Summer is coming to an end, and soon a new season will be upon us. Whether you are in school, or haven’t attended class in thirty years, September evokes memories of freshly sharpened pencils and books waiting to be opened. It’s that time of year when you want to fuel-up on new insights, vivid imagery and explore the unknown. So it’s no surprise that I have books on the brain.
A few months ago, the fall book preview for 2015 was released by all the major publishing companies and I was lucky enough to get a sneak-peek of the coffee-table and culinary books. My personal favorites were from Phaidon – the dreamiest of all publishing companies. Their showroom was a book nerd’s dream, chock-full of over the top vibrancy and curious content. After two days visiting multiple publishers, I knew that I was in trouble – every extra penny earned was going towards the new fall line-up of books. Lots and lots of sexy books.
So without further ado, here is a round-up of the best coffee-table and culinary books for Fall 2015:
ART, FASHION & PHOTOGRAPHY
Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue by Grace Coddington
The biggest book in Fashion and it’s all about the iconic wonder-woman, Grace Coddington. 408 pages showcasing the greatest photographs ever published in British and American Vogue.
Release Date: September 28, 2015
Diana Vreeland: The Modern Woman: The Bazaar Years, 1936-1962 by Alexander Vreeland
A gorgeous book looking back on the legendary fashion editor, Diana Vreeland, and the three decades she spent at Harper Bazaar. Written by her grandson, the book highlights the glory days of fashion and Vreeland’s monumental influence on the industry.
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Fantastic Man: Men of Great Style and Substance by Gert Jonkers and Jop van Beenekom
Who and what defines masculinity in the 21st century? Over the past ten years Fantastic Man magazine has been portraying the stylish modern man through iconic photography and witty editorial. This book celebrates a decade of cool with 69 of the world’s most influential and stylish men.
Release Date: October 26, 2015
Daniel Ost by Paul Geerts
Daniel Ost is a magician in the floral industry. His works are not modest, nor will you find them on traditional tabletops. Ost constructs large-scale floral sculptures for some of the most prestigious residences, temples, exhibitions, and events in the world. The book will simply take your breath away. Comprised of 80 floral designs, paired with a descriptive essay that will take you through the wonderland of Ost’s mind.
Release Date: October 19, 2015
Map: Exploring the World by Phaidon Editors
Created by a panel of academics, curators and collectors from around the world, this book of 300 maps creatively pairs striking imagery, historical facts, culture and tradition. Throughout the book you will experience 5,000 years of cartographic drawings and the many reasons why humanity creates maps.
Release Date: September 28, 2015
LIFESTYLE AND DESIGN
Modern Taste: Art Deco in Paris 1910-1935 by Jose Marinas
Art Deco was the beginning of the modern era. A sharp contrast of previous styles, Art Deco forever changed the landscape of design and culture. This gorgeous book takes readers through a comprehensive journey of art, fashion, film, architecture, and design during one of the greatest artistic movements of our time.
Released: July 28, 2015
Sage Living by Anne Sage
Anne Sage is a profound writer, blogger and stylist. Sage Living is her first book and it is a must-read! Beautiful interiors, intimate stories and a welcomed perspective on design and how it affects our lives. Sage Living is more than a pretty picture book, it’s a guide that “helps readers decorate for the lives they truly want.”
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves by Emily Henderson
Emily Henderson is an interior stylist, TV host, and author based in LA. Known for her darling demeanor and commitment to approachable home design with a vintage kick, Henderson has become quite the style maven. In this book, she shares an easy ten step guide in “styling” any space. Decorating can takes months of planning, but styling only takes a few minutes. Enjoy trade secrets, over a 1,000 design ideas and 75 inspiring interiors.
Release Date: October 13, 2015
CULINARY
Bread and a Dog by Natsuko Kuwahara
“A quirky, photographic exploration of two beloved subjects: breakfast and dogs.” Food stylist, Natsuko Kuwahara, shares delicious breakfast recipes, tips and beautifully designed table arrangements. The catch? The book is 100 pages of beautifully styled food and Kippie…an incredibly well-trained dog that is fascinated with his owners work. A delightful book with a refreshing viewpoint on food and pets.
Release Date: October 5, 2015
Nopi by Yotam Ottolenghi
Another breathtaking, mouthwatering cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi. This time, Ottolenghi joins forces with Chef Ramael Scully and creates a book with an unusual fusion of Asian-inspired and Middle Eastern dishes. Exotic spices and wild pairings, this is definitely a book you want to add to your collection.
Release Date: October 20, 2015
The Nordic Cook Book by Magnus Nilsson
Chef Magnus Nilsson, the man behind the famous restaurant Faviken Magasinet, saw a great need for a geographical cookbook and one that was properly translated. So, he travelled throughout the Nordic region collecting recipes and photographing the magnificent people and landscape of the north. In this book, Nilsson explains (in a way that has never been done) Nordic heritage, ingredients and techniques that allow readers to recreate these recipes with ease. A beautiful combination of rich cuisine and culture featuring 700 recipes from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenleand, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Release Date: October 12, 2015
Tacopedia by Deborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Mena
Everything you would ever want to know about tacos and more! Known as the ultimate taco guide, Tacopedia is a fun cookbook with 100 authentic Mexican recipes, vibrant photos, interesting stories, interviews, illustrations, maps and quirky infographics. Whether you love beautiful graphics or excellent Mexican food, this book will captivate any audience.
