Abrams
Live Beautiful
From celebrated design expert and interior designer Athena Calderone, a look into how creatives decorate their spaces
Beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives. In Live Beautiful, the highly anticipated design book by Athena Calderone, the EyeSwoon creator taps into her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers, and tastemakers to reveal how carefully crafted interiors come together. She also opens the doors to two of her own residences.
With each homeowner, Calderone explores the initial spark of inspiration that incited their design journey. She then breaks down the details of the rooms-like layered textures and patterns, collected pieces, and customized vignettes-and offers helpful tips on how to bring these elevated elements into your own space. Filled with gorgeous photography by Nicole Franzen, Live Beautiful is both a showpiece of exquisite design and a guide to creating a home that’s thoughtfully put together.
About the Author
Athena Calderone is the creator of the lifestyle site EyeSwoon and author of the James Beard award-winning cookbook Cook Beautiful. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Industry Reviews
"Athena brings her exquisite curatorial eye to everything she does, and this book is no exception. Live Beautiful is a voyeuristic adventure that I honestly devoured at the same pace as some of my favorite novels!"
--Emma Roberts "founder of Belletrist"
"Athena has masterfully curated a collection of truly remarkable examples of beauty meeting pragmatism. This book is so full of inspiration it almost feels like cheating when you realize she has given you the clues to replicate each stunning project. I will forever use this as a source for all my design dreams, both the practical and elaborate."
--Olivia Wilde "interior designer and star of Netflix's Queer Eye"
"Athena not only Lives Beautiful, but she Teaches Beautiful. This book is filled with her wisdom, insight, and direction on how to create and curate a space that will always feel like home."
--Bobby Berk "interior designer and star of Netflix's Queer Eye"
"Athena's beautiful book is a testament to her incredible skill set. The true talent of a designer is to not just create a beautiful and functional space, but recognize something special and individual, based on those who will be living there. This is so true of Athena. Each space displayed in her book shows an innate understanding of the individual, and despite each being completely distinctive, Athena recognizes the beauty of the uniqueness. The more time I spend reading, the more I learn that there is no design rule book as to what something should be. Athena's book is a true exploration of what it can be."
--Naomi Watts "interior designer and star of Netflix's Queer Eye"
"I don't know how Athena does it. I just know that I can't. At least this book might help."
--Laura Brown "Editor-in-Chief of InStyle"
"If you're looking to become deeply inspired and fall in love with design all over again, this is the book. There is something so ethereal about Athena and everything she does--and this book is no exception. Not only are her own spaces beyond divine, she found the same kind of magic in so many others' homes that we are lucky enough to peek into. Athena knows how to break the mold and I am forever inspired by her work."
--Amber Lewis "founder of Amber Interiors Design Studio"
"In her inherently articulate and swoonworthy way, Athena unpacks the collective beauty of the diverse interiors in this book and distills it through her personal and highly passionate lens to offer the strategic hows and whys of the creative design journey. A truly inviting celebration of beautiful spaces."
--Kelly Wearstler "founder of Kelly Wearstler Interior Design"