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A well-curated coffee table can be the centerpiece of your living space, inviting conversation, sparking intrigue, and adding a touch of sophistication to your home. And what better way to adorn this essential piece of furniture than with a selection of the best coffee table books?
From stunning photography collections and captivating cocktails to thought-provoking interior design masterpieces, these books effortlessly blend style and substance.
In this blog post, I invite you to the world of coffee table books as we explore the crème de la crème of this literary genre! I can guarantee you will want more than one of these coffee table books I’ve rounded up!
Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm, an art aficionado, a fashion enthusiast, or simply someone looking to elevate your interior design game, we’ve handpicked a diverse range of coffee table books that will cater to your unique interests and inspire your imagination.
The Best Coffee Table Books: Elevate Your Décor
I am so excited to share with you my favorite coffee table books! Beyond their aesthetic appeal, coffee table books also serve as conversation starters, providing glimpses into the passions and interests of their owners. They invite your guests to explore, indulge, and connect!
With their rich visuals, thought-provoking narratives, and tactile presence, these books offer a multisensory experience that goes beyond mere decoration!
1) The Perfect Imperfection of Golden Goose
With its distinctive Star, Golden Goose is a “made in Italy” fashion brand that is synonymous with excellent craftsmanship and coolness, where imperfection is considered the point of strength and uniqueness.
This book is a journey into the Golden personality, family, and community, with interviews, stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of its world of creativity, manufacture, and authenticity.
“Most savvy and informed fashion readers will be ecstatic with the content of The Perfect Imperfection of Golden Goose. The book defies almost any other in the genre as it is an intimate and emotional journey of a business, its DNA, and what is behind the brand’s name…This is a must-read for any fashionphile or aficionado.” —NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS
2) Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks
The ultimate listening party guide, Booze and Vinyl, shows you how to set the mood for 70 great records from the 1950s through the 2000s. Update: there is now a Version 2!
From modern craft cocktails to old standbys, prepare to shake, stir, and just plain pour your way through some of the best wax ever pressed. Wickedly designed and featuring photography throughout, Booze & Vinyl is organized by mood, from Rock to Chill, Dance, and Seduce.
Each entry has liner notes that underscore the album’s musical highlights and accompanying “Side A” and “Side B” cocktail recipes that complement the music’s mood and imagery in the lyrics or connect the drink to the artist. This is your guide to a rich listening session for one, two, or more.
Among the 70 featured albums are: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club, Purple Rain, Sticky Fingers, Born To Run, License to Ill, Appetite for Destruction, Thriller, Like a Virgin, Low-End Theory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Hotel California, Buena Vista Social Club, Back to Black, Pet Sounds, Vampire Weekend, and many more.
3) OASIS: Modern Desert Homes of the World
Welcome to the desert. Welcome home. This visually stunning tour of the world’s most amazing desert homes will inspire you to create an oasis with “desert vibes” wherever you are.
Creatives are drawn in by the extreme landscapes and limited resources of the desert; in fact, they’re inspired by them, and the homes they’ve built here prove the power of an oasis. From renovated Airstreams to sprawling, modern stucco, desert has become the new beachfront.
In Oasis, artist iO Tillett Wright captures the best of this specific culture that emphasizes living simply, beautifully, and in connection with the earth. He highlights the homes that define this desert mindset, featuring the classics like Georgia O’Keefe’s in Abiquiu, New Mexico, alongside more modern homes such as Michael Barnard’s Solar House in Marfa, Texas.
With Casey Dunn’s stunning photography, Oasis will transport you to these relaxing refuges, where you’ll learn what elements create the balance of intentionality, ease, style, and function that these homes exude.
4) Porsche 70 Years: There Is No Substitute
There’s something for every Porsche enthusiast in Porsche 70 Years, whether a rear-engine 911 loyalist, race fan, or follower of contemporary vehicles. Fasten your seat belt and hit the gas.
Porsche is one of the most important and iconic automotive manufacturers in history. From its first 356 to today’s technical tour de force, the 918 Porsche has advanced from strength to strength for nearly seven decades.