Release Date: September 28, 2015
Toast by Raquel Pelzel
Who doesn’t love toast? Morning, noon, or night, savory or sweet, the possibilities are endless when it comes to toast. Award-winning food writer Raquel Pelzel features a delectable cookbook of 50 fresh-ingredient recipes on how to fix toast. Pelzel explains that toast is so much more than bread and butter, it’s a canvas of culinary opportunity. Toast is the cookbook you’ve likely been dreaming about.
Release Date: September 14, 2015
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Nestled in the historic Edgehill Village is a charming European-style boutique called Kore + Nashville. Consistently beautiful, well-curated and full of interesting home and personal care goods. Known as the shop for personal indulgence and gifts, Kore has a little something for everyone.
The moment you walk through the door, you are enveloped into a full-sensory experience. Walls lined with shelves chock-full of organic personal care products in bold colors and eye-catching labels. One of a kind Kantha throws are strewn about in the loveliest way. Books upon books – from seductive designs and mouth-watering recipes to delightful children stories – are stacked in every nook and cranny. And the divine scents wafting throughout the shop will have you gobbling up every candle, sachet and parfum oil.
Owner, Jenelle Hynes, opened the design and lifestyle boutique four years ago with the desire to curate a collection of premium goods that was not only beautiful, but would feed the spirit and respect the planet. Hynes has an impressive background – a certified NCDIQ and LEED-AP interior designer who has designed for some of the world’s leading architectural firms. She has also traveled to numerous countries, experiencing a wide variety of culture, design and education. It is no wonder that her shop is impeccably smart.
Kore offers a variety of items, but it’s her natural cosmetics and skincare lines that have customers returning time and time again. Brands like, RMS Beauty, ILIA and Alima Pure, are exclusively sold at Kore. And there isn’t a single shop in town that can compete with her famous “Men’s Wall” – an entire area dedicated to men’s grooming products.
“One of my favorite things (and is dear to my heart) is when my regular customers bring in their adolescent daughters for a special trip to try make-up or skincare products for the first time. Watching a mother teach their daughter about these organic lines that we carry and share their benefits…it’s just really great to be a part of that experience.” Hynes understands that finding a skincare line that suites your personal needs is difficult. Which is why she takes great joy in educating her customers about the lines she carries. “I have issues with my own skin, so I know first-hand the trials and tribulations of sensitive skin. I use these products myself, and I have had incredible results. I love helping people, and showing them that there are products available for every skin type”.
New to the scene at Kore is the cheeky Ban.do line of agenda’s and to-go mugs. Hynes says the line has become so popular, she can’t re-order fast enough. Another new addition to the store is the luxury lounge-wear, like the Rifle Paper limited edition Paper Crown Collection. The Paper Crown collection is soft with flowy floral patterns and has a lovely feminine-modern aesthetic. The other collections come in muted pinks, creams and grays varying in solids and stripes. “I’m not a clothing store, and I am never going to fill my store with a lot of apparel. But the pieces I do have, fall in line with the other indulgent wares that my customers really love. Just touch them, you’ll understand why”.
So all in all, you can see why I adore this shop. There are many gift shops in town, but nothing compares to the quality of Kore + Nashville. The remarkable design layout, products and overall experience is one of a kind – a real treasure.
My Favorite Finds:
New Line – Ban.do agendas and travel mugs
Jewelry – Anita Schmadtke and Consider the Wldfwrs
Scents – Rosy Ring Candles & Sprays and the Botanical Wax Curiosities
Furnishings – Holler Design Stool
Décor – Parisian wall trays & bookcase, Kantha blankets, hand-crafted pillows and blankets from France & England
Garden – Succulents and Airplants
Kitchen – Organic cleaners + soaps by Laundress
Woman’s Cosmetics & Personal Care – Aila nail polish, Alima Pure make-up and Tata Harper skincare
Men’s Personal Care – Whiskey Sea Salt after Shave by Portland General Store, Soft + Sweet Beard Oil by Beardition and Mr. Natty wax
Nashville Goodies –Strawberry Rhubarb syrup by Bang Candy and Masala tea by Firepot Chai
Children – Manny & Simon wood toys and the library of children’s books
Apparel – Crown Paper by Rifle Paper Co
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It’s summer and all I can think about is throwing lots of parties with my dear friends. And when there is a party, there should always be dessert. The wonderful homemade, melt in your mouth, making memories kind of desserts.
All week I have been dreaming about fluffy cakes with fresh cream and fruit, ice cream swirling with berries, sorbets that make your mouth pucker and popsicles that bring reprieve from the hot sun. What is it about summer that has us craving for decadent sugary goodness? Maybe it’s the giggles that pair with each delicious bite. Or maybe, it’s the ease that drifts in after sharing sweet confections with a friend. Whatever the reason, it’s the season for sweets and sunshine. And I am pretty damn happy about it.
