Books have long been a marker of taste, intellect and identity, but in the hands ofMaison Plage, they are a design language all their own. The brand, which has a physical boutique in Los Angeles as well as an online store, was founded by Kelly Croteau. Maison Plage is a bookstore built on a foundation of appreciation for both literature and interior design. As such, Ms. Croteau’s bookstore has a specialization unique to Maison Plage: book styling. She curates shelves, stacks and entire libraries that reflect a unique point of view, approaching each project with a technical and intuitive eye. Materiality matters, but so do the colors of spines, the texture of paper and the emotional resonance of titles. Whether sourcing new releases from major publishers or hunting for rare finds in Europe, the goal is to craft collections that feel personal, lived-in and layered. In the following Q&A, Ms. Croteau offers a glimpse into this quiet but impactful art form. From advice on avoiding overly staged bookshelves to the timeless appeal of Picasso and Matisse monographs, she shares the philosophy behind her curated approach.

What kind of clients do you typically work with?

We work with a lot of interior designers, creatives and hotels on our library curation service.

When starting a project, what’s the first thing you consider when selecting books for a space?

From a technical perspective, you have to look at the dimensions of a shelf, coffee table or anything that you will be putting books on. Also, books that match the look and feel of the space, color scheme and materials. From an aesthetic perspective, really cool covers and the content matters to match the client's interests.

Do you work with a client’s existing collection or do you always source new material?

Both. We can work with their existing collection and then we always build a new collection or weave in new titles to make the collection more complete.

Where do you typically find the books you use. Are there favorite dealers, stores or sources you rely on?

We do have dealers in France. We also have accounts with the major publishers where we can get new books as well; same with art galleries.

What role do books play in defining the character or atmosphere of a room?

A major role. They really showcase the personality behind the home, they are inspiring and make a home feel lived in and complete. They add substance.

Are there any particular publishers, cover designs or editions that are especially in demand right now?

It really depends on the type of customer in the art world. People love something that feels one-of-a-kind or vintage. Picasso is always a top big seller Matisse, Twombly. Something else that is always in demand are our book stacks. Designers love the curation of the stacks because we incorporate newer titles with old, and the dimensions of each book lay perfectly on top of one another.

How do you avoid the “too perfect” or overly staged look when styling shelves?

By adding in vintage and exhibition books that have that paper material feel and vintage French literature.

Could you share a particularly memorable project — what made it special?

The Dallas Library Curation Project was really special because that was my first curation and we really dove into different types of books – not just coffee table books, we included literature as well. We also did a project at Palazzo Chupi – just curating in that space was really special. The building itself was designed by Julian Schnabel and it's in Greenwich Village but it looks like an Italian palazzo.

How do you keep your own eye fresh and inspired? Are there trends you follow or intentionally avoid?

I don't intentionally avoid trends, but I go off of what I think is beautiful. And if something happens to be a trend and I like it, I won't shy away from it. You can always merge classics with trends. By traveling, looking through books of course, film, going to art museums.