I love books. Everyone and every home needs books. Here’s a few of my recent favs if you’re considering gifting a book to someone for the holidays:
How To Live With Objects – A Guide to More Meaningful Interiors By Monica Khemsurov & Jill Singer
When Sight Unseen first came into the interwebs, it was such a breath of fresh air in the design world and one that I immediately identified with. It continues to be one of my top resources for inspiration and I’m so excited that they now finally have a book! What I love most about this book is the overall design philosophy. Rather than going for a specific trend, or “style”, they are championing designing your home simply by filling it with things you love. It doesn’t matter if they don’t “match” in a conventional sense. The book also features a bunch of amazing home tours and honestly I’ve already tabbed so many pages for future reference. This is a must for any library.
HAY – edited by Kelsey Keith, Rolf and Mette Hay
Speaking of filling your home with things you love, HAY is one of the brands that is one that you’ll find a lot of in my house. Since their launch in 2002, Rolf and Mette Hay have been at the forefront of a new generation of Scandinavian design. This book documents their two decades of incredible work. It includes profiles on Rolf and Mette Hay, interviews with some of their esteemed collaborators, a catalog of all their products up to date, and more.
When it comes to retail merchandising, Anthropologie changed the game at a time when most store interiors were primarily just racks and shelving. Anthropologie created (and still creates…) “experiences” and transported you into wonderful whimsical worlds with their amazing displays. This book celebrates the rich history of visuals, and honestly, makes me a bit nostalgic for that time before online shopping became so dominant. Anyway, if you’ve ever shopped or loved Anthro, this book will definitely delight.
During the pandemic, one of the good things I discovered was finally watching, and consequently getting hooked, on The Great British Bake Off (or Great British Baking Show as it’s titled on Netflix). Season 6 was particularly notable for winner Nadiya Hussain (who I LOVE), but also for finalist Flora Shedden. Flora has gone on to be a presenter on the BBC, open her own bakery, and she’s written 2 cookbooks. Her 3rd and most recent cookbook, Supper; Recipes worth staying in for, has just been released. It’s filled with over 100 recipes to help make your home dinners a little more special. There’s a recipe for every type of occasion, including quick 30 minute meals, a romantic friday night dinner for two, and even delicious desserts. She also includes some drink ideas and suggestions on what to do with the leftovers.
Soft Electronics : Iconic Retro Designs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
There’s that saying “they just don’t make them like they used to…” and when it comes to the current state of electronics, I have to agree. This book showcases the time period from the 60s- up to the early 1990s where there was an emphasis on both quality and innovation. Also, I love that many of the products featured also show the original box packaging.
Get Your SH*t Together By David Shrigley
I first was introduced to David Shrigley’s work from some products I got at a Nordrstrom POP-IN shop a few years ago. Ever since I’ve been following and been such a fan of his witty and subversive illustrations. I also love the “everyday” subject matter and he basically says a lot of things we probably say quietly to ourselves on a daily basis, lol. This book is a lot of fun and should bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Jaime Hayon by Marco Sammicheli
This is the second monograph for designer Jaime Hayon published by Gestalten. I think their description sums it up best: “The book compiles Jaime Hayon’s famed work for iconic brands and explores his relationship with materials, his theory of color, his technique, his inspiration, his creative process. Jaime’s style and vision have come to be associated with the most prestigious interior design for hotels, restaurants and galleries. Blurring the lines between art, decoration and design, Hayon’s creations are full of serene playfulness and optimism.” One thing that I wasn’t really familiar with was Hayon’s illustration and painting style. However, now seeing it, it totally makes sense and you can see how that playfulness translates to the other mediums he has worked in.
The Color Meditation Deck By Lisa Solomon
I’ve been following Lisa Solomon (an accomplished artist, educator, and designer) since the OG days of the blog-o-sphere and I’m so excited for her latest project, The Color Meditation Deck. The act of painting can be very therapeutic and calming. However, when you’re already stressed out, metally blocked, or just needing a break, trying to figure out what to paint can feel daunting. The Color Mediation Deck provides convenient starting point solutions with a stack of over 500 easy prompts to jump start the process. I think this could make a perfect gift for anyone who loves being creative, but isn’t necessarily an “artist” by profession.
Finally, I’ve posted this recently, but self plug time, I highly recommend the latest issue of The Octopian : Analog 05. This little passion project limited edition zine features a visual exploration loosely centered around the theme of “Humanoid”. There are also profiles on two amazing artists, Maryam Riazi and Morgan Sorensen. (Unfortunately US Shipping only.)
You can find all of these suggestions and more on my Amazon idea list. Click here.
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