My favorite dessert books are Lomelino’s Cakes and Lomelino’s Ice Cream by Swedish dessert blogger Linda Lomelino. Her desserts are so good it’s almost absurd! The books are full of breathtakingly beautiful photos, easy to read recipes and delicious sweets that will have you singing from the rooftops. If you are looking for inspiration, look no further. Lomelino and her decadent desserts will take your ordinary day to something quite special.
Lomelino’s Cakes: 27 Pretty Cakes to Make Any Day Special by Linda Lomelino
” Learn step-by-step how to decorate with frosting, stack multiple layers, create perfect ganache, and make the most of seasonal ingredients. Be inspired to layer your cakes with fresh fruit, top with fresh flowers, slather with buttercreams, and even play with color, ombré style.”
Lomelino’s Ice Cream: 79 Ice Creams, Sorbets, and Frozen Treats to Make Any Day Sweet by Linda Lomelino
“Lomelino’s Ice Cream is your guide to all things sweet, creamy, icy, indulgent, and homemade. Learn to make sinfully smooth ice creams, cool sorbets, and chunky-nutty-chocolaty frozen treats; not to mention ice-cream cakes, floats, sauces, meringues, and crumbles to top it all off.”
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I have been on an indoor gardening kick lately, filling every nook and cranny with plants (that I hope I won’t kill). One of my favorite places to implement greenery is on the mantel. When visiting homes in the south, I rarely see plants on fireplace mantels. Maybe it’s more of a west coast thing? Whatever it is, I am a huge fan of juxtaposing books, plants and sculptures together in this tiny little area of the living room.
After the holidays, I left my mantel pretty bare. We are talking two plants. I don’t know about you, but after Christmas I need a non-decorating season. A clear the clutter, let the house breath, decorating hiatus.
I decided to leave the mantel clear until I felt inspired. Well, January and February came and went. And then March came along with spring, and I still didn’t have a shred of inspiration. But! Then one day I stumbled upon a gorgeous vermilion colored candle on a stack of vintage red books at West Elm. Ding! Ding! Ding! I was smitten by the simple display and could not wait to take this candle home with me. I had finally found my inspiration. This color combination was exactly what I had been looking for, except I didn’t know it until I saw it.
Searching for inspiration without perimeters is a beautiful creative process. If you haven’t tried it, you should the next time you are re-designing a space. Look for a feeling, a color or a flavor instead of an object – the process is more interesting when you don’t have specifics.
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Photo by William Helburn
Sometimes you need to stop, refresh your mind and start again. I often find myself ignoring all the signs of a much needed break. Instead of slowing down when I’m burned out, I tend to work harder. I often think “who has time to refresh?” Seriously, who has time? Somehow in my messed up brain, I’ve come to think that taking time for myself is a luxury not a necessity.
Obviously, my way of thinking is completely wrong (and if it’s not obvious, you should without a doubt continue reading). Not only is it wrong, it’s unhealthy and it’s counter-productive. If I burn out, I can’t give to my clients what they are paying me to do – to be an innovative, creative designer, excited about the challenge they set before me. When I get too close to the edge of burn out, my work becomes generic. Yes, I remain busy when my creative tank is low, but it’s a false sense of productivity. My work lacks inspiration, and I lose the ability to make quick and efficient decisions. In the long run, ignoring “myself” costs me a great deal.
Over this past year, I have been on the course to fixing my method of self-care and how to keep my creative tank full at all times. I have found that the solution is quite simple – take more time for myself and invest in daily inspiration. Most people, including myself, take time for ourselves on the weekends and on our annual week-long vacation. The rest of the year, we ignore all personal needs. We work harder and forget that we need more, to do more. Instead of tending to our needs, our solution is to drink more caffeine, take more pharmaceuticals, eat junk food, buy more stuff we don’t need, and zone out on TV because we lack the energy to do much else. It’s an ugly cycle.
So what does daily inspiration look like? For me, it’s slowing down for about an hour each day, turning off my electronics, and experiencing something new that feeds my senses. Depending on my mood, I will envelope myself in nature, art, or books. The idea is to stop the noise, and refresh the mind. To find inspiration and come back to the work day with fresh eyes.
Lately, I have been delving into design books that emphasize inspiration. From fashion to home décor to food, they are all about stimulating the mind through gorgeous photography. Below are the top new (and a few older) books that have me on an inspiration high. The details, color and innovation are quite stunning. One hour in any of these books and you’ll get the punch of inspiration you were likely needing.
1. William Helburn: Seventh and Madison by Robert Lilly & Lois Allen Lilly
2. In Detail by Hans Blomquist
3. The Inspired Home: Nest of Creatives by Kim Ficaro & Todd Nickey
4. Kinfolk Volume 15: The Entrepreneur Issue by Kinfolk
5. Provence and The Cote D’ Azur by Janelle McCulloch
6. A Life Less Ordinary by Zoe Ellison & Alex Legendre 
7. Living in Style London by Geraldine Apponyi & Monika Apponyi 
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