5 Essential Coffee Table Books
Image by Three Birds Renovations
Choosing books as style statements.
You’re in your late 20s/early 30s and after a few shared houses, you’re finally in your own girl pad. After years of only styling your bedroom, you have the exciting task of home decorating.
Unsure of your style, you buy a few random items for the living room. It’s a mess. This is how I felt in my first ‘girl pad’. It wasn’t until I moved in with my husband (then boyfriend), did I find my own style. I think it takes a few years to discover what you really like. So here are some tips for the excited yet overhwlmed girl embarking on her own style journey.
Your coffee table books should be an extension of your personal style, representation of who you are or aspirations. This could be beach photography, high-end fashion shoots, a biography of a female CEO or an Andy Warhol book.
For me, I like my coffee table books to focus on:
Design (ie. Contemporary chic interior design and craftsmanship)
Fashion (ie. Timeless, iconic and rich in history)
Travel (ie. Mediterranean/ coastal vibe)
Here’s my top 5 books… which I may or may not also use in food photography lol.
Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone
Can I just live Athena Calderone’s life already? She’s a cook book author, interior designer and hosting expert.
In this book, she interviews home owners from all over the world and dissects their design philosophy. There are beautiful images throughout the whole book and the hard cover itself (picture from her own home) is a design statement in itself.
The spine of this book is gorgeous. It sits great on both a coffee table, or on a console with a small vase.
Live Beautiful
Athena Calderone interviews her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers and tastemakers.
Tom Ford
In true Tom Ford fashion, this is one bold statement book.
It’s size, colour and canvas finish just oozes luxe. The book is a complete catalogue of his work for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. It covers evertyhing from fashion design, including architecture, store design anf advertising. Warning there are some nude pictures so don’t let the kiddos freely flick through!
I absolutely love this book. I was very lucky to have recieved this for my 30th birthday present from my beautiful friends in Singapore (shoutout to Birgit, Margaux, Stijn and Shiv!). On the pricer end of the scale, it is honestly worth the investment. It’s perfect for the minimalist approach.
Tom Ford
Make a bold statement with this larger than life minimalist coffee table book.
Aesop
Aesthetically calming and captivating. Aesop is the pinnacle of understated luxury.
Founded in Australia, Aesop is known for it’s unique blend of essential oils, product design and in-store experience. The book itself is a photo documentary of its history, brand philosophy anbd product development.
Aesop has also become an ‘adulting’ statement. I remember when I was in my early 20s, my older colleagues would have Aesop products in their houses. It was aspirational. Today, I am hardcore convert of its handwash, hand cream, hand sanitiser and now coffee table book.
Aesop
Tell me your adulting without teling me your adulting. Always aethetically pleasing, Aesop moves beyond the bathroom into the living room.
Chanel: Collections & Creations
Girly, affordable and classically chic.
This was the first fashion book I bought back when I was 23. I had moved into an apartment in Rose Bay Sydney with 2 other girls. It wasn’t too shabby but definiltey not a luxurious apartment lol. I tried to make my bedroom feel as nice as I could, so I started with this Chanel book. Whilst a handbag was out of reach, I could at least marvel at this book.
Today I keep this in the living room or on my office desk. It’s actually still in transit from Singapore, but I think once it arrives in Portugal I’ll keep it on my desk. It’s definiltey a girly decor item (am I even still allowed to say that these days?).
Chanel
Girly, affordable and classic. This Chanel coffee table book will be with you from your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond.
Assouline Travel Books
Vibrant luxurious wanderlust.
Add a pop of colour and
This is my latest obsession and item on my wishlist! I fell in love with the series from following Three Birds Renovations.
Fun and vibrant luxe wanderlust.
Bright, vibrant pages filled with wanderlust.
Assouline Travel Books
Mykonos, Tuscany, Ibiza, Capri, Minia, COmporta, take your pick! Add a pop of colour to your table.
I love the way coffee table books have so much personality. As your collection grows overtime, you’ll find it easier to pick and choose books. I personally don’t like anything too obnoxious (I think my Tom Ford book is as ‘loud’ as I’ll go lol). But I do think you should invest in statement pieces. Hopefully this Top 5 list helped you. Let me know what are your favourite books?!
A few of my favourite coffee table books: Tom Ford, Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone and Chanel: Collections and Creations.