I’ve never been an avid reader. I’m envious of the people that can sit down and finish (and enjoy!) a book, but I’m just not one of them.
That’s why I love coffee table books! I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to this love. I can sit and go through every page, or thumb through as I have the time and patience. Plus, we all know how easy it is to style with books!
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{In my opinion, there are a few staples that every well-decorated home should have…
1. The Big Book of Chic by Miles Redd
“An internationally acclaimed interior design sensation, Miles Redd is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. This lavishly illustrated volume features a diverse selection of his unique interiors, an inspiration to anyone interested in spirited, eclectic design.”
2. Domino: The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman
“Domino: The Book of Decorating cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders’ secrets from today’s premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual.”
3. The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman
“Over the years, founding editor in chief of Domino Magazine Deborah Needleman has seen all kinds of rooms, with all kinds of furnishings. Her conclusion: It’s not hard to create a relaxed, stylish, and comfortable home. Just a few well-considered items can completely change the feel of your space, and The Perfectly Imperfect Home reveals them all.”
4. Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney
“’Thank you,’ wrote a reader to Design*Sponge creator Grace Bonney, ‘for teaching me that houses don’t have to be frumpy and formal. They don’t have to be matchy-matchy or rigidly modern. They can just be comfy and unique and reflect who you are, no matter how small your budget or space.'”
And then there are some that I am just dying to get my hands on…
1. Glamorous Rooms by Jan Showers
“Glamorous Rooms showcases the elegant eclecticism of renowned designer Jan Showers’s interiors, including many projects unpublished until now.”
2. The Age of Elegance by Alex Papachristidis
“One of today’s eminent tastemakers, Alex Papachristidis is known for arresting, elegant interiors that meld classical motifs with a modern perspective and sophisticated details. This volume pays homage to Papachristidis’s refined sensibility and celebrates Alex Papachristidis Interiors’ twenty-fifth anniversary.”
3. Fifth Avenue Style by Howard Slatkin
“In this gorgeously illustrated volume, Slatkin, an interior designer and founder of the iconic home-fragrance and lifestyle brand Slatkin & Co., opens the doors of his legendary Fifth Avenue apartment and invites readers to accompany him on an intimate tour.”
4. The Welcoming House: The Art of Living Graciously by Jane Schwab
“The owners of the acclaimed stores and decorating firm Circa Interiors present eight stylish, beautiful homes blending comfort, beauty, and function with classic Southern hospitality. A house with an open door is like a friend with an open heart: inviting, generous of spirit, and constant at the core.”
5. The Find by Stan Williams
“In The Find, Stan Williams and some of today’s most clever style makers, including Simon Doonan, John Derian, and Real Simple’s Kristin van Ogtrop–all diehard devotees of New York City’s Housing Works–show not just what to look for, but also how to look at an object to identify a great piece.”
I’m ashamed to say that the only one of these I have in my collection is Design Sponge. But you have to start somewhere, right?
What are some of your favorite coffee table books? Do you have a good collection going?
One of my very favorite is Guatemala Rainbow….its the sites, colors and the feel of Guatemala where my kids are from and anything dealing with travel. Also, I am with you on reading! I love to even see people totally wrapped up in a good book, me however…not!! Not my thing and probably never will be.
Oh how cool! I like to LOOK at books, not necessarily read them. Ha!