5) West: The American Cowboy
The ranching communities in the heartland of the great American West may be a long way from New York City, but renowned photographer Anouk Masson Krantz has been drawn back time and time again to explore this largely unfamiliar and overlooked part of the world.
In West: The American Cowboy, Anouk revisits this enduring iconic symbol of America’s pioneering spirit. Set out in a stunning large-format book, and with heartfelt contributions from Jon Pardi, Red Steagall and others, the pages within inspire with a fresh and contemporary perspective of the American West.
Along with the cowboy’s ranching traditions comes a life built around the core values and faith that are central to their integrity. Long admired for their strength, relentless work ethic, and humble values, the forgotten American cowboy is alive and well and has never stood in such stark contrast to the rapidly changing nation that surrounds them.
6) New York School of Interior Design: Home: The Foundations of Enduring Spaces
“An essential text for all students of design . . . [and] inspiration and intel for those simply interested in the art and practice.” –Alexa Hampton, from the foreword
From the nation’s top college for interior design comes a definitive design school in a book and a fabulous reference for decorating the home.
In the past decade, New York School of Interior Design, which was founded in 1916, has drawn a large crossover audience of passionate decorating enthusiasts and hobbyists–many of them private homeowners who know that thinking like a professional is the surest way to achieve a magnificent home.
7) The Rihanna Book
Rihanna invites you into her world with this stunning visual autobiography
“It’s a piece of art that I am really proud of…” ?Rihanna
From her Barbados childhood to her worldwide tours, from iconic fashion moments to private time with friends and family, the book showcases intimate photographs of her life as an artist, performer, designer, and entrepreneur. Many of these images have never before been published.
This large-format book is 504 pages with 1,050 color images on 3 paper stocks and 7 single- and double-page gatefolds, 9 bound-in booklets, 1 tip-in sheet, and a double-sided, removable poster.
8) Accidentally, Wes Anderson
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER: A visual adventure of Wes Anderson proportions, authorized by the legendary filmmaker himself: stunning photographs of real-life places that seem plucked from the just-so world of his films, presented with fascinating human stories behind each façade.
9) 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.
10) Nike: Better is Temporary 6
At Nike, the desire to be the best is a journey, not a destination – better is always temporary.
Phaidon commemorates the company’s influence with Nike: Better is Temporary, a landmark publication that charts Nike’s transformation from a rebellious upstart to a global phenomenon.
This immersive visual survey offers an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes exploration into Nike’s ethos-driven design formula, placing industry-defining innovations and globally recognized products alongside previously unpublished designs, prototypes, insider stories, and more.
11) Fashion in LA
The first book to document Los Angeles’s remarkable explosion onto the global fashion scene
New York, London, Milan, Paris … and now, Los Angeles. Thanks to its unique blend of cultural influences and artistic industry, the City of Angels has earned its place alongside these traditional creative capitals, and Fashion in LA goes beyond the red carpet to profile more than 40 designers instrumental to its success.
It’s a who’s-who of talent, a true insider’s guide to the men and women who have put twenty-first-century Los Angeles on the world’s fashion map.
12) Matisse: The Books
The livre d’artiste, or “artist’s book,” is among the most prized in rare book collections. Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was one of the greatest artists to work in this genre, and he created his most important during a period of intense personal and physical suffering. Brimming with powerful themes and imagery, these works are crucial to understanding Matisse’s oeuvre.
13) Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury Updated Edition
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.
Now with fresh information on subjects such as designs for ready-to-wear clothing, shoes, jewelry, and even automobiles, this new edition includes 20 additional pages and updated material throughout the book, covering the brand’s recent history with new texts and photographs.
14) 1,000 Places To See Before You Die Coffee Table Book
Named the Best Gift Book/Best Travel Book of the Year by the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, House Beautiful, Business Insider, The Daily Beast, Forbes, Fodor’s, The Points Guy, Seattle Times, and more
“This is the comfort food of travel books. . . . This book will sweep you off your feet.”—New York Times Book Review
15) The Finer Things Coffee Table Book
With a foreword by Miles Redd, this luxurious decorating resource trains the eye to recognize enduring, quality home goods and to use them to dazzling design effect.
