Heavyweights of the Year: Coffee Table Books

At a holiday party I attended last night, "book elves" presented every designer with a design-related book to build their studio resource library.  It's such a charming tradition and one for which I'm perennially fond.  I'm a total sucker especially for heavy and inconvenient coffee table books -- I love them except when I actually need to pack and move.  Well, for those looking for holiday recommendations, here are some stunning books put together by a range of architects, designers and decorators that came out in 2012.  It's beautiful eye candy for those interested in design and captivating residential interiors.  One of my favorites is Lars Bolander's Interior Design & Inspiration, which deftly offers a close look at the Swedish antiquarian’s fresh take on Gustavian style. Links to purchase are below.  Enjoy!

The Big Book of Chic (Assouline, $75)  | Timeless Interiors (Gibbs Smith, $40) | Cohler on Design (Monacelli Press, $50) | The Great American House (Rizzoli, $55) | American Decoration: A Sense of Place (Monacelli Press, $50) | Ann Getty: Interior Style (Rizzoli, $55) | American Beauty (Clarkson Potter, $45) | The Collected Home (Clarkson Potter, $45) | Roman and Williams Buildings & Interiors (Rizzoli, $75) | Bill Willis (Éditions Jardin Majorelle, $95) | Lars Bolander: Interior Design & Inspiration (teNeues, $95) | A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life ($34) | American Fashion Designers at Home (Assouine, $50)