Coffee table books + My TikTok feta pasta + How to create a succulent planter and more…
10 Coffee Table Books to Collect
They are inspirational, meaningful and downright gorgeous. Who doesn’t love a good coffee table book or perhaps even a great collection? Sure, most people don’t even read them but why not? It’s the perfect aesthetic for any well styled coffee table and they work in any style home. What better way to give the gift of design to a new homeowner or style loving girlfriend. Truly nothing beats a stylish stack of thoughtfully chosen iconic books to set your coffee table apart from the rest. Here are just a few interior design options to add to your list or collection whether your’e a design guru, you aspire to be one or you’d just like to have a well designed home these books are for you!
The Big Book Of Chic
“Internationally acclaimed interior design sensation Miles Redd is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. His unique aesthetic vision is characterized by playful mélanges of high and low, invigorated with whimsical splashes of color and modern gestures. Drawing on inspirations ranging from Richard Avedon fashion photographs to Rene Gruau illustrations, Redd has crafted interiors for a wide array of venues. His Trademark approach to design has brought to life rooms infused with boldness, fantasy, and sophistication. This lavishly illustrated volume will be an inspiration to anyone interested in spirited, eclectic design.” Purchase yours here.
Architectural Digest at 100
“A rich visual history of Architectural Digest, published for the magazine’s 100th anniversary.”
”Architectural Digest at 100 celebrates the best from the pages of the international design authority. The editors have delved into the archives and culled years of rich material covering a range of subjects. Ranging freely between present and past, the book features the personal spaces of dozens of private celebrities like Barack and Michelle Obama, David Bowie, Truman Capote, David Hockney, Michael Kors, and Diana Vreeland, and includes the work of top designers and architects like Frank Gehry, David Hicks, India Mahdavi, Peter Marino, John Fowler, Renzo Mongiardino, Oscar Niemeyer, Axel Vervoordt, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Elsie de Wolfe.” Buy yours here.
Kelly Wearstler Evocative Style
“For her first book in ten years, Kelly Wearstler, one of the most irreverent and fascinating designers working today, continues to push boundaries with her inventive and opulent interiors, here inviting readers into her latest creations including her newly designed home.”
”Celebrated for luxurious interiors that capture the swankiness of old-world Hollywood with a modern pop sensibility, Wearstler is known for her decadent designs of residences and boutique hotels, such as the line of Viceroys and the tastemakers Maison 140 and Avalon. Her ornate interiors are distinctive for layers of bold textures, patterns, and rich colors juxtaposed with lustrous surfaces, adding up to a whimsical and elegant look that has been called "mod baroque."
”Filled with new work, this volume is a must for other designers and homeowners looking for elegant design inspiration and ideas.” Order yours here.
In Perfect Shape
“When you step into the headquarters of the Republic of Fritz Hansen in Allerød, northwest of Copenhagen, you are breathing in the spirit of a company that has made design history. The showroom, which is a mecca for design and architecture students, displays pieces that have become icons: the Series 7 chair, the Swan lounge chair, the Lissoni sofa. Again and again, the Danish furniture maker has teamed up with big-name visionary designers. With over 150 breathtaking photos, this thoughtfully-designed coffee table book tells you about the history of an exclusive brand, the marvelous pieces of furniture that has made it so revered, and provides examples of how a single piece of furniture can beautify an entire room or building and spur the imagination of the people who live there. After closing this book, you'll have a wealthy of new creative ideas and realize that before sustainability became a trendy buzzword, Fritz Hansen was already practicing it in its purest sense, true to its motto: "Crafting Timeless Design." Find yours here.
Herman Miller A Way of Living
“A chronicle of the rich history of this innovative furniture company, from its founding in the early twentieth century to today.”
“For more than 100 years, Michigan-based Herman Miller has played a central role in the evolution of modern and contemporary design, producing timeless classics while creating a culture that has had a remarkable impact on the development of the design world. Ten chapters and thousands of illustrations tell the Herman Miller story as never before, documenting its defining moments and key leaders – making Herman Miller: A Way of Living an indispensable addition to the bookshelves of design-lovers around the globe.”
Find yours here.
The Finer Things
“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?”
Christiane Lemieux set out to answer this question by interviewing the world’s greatest experts. You can get yours here.
Product of the Week:
I cannot tell you how much I LOVE my Bloomscape plants!
At first I was a little leery of spending so much on a potted indoor plant, because well, what if I kill it? (They do offer a 30 day money back deal, btw). Well, when it arrived standing upright on my porch I knew I was in for a real treat. It was packaged so well and clearly thought out. Once she was unwrapped and standing tall I read her little intro card, gave her a drink of water and welcomed her home. This plant is the best quality plant I have ever bought and it continues to grow taller than me and I somehow look like I totally know what I’m doing with my green thumb! I chose the Bird of Paradise and she doesn’t disappoint. Bloomscape offers a variety of plants for even those who don’t have a green thumb. You can get yours here.
Recipe of the Week:
Oh my goodness, I finalllly made the TikTok pasta recipe that everyone was talking about and was it worth it? Yass!
Not only was it yummy but I actually felt like it was a bit too easy. I guess I am invested in more complex recipes and this felt like I ordered take-out and sat back and waited for dinner to arrive. Yes, it was that easy! A win for most of us! You can make this recipe as it’s stated but I adapted it and made it gluten free, dairy free and soy free and trust me no one was the wiser, plus you feel great after and you don’t have that pasta coma you might get with full blown dairy. If you go the vegan route you may want to do two blocks of feta as they are thinner than the real blocks and it will be extra creamy. Anywhoo, either way I think it’s a win. Also, I added printable recipe cards to my site so now you can print out your favorites! Yay!
Baked Feta Pasta
Ingredients
Instructions
Styling Tip:
Have you ever wandered Restoration Hardware and marveled at their extensive use faux succulents in a variety of different containers? They are truly beautiful and I have created several for myself and a few clients along the way, not to mention a lot of staging projects. I love how you can get really creative with your container choice. The one in the photo is built inside a vintage wooden bowl that belonged to my mother. You can now find these at most big box retailers. I have even been know to stop on the side of the road and snag some old glassware set out to the curb to create in. I guess it’s the thrill of the hunt! I’m dying to create a framed boxed version that will hang on the wall in my outdoor area. You can certainly create a live version, I’m all about the real deal but I love the no fuss version and she certainly gets compliments as she sits in the entry of our home, like “Oh hey!”
It’s really easy to create, here is what you’ll need:
One Container of choice (I will base this recipe on the size pictured).
2 Small bags of rocks, in this one I used black but I have also used white.
A handful of larger polished rocks.
Faux succulents (mine are from Hobby Lobby). For this one I used 4 variations and bought several of each.
Line the bottom with small rocks, arrange succulents with the tallest in the center. Really push the picks into the rock and make sure the base of the succulent is covered. Once you have styled the succulents to your liking add in the larger polished rocks to fill in any open areas. You can also use moss for this. On a side note you can call me for a custom version as well.
Violá! Beautiful!
Organizing Product of the Week:
Bamboo Drawer Organizers
We recently did an entire kitchen and pantry in all bamboo products and it was stunning! The home was an upscale masterpiece built at the base of the San Jacinto mountains with a rich earthy feeling, so we wanted to carry that through to all of the product we used in the kitchen and pantry. We used expandable dividers, stackable boxes and lazy Susan’s and it definitely had an elevated vibe. We purchased all of our clients items from The Container Store and you can find some of them here.
Thanks again for stopping by, as always I LOVE having you! I hope you’re creating something beautiful today! xoxo
