In the classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote of the power of having a sincere interest in people. “You can make more friends in two months by becoming genuinely interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you,” he proclaimed. This is a principle Glasgow-based blogger Ronda Rice Carman knows well. She possesses a deep-rooted interest in, not just interior design, but designers themselves and rather than blogging about what inspires her, she blogs about what inspires them. Her passion is so palpable that everyone from Ashley Hicks to Nicky Haslam has agreed to be interviewed for her highly praised blog, All The Best.

Even esteemed publishing house Rizzoli has taken note. Carman’s first book, Designers at Home, has just gone into its second printing mere weeks after the first run. This isn’t just another coffee table tome by the way. True to her nature, it’s an in-depth look at how designers live in their own homes. Each profile recounts detailed insights about everything from one’s creature comforts to their most valued decorative details, not to mention a forward by Martha Stewart!

While trolling All The Best recently, we stumbled upon an interview with American designer Benjamin Dhong. Naturally the bathroom caught our eye. How clever to outfit the recessed tub in the same manner as window treatments! With a similar set up, this look can be achieved using fabric backed with a waterproof liner or take it a step further and use outdoor fabric instead. The seamstress at your local drycleaner should be able to fabricate simple panels and a valance or for more intricate styles, try a family-run service like Curtain Maker.

Photographs © Rizzoli, Benjamin Dhong