The Designer Within

July 4, 2022
Interior designer McClain “pull back that proverbial curtain to reveal design solutions” in his heartfelt debut, a collection of clever styling tips and tricks. It’s crucial to create a home that “greet you like a warm hug every time you walk through the door,” he writes; to help readers do so, he begins by laying out his six-step design process which includes defining one’s needs, finding inspiration, creating a “project direction board,” and having fun. McClain then tours his favorite projects room by room, highlighting key components behind their success: in his own home, brass “book toppers” jazz up coffee tables while bold patterns play with warm-toned colors in the upstairs lounge area, an old-Hollywood-style house features a tiled kitchen that “brings in the drama,” and a bathroom in a mid-century modern abode “purposely leans more toward the modern side.” McClain drops lots of advice along the way—add “one piece of interesting dissonance to every room” to make “everyone stop and take notice,” for example—and his fun approach takes the intimidation right out of design: “What do you do when you have too much space in a kitchen?! Create a bar area, of course!” Armchair designers looking for inspiration will find it on full display here.

October 1, 2022

Interior designer McClain eases readers into the design process with step-by-step instructions on how to formulate a project plan that takes them from concept to completion. The author says this book isn't meant to create a look for less. Examples of spaces that he's redesigned are showcased in an impressive spread of vivid and dazzling pictures of family, dining, and bedrooms, kitchens, home offices and theaters, outdoor spaces, and even surprising areas like spaces below or beside a staircase. The book's action items are designed to give readers the option to implement just one, some, or all in their own homes and personal decor styles. VERDICT McClain's title is an easily digestible, interior design book that would be an asset to any library shelf.--Brittany Fechtman

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