And your favorite book in your collection?
I have a book on urban roof gardens in Europe that I think is pretty cool. I also have a copy of a Japanese book of apartments that I find charming because it clearly was translated into English using a very rudimentary version of Google Translate. In that way, it nicely encapsulates how design and the internet come together in these books.
Best bargain you’ve found?
Compared to most collections, I think all my books are bargains. Most purchases are about ten bucks, and I’ve never spent more than fifty on any one book. Not many people are in the market for outdated interior design.
How about The One that Got Away?
My aunt’s complete Architectural Digest collection from the nineties! When she passed away and my uncle moved, I think they all went in the trash. Such a shame! I would have really enjoyed them.
What would be the Holy Grail for your collection?
I’m worried my Holy Grail might not have been published. I haven’t found a single book (or even one page) representing modern design in Africa from this period. It is disturbing to see the books of my collection celebrate global connections, except apparently not connections with Africa. They leave Africa out of their definition of modern.
Who is your favorite bookseller/bookstore?
It’s a very New York answer, but I’d have to say The Strand. Unlike other stores where I’m scrounging through a generic art section, The Strand has multiple dedicated shelves for used books of interior design. I always come away with a haul of four or five books.
What would you collect if you didn’t collect books?
If my tiny budget and tinier apartment allowed, I would absolutely collect the art and design objects of 80s and 90s modernism. I have a few pieces already, like a pair of dramatic black Haeger lamps I got at a yard sale for twenty bucks. I just love this stuff.
