The Essentials

Interior designer Caitlin Flemming is often asked how the rules of professional design can be applied to everyday homes - how to choose the perfect paint colour, improve lighting, mix patterns with confidence, or decide on the right scale for furniture, rugs, curtains, and art. The Essentials, coauthored with Julie Goebel, answers these questions and more, offering a comprehensive guide to the art and science of creating a home that feels both stylish and comfortable.

Drawing on decades of experience in design, styling, travel, and antiquing, Flemming and Goebel share their collective wisdom alongside insights from some of the most talented designers around the world. Organized into three thoughtful sections, the book begins by revealing the intuitive knowledge and principles that seasoned designers rely on, before diving into the technical essentials - covering lighting, hardware, textiles, window treatments, furniture placement, and more. The final section brings everything together through inspiring tours of nine beautifully designed homes, showing how details and decisions combine to create truly harmonious spaces.

Richly illustrated and filled with practical advice, The Essentials is more than just a design book - it’s a reference you’ll return to time and again. Whether you’re refreshing a single room or reimagining your entire home, this indispensable guide shortcuts the learning curve and gives you the tools to design with confidence. Perfect for design enthusiasts, decorators, or anyone wanting to create a home that reflects both beauty and comfort.