What's in Their Library: Charlotte Moss

Charlotte Moss, like so many of the great decorators, believes that books are one of a room's best accessories. And she is certainly one who practices what she preaches. Her Manhattan home is filled with an amazing collection of books on an array of subjects: design, architecture, art. In fact, her East Hampton home has a library devoted entirely to gardening. Sounds like heaven, right? Her love of books is also apparent at The Townhouse. There is a wonderful array of books on fashion, decoration, etiquette, entertaining, and biographies that are all available for purchase.

I did ask Moss how she organized her impressive collection of books. Because she does use her books for reference and inspiration, they are organized by subject. (That makes perfect sense to me!). I also quizzed her on the jacket vs. no jacket debate. She leaves her books' jackets on as so many of them are art in their own right.

So, without further ado, here is Charlotte Moss' List of Top Ten Books. I think you'll find her choices as timeless as her design. And as she writes in her new book A Flair for Living: "Reading has a magical way of letting you live the moment."



Billy Baldwin Decorates by Billy Baldwin



Colefax & Fowler: The Best in English Interior Decoration by Chester Jones



The Art and Technique of Color Photography by Alexander Liberman



The Decoration of Houses by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr.



Jansen Decoration



Legendary Decorators of the Twentieth Century by Mark Hampton



A Passion for Flowers by Carolyne Roehm



Roomscapes: The Decorative Architecture of Renzo Mongiardino by Renzo Mongiardino



The House in Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe



Vogue's Book of Houses, Gardens, People, photographed by Horst, text by Valentine Lawford, forward by Diana Vreeland