6 coffee table books to add to your collection

A good mail day is when a glossy new magazine lands in my mailbox.  A GREAT mail day is when a new book makes its way to my doorstep!  While I tend to be a little more conservative with how much I spend on decorative accessories, the one thing I will always spring for are books.  Nothing is more personal than a big stack on a coffee table or bookshelves.  When we built the corner built-ins in our living room, I could barely wait for the paint to dry to fill the shelves with my favorite tomes as well as big, beautiful picture-filled pages that showcase our interests, hobbies, all the places we’ve traveled and all the places we have yet to go! They are my favorite gifts to give as well as to receive!  Here are six of my favorites; all of them make great gifts and great additions to your own collection:

Albertus Seba: Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.  This is the most prized natural history book for good reason – it is chock full of the most gorgeous illustrations of animals, plants and insects and it’s such a conversation starter for adults and quite an educational tome for children, too!  It’s my favorite book to give as a gift and the coral wrapped around the spine makes for a lovely addition to a bookshelf!

American Beauty by Claiborne Swanson Frank.  A tribute to the strong women who symbolize America today, featuring more than 100 portraits of leading ladies who emulate grit, grace and glamour, American Beauty is fabulously patriotic and full of girl power! 

Ralph Lauren.  This bad boy celebrates the man who has singlehandedly helped shape and define American style and it is filled with page after gorgeous page of his life, work and inspiration accompanied by the legend’s own words.  This is seriously one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever flipped through!

The Big Book of the Hamptons.  You know I had to get one about the Hamptons in here, right?  A good friend gave this to me for my birthday this year and it quickly became one of my favorites, thanks to page after glorious page of waterfront shingle style homes and some of the most gorgeous landscaping I’ve ever seen!  The chic orange cover adds a pop of color to my bookshelves, too!

Elements of Style: Designing a Home and a Life.  Fellow blogger Erin Gates’ interior design tome is as much a feast for the eyes as it is fun for the soul.  Filled with beautiful images of Gates’ design projects, decorating tips and entertaining and gift guides, it also is a great read, thanks to many witty and sometimes downright hilarious personal stories about Gates’ life, much like her blog.  Oh, and the black and white striped spine is delicious!

Tory Burch: In Color. I was a happy girl the day this landed on my doorstep! This beauty is organized by color including images from her collections, her travels, how she entertains, her personal style icons, artists, authors and designers she loves, as well as personal moments with her three sons and how much her parents shaped her life and her brand.  The inspiration to be gleamed is endless; it truly is a beautiful book, much like the designer herself. 

What are some of your favorite coffee table books?  I’m always looking to add to my collection!