Quality matters. Just as a home’s foundation should be built to stand the test of time, so, too, should the furniture, objects, and elements of our rooms speak to an enduring sense of beauty and comfort. They should outlast trends and our loving day-to-day use. But how does one recognize quality and judge whether something is well-made?
16) Tom Ford
A fashion icon, provocative American designer Tom Ford brings us his highly anticipated second book, which takes readers through the illustrious trajectory of his billion-dollar luxury empire established in 2005.
16) The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide: How to Split Wood, Shuck an Oyster, and Master Other Simple Pleasures
A visual field guide to what we ought to know how to do and what we’d like to learn how to do from the beloved craftsmanship-focused online shop Kaufmann Mercantile.
18) This Is Home: The Art of Simple Living
This is Home is a back-to-basics guide on how to create authentic, wholehearted interiors. It’s about living simply—finding the essence of what makes you happy at home and creating spaces that reflect your needs and style. Filled with clever ideas and creative spaces, it shows that you don’t need a huge budget to create a beautiful home.
This is Home provides examples and case studies of places with a global and timeless feel that haven’t always been renovated in the traditional sense but are true homes.
19) Living in the Desert: Stunning Desert Homes and Houses
A carefully curated and beautifully photographed selection of 50 architect-designed houses that reflects contemporary concerns about the unique challenges presented by life in the desert’s sensitive environment
The desert provides a sense of mystery and rugged beauty that attracts architects, homeowners, vacationers, and anyone looking for an escape within its arid climate. This book showcases 50 works of residential architecture from across the last few decades, each with a unique connection to the desert in which it’s situated from the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond.
20) Logo Modernism
Modernist aesthetics in architecture, art, and product design are familiar to many.
In soaring glass structures or minimalist canvases, we recognize a time of vast technological advance which affirmed the power of human beings to reshape their environment and to break, radically, from the conventions or constraints of the past. Less well-known, but no less fascinating, is the distillation of modernism in graphic design.
Where is the best place to buy hardback coffee table books?
When it comes to purchasing gorgeous coffee table books, there are several options available, both online and offline, where you can find an extensive selection to suit your tastes and preferences.
Here are a few top destinations known for offering a wide range of beautiful coffee table books:
- Independent Bookstores: Local independent bookstores are treasure troves for book lovers and often have a curated collection of coffee table books. These stores provide a unique and personal touch, and their knowledgeable staff can offer recommendations based on your interests.
- Online Retailers: Online platforms such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Pottery Barn offer vast selections of coffee table books. These platforms allow you to browse through different categories, read customer reviews, and often provide affordable options, especially during promotional periods.
- Specialty Bookstores: Specialty bookstores focused on art, photography, design, or fashion can be excellent sources for finding exquisite coffee table books that cater specifically to your interests. These stores often have a well-curated collection and staff who are knowledgeable in the subject matter.
- Museum Gift Shops: Museums and art galleries usually have their own gift shops, which often stock coffee table books featuring the works of renowned artists, exhibitions, and cultural history. These books provide a unique opportunity to delve into the art world and showcase your appreciation for creativity.
- Online Marketplaces: Platforms like eBay and AbeBooks offer a marketplace for both new and used books. This can be a great way to find rare or out-of-print coffee table books that may not be readily available elsewhere.
- Design Stores and Concept Boutiques: Some design stores and concept boutiques specialize in curating stylish and unique home décor items, including coffee table books. These establishments often emphasize aesthetics and can be a great source for finding visually stunning and tastefully designed books.
Remember to consider factors such as pricing, availability, shipping options, and customer reviews when choosing your preferred platform or store. Additionally, visiting physical stores allows you to have a hands-on experience, appreciating the quality, texture, and overall feel of the coffee table books before making a purchase.
Happy book hunting, and may you discover a collection of gorgeous coffee table books that will enrich your home and inspire your guests.
