Interior Designer Ashley Gilbreath Helps Readers Create ‘The Joy of Home’ [REVIEW]

Nate Berkus always says that “our homes should rise up to meet us.” I have always taken that to mean that a well-designed home should calm, relax, and rejuvenate us every time we cross the threshold. But how do we accomplish that? What does it take to find that perfect blend of form and function that elevates a space and transforms it into a home that we can’t wait to return to? Alabama-based interior designer Ashley Gilbreath knows the secret, and she shares it with us in her gorgeous new book, The Joy of Home.

Having worked in the industry for more than 20 years, Gilbreath knows a thing or two about making a home that is unique to you. With roots in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and rural Tennessee, she utilizes a simple technique to get to the heart of what her clients want: she asks them.

Soon, she comes to understand what things from their past helped shape them, what their present needs are, and what they hope the future will bring. Only then, after carefully listening to their heart’s desires, she is able to discover what story the homeowner wants their home to tell and implements it into her designs.

The process doesn’t stop there, however. Decisions still need to be made about color; whether the design should be elegant, simple, or modern; and how to juxtapose or balance those ideas into the home. Gilbreath explains why it is crucial to examine each element, and how varying degrees of each can be incorporated without overpowering the overall look and feel of the space. As she says, “All my thought and planning are infused with functionality, comfort, and beauty in mind.”

Readers will love the beautiful photography featured throughout this stunning book. It highlights Gilbreath’s completed designs from homes she’s worked on in places like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Although every home is different in locale and style, they cumulatively serve as a catalyst that will spark readers’ imaginations.

The Joy of Home will prompt readers to consider how they can connect to their own living spaces and personalize them in a way that speaks to their entire being. To echo the Gilbreath’s own words, “I hope this book inspires and helps you discover your own personal design style so the rooms you put together resonate with meaning and create a joyful home.”

Whether you’re a novice taking a stab at home design for the very first time or an expert looking for new innovative ideas to incorporate into your private space, The Joy of Home offers insights everyone can use.

Ashley Gilbreath is a Southern-based, award-winning, interior designer known for creating casually elegant homes where the family can gather to celebrate everyday living.

Her fresh take on interiors has been seen in Southern Living, House Beautiful, Luxe, Coastal Living, Southern Home, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle, and in homes from Florida to New York.

She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband and three children.

To learn more, visit AshleyGilbreath.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Instagram and Pinterest.

THE JOY OF HOME
By Ashley Gilbreath
240 pp. Gibbs Smith. $47.
ISBN 978-1423-66343-0

Purchase The Joy of Home direct from Jathan & Heather Books or anywhere else fine books are sold.