Meet the Judges

Brigette officially founded her interior design business, Romanek Design Studio, in 2018, but friends were enlisting her help long before that. She has earned a reputation for graciousness and personal warmth that are palpably felt in her interiors, and that we at Booktique experienced firsthand when we approached her in 2023 to be a judge. "Looks like so much fun!" she replied. She returned as a judge in 2024 with an even sharper eye for coffee table book distinction, having spent the year celebrating her own stunning publication Livable Luxe, which ranked as a finalist in our Home Interiors category. Congratulations, Brigette!

Here, Brigette tells us why books are always a key source of inspiration, whether she's relaxing in her Hollywood home with her teenage daughters or brainstorming with her team in the studio.

What’s your favorite thing about coffee table books? They add color, vibrancy and personality to any room. And, there’s nothing like a book to give you new ideas and inspiration. I love to be able to see what’s in someone else’s head and heart. A book is a real gift. My favorite type of coffee table book is a creative one, especially on topics like interiors, fashion, and photography.

At Booktique, we say “Read Beautifully” and we invite each person in our community to define it however they choose. What comes to mind when you think “Read Beautifully”? A place? A favorite person? A time of day? A color? A certain type of imagery? A specific book? This is like asking me to pick a favorite child, I can’t pick just one! My ideal situation would be lounging in my Sunday room filled with books and drinking cups of tea.

What’s on your coffee table right now, book or otherwise? My coffee table has about 30 coffee table books stacked beautifully. There’s also a table lamp to give a library feel. My coffee table isn’t necessarily useful for setting things on, as the empty space is limited, but there may be room for a cup of tea or two.

What’s a topic you’ve been wanting to learn more about lately? Landscape design.

If you had to choose...

Words or pictures? Pictures. Matte or glossy? Matte. Serif or sans? Sans. Brights or greige? Brights. Marble or terrazzo? Marble. Music or silence? Music. Sweet or savory? Sweet. Coffee or cocktails? Both. Movie theater or museum? Museum. Tulips or Bird of Paradise? Tulips. Grand Canyon or Central Park? Central Park. Order or chaos? Chaos.