much…and…I wish you were he...

2014-05-28T17:20:45.391-07:00

STEFAN-

Thank you so much…and…I wish you were here ten years ago or even more (before AMAZON) when you and I would go and spend a whole SATURDAY AFTERNOON looking through lots of used book shops (one of which, I later discovered…sold stolen books…)…but all over SAN FRANCISCO and Berkeley…there were fantastic used and literary and collections and obsessive book shops…esp. Berkeley…pretty much none…repeat…none…of them exist now.
Carmel…not a book town. Berkeley…goodness..check out MO'S ON TELEGRAPH AVEN…must still be there…Google it…that was a great place to find collector books…perhaps still is…have not been there for a while…and as for DESIGNER BOOKS or photography…even in Paris it is harder to find all the great book shops, though there are some in the Marais and around rue de Seine etc…keep me posted…DIANE

Dear Terri- I always think of you when I'm a...

2014-05-28T17:16:34.803-07:00

Dear Terri-

I always think of you when I'm about to post a blog…and recall that you start reading my blog on the treadmill early…then continue during break at work…and then bookmark…and then complete later.
I'm pleased.

Yes…the books are a biography and perhaps they also reveal me as somewhat orderly (all the Bruce Chatwin or 'Devonshires' or Dylan Thomas together over the years--but also not obsessed with exact order. These are not books for decor…not at all…and they reflect never-ending love of books. The favorites…Penn and Avedon and Freud and Balthus and some obscure topics and people…are always being collected. Lovely to hear from you, as always…DIANE

DEAR BLUE- There are no rules about what books t...

2014-05-28T16:54:23.028-07:00

DEAR BLUE-

There are no rules about what books to keep or not…some of my books (poetry etc, French etc) are books I received as prizes at High School (end of year prize giving…I always won poetry and French prizes…nice for my library…with the prize label still inside).
But…one reason I don't read much current fiction, new fiction) is that after I've read it I'll pass it on to friends…who pass it on…).
I buy and collection most books to keep…
Yikes…don't start clearing out, simply edit or move them or stack them somewhere…for me the edit is only rare. I give them to a charity shop or th San Francisco Public Library…but then quickly more books arrive.
My books are continuous in my life--not for decor, not for styling…and never…horrors…color-coded.
Lovely to hear from you…and keep all of your books…and do go ahead with the library…very best DIANE

Francine- How lovely to hear from you. Yes…thes...

2014-05-28T16:45:46.122-07:00

Francine-

How lovely to hear from you.

Yes…these are books collected and used and read and referred to and loved and moved around.

The images show just a few of my 'collection'…books I've collected over time.

I do edit them…and give bags and bags of books to charity shops ….and then I return home and everything look the same (as if I had not removed a single book).

All of the shelves are full now, and that never stops me from getting new passions and collections. I recently got a signed copy of the DRIES VAN NOTEN book…that goes with the fantastic show in Paris now (I hope you saw it).
The book is superb…so inspiring.
And yes, when in India…I collection bound and gilded books from Mr Jain.
I'll also be writing soon about a new BOOK SHOP DISCOVERY in New Delhi…coming soon.
I hope to see you one of these days..DIANE

Diane, What a truly enviable collection of books y...

2014-05-28T06:21:56.832-07:00

Diane, What a truly enviable collection of books you have. I plan to spend time this evening studying- yes, studying!- every photo. I do, however, have a rather mundane question: On what kind of shelves do you store your books? I am on the verge of devoting yet another room in my home to books, and I'm trying to decide if I want to go to the expense of having custom shelves made.
P.S.- Have you and I discussed Library Thing? If not, we must do so soon.

thank you for yet another look at your library! I ...

2014-05-28T06:17:47.230-07:00

thank you for yet another look at your library! I suspect you are right and many of your readers are book lovers (I know I am!). Down with the 'shelfie' - only readers DESERVE to have books! Can you recommend any bookshops in San Francisco, Carmel, or Napa? I'll be visiting next week and would love any recommendations you could make.

Your fascinating photographs appear as I'm in ...

2014-05-28T05:26:17.385-07:00

Your fascinating photographs appear as I'm in the process of culling my library of books I'll never read again. The building I live in has its own library so donation is my plan. It was pointed out my my husband that, if I rid us of books we have not looked at from year's end to the next, we should be able to place the stacks that litter the place onto shelves. My response is that I'm willing to cull and clear the stacks only if I may redecorate the whole library. I see a green and white room in my future.

Lovely essay about one of my favourite subjects – books. Thank you.

I read this post with a huge smile on my face, dev...

2014-05-28T03:48:01.110-07:00

I read this post with a huge smile on my face, devouring all the references, the titles...I, also, love the Rambagh palace, and I even buy books in foreign language, hopping to find their traduction either in french or english...although, to my despair i am running out of room...I have a library with built in bookshelves, added an industrial bookshelf as well in the room, books piled in my bedroom, my study's bookshelf overflowing with books, the garden books fill my entry hallway, let's not mention the dining room where I have of my beloved photography and african, asian books, art books in the living room, an entire wall in my media room is dedicated to travel books...I can't even go into the french, english, italian and US magazines...I need help!! gave away all my kids books to our local hospital and a slew of novels. What would become of me if I were to move, which my husband threatens to do, wanting to move to warmer climate.

Hello dear Diane, This is such a beautiful and t...

2014-05-27T20:58:35.040-07:00

Hello dear Diane,

This is such a beautiful and touching post.

I feel like these photos reveal the true you, very intimately - your deep down passion for knowledge, culture, words, beauty - which is the very core of you. I can read your many and varied posts, but I feel like this one really reveals YOU to me!

I love that your books are used and moved and organically deposited here or there, or displayed gingerly on the edge of a shelf, following whatever whim arises, whatever pleases you in the moment.

Serendipitous arrangements are so true, the unstyled is so perfect in this overly self-conscious world where out every movement is orchestrated for the public. I love that I can see how you really live and what you really love without you having to say a word!

(oh and I love the "shelfie" word - too funny and so apt!).

With love and admiration, Terri