Books + Nooks: Great reads from Picture Book’s Sara Davidson — and reading nook designs to enjoy them in
A vintage reading chair in original fabric makes a cozy nook in a New York City bedroom’s corner. Design: Time & Place Interiors
When the weekend rolls in, you want to take in some well-deserved me-time. There’s no better setting to savor the relaxation than an inviting lounge chair, offering a spot to unwind with a cup of coffee (or a glass of whiskey) in hand, and good book on your lap.
To help select your next great read, I’ve tapped Sara Davidson, founder of Westchester, New York-based bookshop Picture Book, for her curated list of fascinating new novels and gorgeous art books. Sara tells us: “These books will be great to curl up with in your reading nook, and will also add personality to your coffee table or bookshelves when you're done. Living with books I love brings me joy and adds soul to my home. It’s like being surrounded by old friends.”
Paired with Sara’s book picks are luxurious reading nook design inspirations. Get your fireplace going on a chilly night or light a candle, and grab a great book.
So, how do you design a great reading nook? Like all seating throughout your home, your lounge chair should be paired with a side table on which to rest a beverage: this can be an end table or a small side stool. You’ll also need sufficient illumination from a sleek pharmacy floor lamp, or a beautiful table lamp that’s resting on the end table. Easy access to a throw blanket is extra cozy. Plus, having an elegant drinks tray nearby will make your night even more enjoyable. (Forbes recently interviewed me on this topic, by the way.)
Below, browse Sara’s curated selection of new reads available at Picture Book. Then scroll to see my inspiration images of deliciously cozy reading nooks to enjoy them in.
- Ksenya
About Picture Book and founder Sara Davidson:
Picture Book is a curated independent bookstore inside the co-working space HudCo in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Founded by Sara Davidson Johns, an art world veteran, the shop's selection features picture books with gallery-worthy illustrations, and books for grownups that offer that same delight, including new literary fiction, mouth-watering cookbooks, and books on contemporary art. Newly expanded sections include graphic novels and chapter books for kids. Picture Book is opening a second location that will focus on new art books in the ground floor space of Yellow Studio Gallery in Cross River, New York in March 2023.
Photo: Living Notes Photography
THE BOOKS
FICTION
SD: In fiction, I’m thrilled about the new book I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, the author of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist The Great Believers.
This riveting new novel, recently reviewed in the The New Yorker, follows successful film professor and podcaster Bodie Kane who is content to leave the dramas of her past behind her, including the murder of her boarding school roommate, until her school invites her back to teach a course, and she is drawn back into the case and the increasingly apparent flaws.
Described as Donna Tart’s The Secret History meets the podcast Serial (LitHub), this is an irresistible read.
SD: My bestseller the past few months has been the novel Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. It follows Elizabeth Zott, a fictional female chemist in the 1960s who fights tremendous obstacles to get to do the work she loves. In a twist of fate, she ends up the star of an afternoon cooking show on TV, and uses her platform to encourage women to challenge the status quo.
I found myself really rooting for Elizabeth Zott’s success at every turn. I’m holding a book club to discuss this at HudCo on March 7 at 8pm — it’s free and open to all.
SD: A slightly older (2020) favorite of mine, now out in paperback, is The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. The short stories and one novella hone in on particular moments and relationships in the characters' lives in a way that allows them to speak to larger issues of race, grief, apology, and American history.
It’s a smart and funny collection full of depth. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes short stories.
ART BOOKS
SD: I’m so excited by the newly released Amy Sherald: The World We Make. This is the first major monograph on the iconic artist who was the official portrait painter for First Lady Michelle Obama, the first African American woman to receive this honor.
You have to see this book in person to appreciate the beautiful reproductions of her paintings with bold background colors and monochromatic, sensitively rendered figures. Accompanying texts include a conversation between Sherald and acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates.
SD: Another beautiful art book I’m enjoying right now is Sarah Sze: Fallen Sky. Published to celebrate the artist’s site-specific sculpture at Storm King Art Center, it includes stunning photography of Fallen Sky throughout the year, highlighting the seasonality of the artwork and how reflective it is of the surroundings. Eight authors from across disciplines of fiction, poetry, art history, and cultural criticism contributed creative pieces in response to the work.
Sarah Sze is having an upcoming exhibition opening at the Guggenheim Museum, so this book is a great opportunity to take a deeper dive into her practice ahead of the show.
AND THE NOOKS
The iconic Womb Chair and sleek reading light strike a calming balance against preserved historic architectural features of a Brooklyn brownstone. Design: Charlie Schuck and Natasha Felker / Photo: Charlie Schuck
A well-worn leather chair by Timothy Oulton and a bamboo bar cart make a classy pairing. Antique prints and a vintage Persian rug add personality to the handsome lounge. Design: Gille Mills / Photo: Laure Joliet
Even if you have minimal space in your living room, you can still carve out a reading nook, like this funky patterned daybed running along the window in an East Village apartment. Design: Curio Interior Design / Photo: Kelsey Ann Rose
A reading nook can also be carved out of a section on your sofa, too. Here’s a layered den design in New York, with a Moroccan rug and global textile arts, accompanied by a classic Koch & Lowy reading light from the 1970s. Design: Jett Projects / Photo: Christian Harder
A shearling chair is the perfect place to plop yourself down, with a good book in hand, like in this neutral toned bedroom. Design: Georgina Jeffries / Photo: Lillie Thompson
Take advice on cozy reading nook vibes from this Chiclet chair by Ray Wilkes for Herman Miller in a historic Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn townhouse.
Creating a home where you can unwind
Time & Place Interiors designs spaces to serve as the background for living your best life, introducing calm and relaxation into your home through good design. Founder Ksenya Malina uses a mix of vintage + modern to design a space that feels unique and highly curated. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with Ksenya to discuss your design project:
