Decorating & Design
December 10, 2021
30+ Beautiful Coffee Table Books To Give & Get This Year
Give the gift that will last on their coffee tables all year long! These hot-off-the-presses coffee table books bring the best of 2021 interiors right to your living room. Forgo a typical bottle of wine for this perfect hosting gift, or pick up a copy for yourself.
Scroll down for our top interior design coffee table books of 2021!
Workstead: Interiors Of Beauty And Necessity By Workstead and David Sokol
Those who embrace the cool edge of Brooklyn brownstones will love this compilation of projects by Brooklyn Heights, NYC studio Workstead. The firm has a particular genius for updating historical properties and honoring craftsmanship, both past and present, with timeless results.
For Art’s Sake: Inside The Home Of Art Dealers By Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian
This book opens up the private homes of prominent international art collectors, from Salzburg, Austria, to the Scottish Highlands. Revealing not only masterworks by great artists, For Art’s Sake also shows how this art is inventively displayed by tastemakers such as Peter Marino, Axel Vervoordt and Jacques Grange.
Be My Guest By Pierre Sauvage and Olivia Roland
For those longing to socialize again, Pierre Sauvage (the owner of chic Paris homewares mecca Casa Lopez) invites us to the party to rub shoulders with hosts such as Aerin Lauder and Christian Louboutin. Set in sumptuous dining rooms in Normandy, Manhattan and Portugal, this book is a virtual invite to the tablescapes and recipes of 20 stylemakers.
Take It Outside: A Guide To Designing Beautiful Spaces Just Beyond Your Door By Mel Brasier, Garrett Magee and James DeSantis
For the friend who wants to revamp their outdoor area and turn it into an entertaining hot spot, this book will have them swooning over their sansevieria. The authors (hosts of Bravo’s Backyard Envy) approach outdoor spaces the same way that interior designers approach a room, providing practical advice for patios, balconies and gardens for next summer.
Love Pattern & Colour: The Essential Guide By Charlotte Abrahams
Curator and author Charlotte Abrahams breaks down the rules of decorating with color and pattern in her latest book. Whether singing the praises of abstracts, botanicals or animal prints, she divides patterns into eight popular themes and outlines how to use them.
The Power Of Pattern: Interiors And Inspiration By Susanna Salk
Florals, toiles and ikats, oh my. For anyone thirsting for pattern, this primer is overflowing with tips on decorating with a well-loved pattern. Illustrated with interiors by design luminaries such as Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Miles Redd and India Hicks, this book is a master class for those ready to embrace some visual drama.
Island Whimsy: Designing A Paradise By The Sea By Celerie Kemble
Designer Celerie Kemble’s work often celebrates her Palm Beach roots, but this time she turns her attention to projects (including her own home) in the Dominican Republic’s pristine Playa Grande. For those yearning for an elegant tropical escape, this book hits all the stylistic high notes with miles of mint paint, wicker, inset shells, trellis and tiles aplenty.
Designing Hollywood Homes: Movie Houses By Stephen Shadley and Patrick Pacheco
Designer to the stars Stephen Shadley counts Tinseltown tastemakers such as Diane Keaton, Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Aniston among his clientele. He’s worked on several projects for Diane (who penned the foreword), including a mid-century home on the Hudson River and a Spanish Revival masterpiece designed by Wallace Neff in L.A. Stephen started as a scenic painter in Hollywood before branching out to set design and fashion photography. Working with stars multiple times means he isn’t just a designer, but a trusted confidant.
A Year At Clove Brook Farm By Christopher Spitzmiller
Glossy ceramic lamps and tableware by Christopher Spitzmiller are fixtures in A-list interiors and, in this book, he opens up his own weekend retreat in Millbrook, N.Y. Divided into four seasons, it presents a snapshot of stylish country life (even bathing a Buff Orpington rooster in the kitchen sink looks poetic).
Beata Heuman: Every Room Should Sing By Beata Heuman
One of the foremost practitioners of English eclectic style, London interior designer Beata Heuman has written her first book, which shows London townhomes, Nantucket escapes and a Sussex cottage. A former employee of Nicky Haslam, Swedish-born Beata creates whimsical, poetic projects, the result of imagination and a fearless approach.
Finding Home: The Houses Of Pursley Dixon By Ken Pursley with Jacqueline Terrebonne
Fans of country decorating rejoice! This first book from North Carolina architects Ken Pursley and Craig Dixon is full of bucolic treats. Combining rustic and romantic styles (there’s plenty of fieldstone, wooden beams and board-and-batten), their designs sidestep hackneyed territory and remain elevated and welcoming.
Victoria Hagan: Live Now By Victoria Hagan
If someone on your list is stretched to capacity and yearning for a little serenity, this book demonstrates how decorating can shape mood. Iconic designer Victoria Hagan explores how a home’s connection to the natural world calms and comforts in her third book, celebrating the quiet, extraordinary beauty of the everyday.
Jacques Grance: Recent Work By Pierre Passebon
When international style icons (think Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and Aerin Lauder) want a “nondesigned” aesthetic, Parisian designer Jacques Grange is the one they call. Unveiling 31 of his latest residential projects, this book shows how Jacques instinctively edits a room down to its essentials.
Beachside: Windsor Architecture And Design By Hadley Keller
Snowbirds will appreciate an inside peek at Windsor, the exclusive palm-lined enclave in Vero Beach, Fla. Founded by Canadians Galen and Hilary Weston 30 years ago, Windsor embraces New Urbanism’s consistent traditional architecture. Several A-list architects and designers such as Tom Scheerer, John Stefanidis and Amanda Lindroth riff on the Anglo-Caribbean style. Steven Gambrel notes: “Although the architecture is reminiscent of period houses, you don’t feel restricted.” The chapter Pools, Terraces, Verandas and Courtyards is almost as much of a mood boost as an airline ticket in the middle of winter.
Belgian Modern: Architects & Interior Designers By Wim Pauwels
Belgian designers are masters of minimalism, paring everything down to essential elements while retaining warmth. This book is an ideal stocking stuffer for those who feel most at home with creamy walls, raw wood, yards of linen and sculptural furniture, all wielded by prominent architects and interior designers.
British Designers At Home By Jenny Rose-Innes
For fans of color-rich, eccentric decorating that’s as comfortable as a velvet divan by the fire, it’s hard to imagine a time when British design wasn’t enjoying a revival. The English homes of design icons such as Robert Kime, Kit Kemp and Nina Campbell keep company with up-and-comers like Beata Heuman in this book.
Designing History: The Extraordinary Art & Style Of The Obama White House By Michael S. Smith with Margaret Russell
As Michelle Obama notes in her foreword, Michael S. Smith’s decoration of the Obama White House set the tone for their eight-year tenure: “The residence became a true refuge where our family could simply be a family, where our girls could grow into young women with voices of their own.” Decorating the White House is a fine balance of history, diplomacy, politics and personality, which designer Michael S. Smith breaks down in detail, including the time he and President Barack Obama were at odds over the choice of red drapery for the Oval Office. “The colour was emblematic of strength of purpose, of heroism; I thought it was important for photographs of President Obama to be framed by this powerful color.” See more from this book here.
Feels Like Home: Relaxed Interiors For A Meaningful Life By Lauren Liess
Designer, co-host of HGTV’s Best House on the Block and mom of five, Lauren Liess reveals a collection of client homes that include a farmhouse, beach cottage, home in the woods and Spanish-style abode. What ties them together is her family-friendly approach, with an emphasis on natural materials. She’s pragmatic about maximizing space, encouraging her clients to keep only what they love and need. “So much is shiny and new today,” says Lauren. “Life and time change things — designing with materials and objects that have the ability to age well promises that a house will continue to look its best, no matter what life throws at it.”
Kelly Hoppen’s Essential Style Solutions For Every Home By Kelly Hoppen
British designer Kelly Hoppen is the high priestess of the tonal look, conjuring rooms in sophisticated neutrals for clients like David and Victoria Beckham. Kelly compares designing to solving a Rubik’s Cube, twisting textures, layered tones and sculptural furniture into the perfect mix. Over her 40-plus-year career, she’s cracked the formula with her signature “East meets West” style, which pairs luxury finishes with minimalism.
Still: The Slow Home By Natalie Walton
Examples of the “slow” home pop up from Byron Bay, Australia, to Stirling, Ont., in this globe-trotting compilation of enviable abodes. What ties them together is a focus on sustainable living, as homeowners reveal how they live meaningfully (and dreamily) with less.
Collected Interiors: Every Room Tells A Story By Philip Mitchell and Judith Nasatir
Modern maximalist designer Philip Mitchell’s new coffee table book is a source of inspiration and joy. Click here to see Philip and his partner Mark Narsansky’s historic cottage in Chester, Nova Scotia decked out for the holidays.
Jungalow: Decorate Wild By Justina Blakeney
From Justina Blakeney, the woman who coined the term “Jungalow” comes a slew of clever new design hybrids like Moroc-Cali, Tropic-Talian and Turk-Xican. This book shows spaces from Justina’s own home, in addition to other projects. If you, like many, worship at the altar of all things Jungalow, this is a visual feast that will leave you feeling very happy. See more from Justina here.
The Maine House By Kathleen Hackett, Maura McEvoy and Basha Burwell
“I would really rather feel bad in Maine than feel good anywhere else,” said Charlotte’s Web author E. B. White, whose writer’s shed is shown in this book. It’s a sentiment that writer Kathleen Hackett shares with photographer Maura McEvoy and art director Basha Burwell, who travelled more than 4,800 kilometres throughout Maine over four years to capture unique retreats. These extraordinary summer houses embody a wild authenticity; you can see the history here and understand why the owners return year after year, never wanting to change a thing. We asked Kathleen what sets Maine decorating apart. See more from this book here.
Pacific Natural At Home By Jenni Kayne
We all know somebody who wants to recreate the laid-back look that California gals like L.A. retailer Jenni Kayne do so well. Her second book focuses on the homes of creative women situated near the ocean, desert and mountains. Expect trademark Cali white palettes, nubby tub chairs and plenty of warm woods.
The Principles Of Pretty Rooms By Phoebe Howard with Andrew Sessa
Southern designer Phoebe Howard (and the owner of homeware stores in Florida, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.) excels in pulling together the kind of breezy interiors that embody spring. In her fourth book, she unveils projects in the city, country and at the beach, and breaks down what makes them pretty. “Now, more than ever, we want our spaces to be sanctuaries, safely allowing us to escape from the realities of everyday life and work,” says Phoebe.
Provence Style: Decorating With French Country Flair By Shauna Varvel with Alexandra Black
French country decorating enjoyed major popularity in the 1990s, but what does it look like today? Shauna Varvel opens the door to her 18th-century Rhône Valley farmhouse and other homes to show how the Provençal aesthetic has evolved (you’ll definitely fantasize about renting a villa there).
Pure Style In The Garden: Creating An Outdoor Haven By Jane Cumberbatch
This book is a diary of British garden guru Jane Cumberbatch’s own London garden, illustrated by her photos, paintings and notes. For gardeners contemplating a long winter, Jane shares insights for savoring the beauty of each season and its bounty.
Resident Dog (Volume Two): Incredible Homes And The Dogs Who Live There By Nicole England
For decorating and dog devotees, this book opens the door to 25 striking residences and the lucky dogs who call them home. Whether these canines are stretched out on sofas in New York and London or lolling in sunny yards in Sydney and L.A., seeing them in their happy place is guaranteed to draw smiles.
Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps And Lodges By Melissa Biggs Bradley
It’s hard to choose what’s more compelling in this rich and transportive book: the wildlife photography or the evocative eco-camps that will definitely inspire decorating back home. Armchair travellers will imagine themselves in dreamy exteriors, where pools and loungers are parked just metres from the savanna.
Scandi Rustic: Creating A Cozy & Happy Home By Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon
Scandi style shows no sign of losing steam, but it’s even more desirable in winter. Images of gorgeous European homes compiled by two savvy bloggers are layered and seductive, and completely dispel the notion that a Scandi aesthetic must be chilly or spare.
Shawn Henderson: Interiors In Context By Shawn Henderson
The New York designer’s interiors are orderly, serene and quiet, with an underlying richness (just consider his own cork-lined powder room). Shawn’s soothing neutral palettes and sculptural chairs wrapped in velvet upholstery speak to sensual minimalists everywhere. See more from Shawn Henderson’s book here.
Small Garden Style: A Design Guide For Outdoor Rooms And Containers By Isa Hendry Eaton and Jennifer Blaise Kramer
If someone on your list has a small garden, this book shows the power of possibility. There’s practical information on garden styles and design, how to build a container garden and tips on hardscaping and plant selection.
The Christmas Season: Created By Scandinavian Artists By Katrine Martensen-Larsen
Hygge, the Danish concept of cosiness, has millions of fans and, if you know one, they’ll love this book, which captures the poetry of a Scandi Christmas celebration. With pages of fanciful ornaments and fuss-free trees, crafts and tablescapes, it’s a perfect gift to go under the tree for hard-core holiday lovers. See more from this book here.