10 Coffee Table Books For The Design Lover

A great coffee table book is a truly versatile accessory; it can be a powerful piece of art to finish off a perfectly fluffed and polished room, add just the right amount of height to a table-scape, provide interesting conversations during cocktails, and above all, provide a window into discovery, inspiration and escape. Whatever you may use them for, coffee table books have always been a designer favorite. Here are ten that we think every design lover should add to their collection.

Chloe: Attitudes

This gem chronicles the 60 year revolutionary journey forged by the design power house “Chloe”. Chole was founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion and has been home to many influential designers such as Karl Lagarfeild, Stella McCartney, and Phoebe Philo. If you are into couture , this is the one for you.

The New Bohemian Handbook

In Justina Blakeney’s Bohemian Handbook, design guides, creative meditations and DIYs comingle creating a unique and visually appealing read. This design guide also happens to feature a room or two designed by yours truly!

The Coveteur: Private Spaces, Personal Styles

“Coveteur was established in 2011 as a passion project [ a blog ]  to explore the homes and closets of global street style stars and influencers. Since then, the brand has evolved and expanded, offering a behind-the-scenes look at all things fashion, beauty, health and wellness, travel and lifestyle.” This book, written by the Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Mark, explores the homes and closets of celebrities and Tastemakers such as: Karlie Kloss, Bobbi Brown, Christian Louboutin, and Cindy Crawford. Full of eye candy and secrets!

Axel Vervoordt - Living with Light

“The art of harmonious living is extolled in this volume through twenty bespoke interiors designed by the Axel Vervoordt company. Each room incorporates natural elements—light, water, metal, wood—blended with a modern aesthetic and punctuated with fine art. The Vervoordt concept of the home is revealed through a refined balance between art and nature to create timeless living spaces. The range of featured properties includes homes by the sea as well as in urban and rural locations, demonstrating a breadth of styles possible within the essential Vervoordt design principles.” This read holds masterful manipulation of light in interiors and sublimely edited rooms. An easy pick for any interior fiend.

Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury

“When Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury was published in 2004, the book was the first to describe the dramatic rise of the world’s finest luxury company. Written with full access to the company’s archives, it demonstrates Louis Vuitton’s passion for fine design with a stunning array of archival art, product designs, and cutting-edge advertising. The company is examined through the lives of its first three leaders—founder Louis (who invented the modern trunk), his son Georges, and his grandson Gaston”

May I Come In?: Discovering the World in Other People's Houses

“In this pantheon, imagination and originality hold sway: Artists and eccentrics are the equals of aristocrats and the mandarins of design, and every room has a story to tell. May I Come In? is profusely illustrated with superb images by leading interior photographers, as well as Goodman’s own snapshots and memorabilia related to her quests. It is an irresistible visual record of the art of living by one of its most penetrating observers.”

Slim Aarons: A Place In The Sun

“A Place in the Sun is that special glimpse of privilege under a bright and beaming sky, whether on sandy shore, snowy slope, or elegant home where cares are few. Through 250 stunning color pictures, Aarons provides a veritable who's who of high society: Aristotle Onassis with his first wife, Tina, and their children, Christina and Alexander; C.Z. Guest at her villa in Palm Beach; the Aga Khan at his Sardinian resort; and Truman Capote in Palm Springs. From Mustique to Monaco, from Aspen to Gstaad, only Slim Aarons can take us on a journey to the most exclusive playgrounds of the rich, inspiring even the most jaded armchair traveler.”

HUE- Kelly Wearstler

HUE by Maximalist Icon Kelly Wearstler— “builds upon the success of her first monograph, Modern Glamour, and includes recent, unpublished projects, including her home in Beverly Hills, celebrity residential projects, as well as some of her latest hotel projects. Hue celebrates the power of color in Kelly's work and the possibilities of color in interior design and decorating. A must-have for amateurs and professionals seeking design inspiration from America's top interior designer.” FUN FACT: her tortoise shell inlay dining table documented in the book currently sits in my Weho digs. Thanks, Kelly!

Jospeh Dirand: Interior

Jospeh Dirand is one of Paris’ most sought after Architects and Designers. He was raised to have a keen key for lighting and balance in interiors by his father Jacques Dirand an interior photographer. “This book focuses primarily on Dirand’s residential interior design work in Paris and New York, while also featuring some of his acclaimed designs for the interiors of hotels, restaurants, and fashion houses worldwide. Lavishly illustrated with photography that captures the timelessness of his style, which touts impeccable proportions and breathtaking attention to detail, Joseph Dirand: Interior is a feast for the eyes and essential for anyone with an interest in interior design.”

Tim Walker: Pictures

Tim Walker’s playful, surrealist eye is endlessly inspiring. A design lover’s dream meal. “This stunning edition offers us a privileged glimpse into Walker's artistic process. It is a comprehensive overview that features a wide array of sketches, contact sheets, Polaroids, and source materials normally hidden within the photographer's studio. The evocative images are rich with textured nuance and intriguing details. Walker gives full reign to his playful side and intersperses collages among the photographs.”

What eye candy do you have sitting on your table? What favorites light up your shelves (and minds)? Lets spark the conversation over on my instagram @BreezeGiannasio

Stay tuned,

B.G + Co.