Creating a post with a list of my favorite coffee table books has been on my mind for quite a while, and this year we’ve added quite a few new titles on some of my favorite subjects to our collection. While fiction can take you to different worlds, times and introduce you to fascinating characters, there’s so much to be said about coffee table books. From books filled with pictures of beautiful flowers, recipe books, travel books to inspire future travels to Italy, Lake Como, and France, to books dedicated to some of my favorite fashion houses and fashion icons, coffee table books can be every bit as inspirational!
Fashion
Audrey Hepburn Portraits of an Icon
“A rich collection of iconic and rare portraits of one of the world’s most photographed women, international film legend Audrey Hepburn. During her lifetime, Belgian-born British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993), star of such films as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Charade, and Two for the Road, was recognized around the world. Two decades after her death, Hepburn remains one of the most celebrated actresses of all time, inspiring new generations of admirers.”
Chanel: Collections and Creations
Chanel’s combination of tradition, originality, and style has always made it the most seductive of brands. Here the House of Chanel opens its private archives, revealing a galaxy of brilliant designs created by Coco Chanel from the 1920s onwards, and now reinterpreted to become the motifs for brand new garments, accessories, and beauty products.
Inspired by the House’s signature fragrance, the legendary ‘Chanel No 5’, the book explores five central themes – the suit, the camellia, jewelry, fragrances and make-up, and the little black dress – and follows the threads from past to present to show how these key items have been rediscovered and reinvented by fashion designers working in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors. This visual journey is enhanced by previously unpublished archive photographs and original drawings by Karl Lagerfeld, as well as glorious images from some of the greatest names in fashion photography.
Dazzling clothes, intricate accessories, beautiful models, and timeless design leave no doubt as to the lasting fame of the brand and embody everything that has come to symbolize the magic of Chanel.
Flowers
Peonies
From Shawnee Chief to Top Brass, this guide to over 60 varieties of peonies presents an eclectic selection of specimens―from those with the best visual appearance and the most fragrant perfume to those that are easiest to grow and produce the best cutting flowers. With commentary on each bloom, easy-to-follow growing advice, and glorious photography, Peonies will appeal to anyone who appreciates the romance of the majestic peony.
Dahlias
The dahlia is a fabulous cutting flower for the home garden. Cut one bloom, and ten more appear on the plant. Blooming late summer to the first frost of autumn, this native of Mexico provides explosions of color in home gardens. The author’s commentary unearths the dahlia from its Aztec origins and imparts practical, hands-on knowledge for growing and overwintering these tropical plants in wintry climes.
Including classics like Café au Lait and lesser-known varieties like Voodoo and Honka, readers will discover a stunning range of specimens from tiny pompoms to heavy-headed dinner plates, to those that resemble daisies, sea anemones, and even fireworks!
Vintage Roses
Who wouldn’t be romanced by names like Lovely Fairy, Desdemona, Elegantyne, Anne Boleyn, Leonardo da Vinci, and Blue for You? Vintage roses encompass both the true “old” roses and the best of the “modern” roses, developed to celebrate the classic, ageless, enduring beauty of the old varieties.
The 60 specially selected specimens include those that have the best visual appearance and most fragrant perfume and are also easy to grow and produce beautiful flowers for cutting.
The perfect mix of engaging, inspirational commentary and no-fuss gardening notes shows that roses can be grown and enjoyed by all―whether a novice, an expert or an armchair rose gardener.
Entertaining/Home
French Country Cottage
Entertaining starts with setting a fabulous table. In Courtney Allison’s signature French Country Cottage style, she showcases a myriad of romantic table settings for every occasion. Courtney provides the styling expertise to host your own French Country Cottage–inspired gathering, whether in the backyard, at the beach, under an old oak tree, or in a country barn. A simple picnic; coffee by the lake; a cheese board for friends outdoors; a bistro table for two; a long table for a formal meal―each setting exhibiting Allison’s dreamy style for you to emulate. The pièce de résistance in every venue, any setting, is the gorgeous arrangements of seasonal flowers; Courtney’s bouquets will take your breath away, from spring to fall, for outdoors and inside.
Patina Living
An intimate look at life on Patina Farm enjoying the interplay of rustic and modern European farmhouse charm―including the sheds, outbuildings, and well-designed gardens where the Giannetti’s entertain and enjoy their miniature goats, sheep, and donkeys, the chickens and ducks, and dogs. In addition to the home, charming sheds and outbuildings in the Patina landscape are inspirations for a beautiful life in the popular Patina Style.
“We decided to write this book to share why we decided to create this life and what we have learned along the way. We share how we decided where to live, how to design and layout our property, and how to think about the individual spaces. One of the main nuggets of wisdom that we have learned is that there is not only one way to live this life. The idea of this book is to give you some options.”
Southern Entertainers Cookbook
In The Southern Entertainer’s Cookbook, Courtney Whitmore shares her party go-to’s, from appetizers and salads to entrees, drinks, and desserts. In addition to sharing modern twists on classics and beloved heirloom recipes from her family’s cookbooks (not to worry, no archaic methods or hard-to-find ingredients here), Courtney provides tips throughout to make the most of your gathering: try embellishing a plate with edible flower petals or create mini versions of a well-known dessert.
Courtney continues to be a trusted resource for creating delicious, party-friendly food to enhance any meal and every party. Consider this the only Southern cookbook primer you need.
Travel
Italian Gardens of Lake Como
Great Escapes Italy
Shop Coffee Table Books
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