7 of the most stylish books to pimp up your coffee table in seconds
WHAT really makes a home? Except for the people in it, obvs.
No, it’s not the blow-the-budget sofa or the fancy fridge. It’s the accessories.
The photos, the quirky travel souvenirs, the knick knacks and yes, the books on display.
Shelves just look wrong without books adorning them (though you really don’t need to colour code the spines when arranging them – that might be trying just a little too hard)…
Coffee table books are a sure-fire way to suss out a person because no one leaves a book on display that they don’t like.
They provide instant topics of convo for any guests that pop over and help save us all from the scrolling of doom.
But really, we love them mostly because they can be pretty-as-hell ornaments in themselves and usually provide an escape from our mundane everyday lives.
And while there are some iconic series like the colour-popping Assouline travel tombs – we just can’t justify spending that amount of cash on a book, however pretty they look.
So we’ve picked 7 of the best recent additions to the bookshops that could easily earn a place in your shelfie…
Coastal by Gray Malin, £35, Abrams – BUY NOW
Warning! This book will make you want to go on holiday right now.
But you’ll also find it the perfect antidote to those grey winter skies.
Flick through page after page of stunning and dramatic coastlines shot from the sky by renowned photographer Gray Malin.
In a helicopter, as you do.
From Cape Cod to California via Hawaii – it makes for the perfect hit of Vitamin Sea.
Liveable Lux by Brigette Romanek, £35, Chroma – BUY NOW
From the interior designer loved by the likes of Beyonce and Gwyneth comes an inspo homes bible formed on her own belief that you can create a haven with the mantra Gucci meets Gap. (Or in our case, Zara Home meets George Home).
She had a pretty cool childhood too FYI.
This will bring a touch of LA luxe into your pad and total home bar goals with it.
We can but dream…
Capitol Records by Barney Hoskyns and Reuel Golden, £60, TASCHEN – BUY NOW
For any music fan, this is a real beaut.
From Frank Sinatra to The Beatles and Pink Floyd to Katy Perry – Capitol Records have been right at the heart of some of the industry’s greatest moments with the greatest players.
Stunning pictures plus interesting tales from behind the scenes makes this a total winner.
Honey: Recipes From a Beekeeper’s Kitchen by Amy Newsome, £27, Quadrille – BUY NOW
We promise we haven’t just chosen this one because we thought David Beckham looked fit-as in his beekeeping gear while hanging at his Cotswolds pad in recent Netflix phenomenon <Beckham>.
Although if anyone’s going to get us into beekeeping, it would likely be him.
Anyhow, back to the book…
As well as 80 dreamy recipes (think the likes of Honeyed Chipotle Lamb Tacos and Saffron & Apricot Honey Buns) you can follow a year in the life of a beekeeper (author Amy) and learn all there is to know about the golden stuff through glorious pics.
We love.
The Modern Caravan: Stories of Love, Beauty, and Adventure on the Open Road By Kate Oliver, £21.99, Chronicle Books – BUY NOW
Ever dreamed of life on the road?
This book may just get you handing in your notice and buying an airstream…
Gorgeous pictures and personal tales from 25 nomads across the world will inspire and spark ideas for even the smallest of spaces. Hello garden shed!
Ice Cold. A Hip-Hop Jewelry History by Vikki Tobak, £80, TASCHEN – BUY NOW
Get lost in the wonderful world of hip hop bling – yep, we’re talking diamond-encrusted grills, Rolexes and truck-style chains. Plus so much more.
The pictures themselves are immense, but wait until you hear the stories behind them.
Your cool factor just went up a notch…
Football: Designing the Beautiful Game by Eleanor Watson and James Bird, £35, Design Museum Publishing – BUY NOW
From stadium master plans to the graphic designs of logos, innovations in the boots themselves and the craziness of fan culture across the world, a lot of ground is covered in this treat – including the rise of the female game.
A pitch perfect gift for any design-conscious football fan…