Ethnic Cottage Decor: 15 INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS FOR ETHNIC COTTAGE DECOR

1. This photo is from my favorite interior design book of all time, INTERIOR ALCHEMY: SECRETS TO CREATING EXPRESSIVE AMBIENCE by Rebecca Purcell. This phenomenal book was published in 1998 and at one time was selling for up to $400.00! I have seen some lately in new condition for around $80.00 - and up. Maybe that conveys to you what I discovered in 1998 - yes, I still have my original book - Rebecca Purcell is an artist and a genius. She was once visual director for ABC Carpet and Home as well as a catalog stylist for Anthropologie. Impressive chops. In this book she instructs us mere mortals in the secrets of professional interior styling and creating the ambience you want in your own space. Her style may be too moody or cluttered for some tastes but she has a gift for taking all of that unique stuff and creating a layered look that makes a space original - nothing matchy matchy or carbon copied here! She breaks her book down into decorative styles, including "alienated", "attic" and "expedition" and then teaches us how to achieve it. Everyone I've shown this book to loves it, whether they subscribe to Purcell's style of decorating or not.

2. Next up on our list: A LIVING SPACE by Kit Kemp

This book is up next simply because it's a brand new book, and first on my list was "vintage". Kemp was named Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year in 2008 and is the co-owner with her husband of Firmdale Hotels. They have seven hotels in London and one in NY.

3. CREATIVE WALLS by Geraldine James
Geraldine James started her career in fashion and is now the Homeware Buying Manager at Selfridges. She is also a collector of beautiful things.

4. STUFF by Carey Maloney
Carey Maloney, a Texan by birth and a New Yorker by choice, founded the architecture and interior design firm M (Group) with his partner, architect Hermes Mallea, in 1984.

5. LIVE, LOVE, AND DECORATE by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Named one of the world’s top 100 interior designers by Architectural Digest, Martyn Lawrence Bullard is a multi-award-winning Los Angeles-based interior designer and is renowned for his broad range of styles and eclectic, sophisticated and inviting interiors. His work has appeared in over 4000 publications worldwide and he's a celebrity favorite.

6. Anything by Sibella Court
BOWERBIRD: CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS WITH THE THINGS YOU COLLECT (2012)ETCETERA: CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE by Sibella Court (2012)
NOMAD: BRINGING YOUR TRAVELS HOME (2011)

Despite being born in idyllic Sydney, Sibella's gypsy soul had her travelling the world searching for beautiful and unusual things to discover, from a very early age.

Currently a judge on the Channel 9 television design series HomeMADE and Interiors Editor for Grazia magazine, Sibella has a beautiful props salon in Paddington “The Society Inc” as well as her own paint range with Murobond. She is still a creative concept developer for Anthropologie USA.

7. INTERIORS by Min Hogg
Universally revered Min Hogg is the founder and former editor in chief of The World of Interiors and a firm believer in stylish rooms filled with endearing mistakes, sleight-of-hand solutions, camouflage decorating, and such. As she is somewhat famous for saying, "Why does everything have to be so perfect? Nothing in real life is, you know."

8. TRACY PORTER'S HOME STYLE ~ Creative and Livable Decorating Ideas for Everyone
Tracy Porter began her company in 1991 in an unheated chicken coop in her Wisconsin town. Newly married with no money, she and her husband John decided to follow their dreams. Tracy has built a multi-million business with beautiful wares in a large range of home decor categories. Her book shows her elegant gypsy style and is full of great ideas.

9. A BIT OF VELVET & A DASH OF LACE by Robin Brown
You probably don't expect to see a Country Living book on this list but this is Robin Brown...the creator of Magnolia Pearl! Such an awesome sampling of her ideas, interiors and her style.