7 minute read
Australia’s must-have coffee table books
From rich visuals, engaging stories and awe-inspiring photography, coffee table books can span countless genres – from architecture and design to landscapes and nature, as well as food, wine and fashion. A good coffee table book can spark conversation, elevate your decor, or become a timeless collector’s item that will have you poring over it time and time again. Most of all, they can make a bold statement about your personal aesthetic and really set the style for your home’s interior.
Here, we’ve rounded up our edit of Australian favourites.
Photography by Italic
Architecture, design and interiors
Thames and Hudson
AUSTRALIA MODERN: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN 1925–1975
Australia Modern features 100 of the country’s most significant modern sites, from the Sydney Opera House to the National Gallery of Victoria and iconic residential architecture. Written and curated by two of Australia’s architecture al authorities, Hannah Lewi and Phillip Goad, this stunning book pays tribute to some of most revered architects and includes essays by leading voices exploring how modernism has shaped Australian society. With rich archival images and newly commissioned photographs, Australia Modern captures architecture at all scales, from vast infrastructure projects, to public health and education institutions, to new centres of culture, consumption and leisure, and more.
Thames and Hudson
DESIGN LIVES HERE: AUSTRALIAN INTERIORS, FURNITURE AND LIGHTING
Design Lives Here is the ultimate collection of contemporary Australian design featuring a reimagined Californian bungalow with a dining table inspired by the humble HB pencil, to a monumental inner-city residence furnished with more than 100 custom pieces. This evocative book was written by Penny Craswell, a Sydney-based editor, writer and curator who specialises in design, craft, architecture and interiors. Full of show stopping photography and stories by key players within the industry, readers will be inspired by the incredible residential architecture and unique interiors, coupled with the furniture, lighting and bespoke pieces that reside within them.
Hardie Grant
STILL: THE SLOW HOME
Still is inspired by the philosophy of the SLOW movement: living Sustainable, Local, Organic, and Whole. This beautiful book features twenty homes from around the world – across four continents and thirteen countries – and tells the story behind why each homeowner chose the SLOW path and how it has benefitted their lives. Readers will be inspired to embrace this philosophy at home, from the materials we source in construction to how we fit-out and furnish them. Still was created by leading interiors and lifestyle magazine stylist, Natalie Warnes, owner of Imprint House and co-owner of editorial content agency Warnes & Walton, which she runs with renowned photographer Chris Warnes who captured the images in this book.
Are Media
THE ORIGINALS: BEACH HOUSES TO FALL IN LOVE WITH
The Originals is a homage to the architectural and cultural value of the quintessential beach cottage. From a cottage on the wild Tasmanian coastline to a little black shack chasing the breathtaking Pacific horizon, the book profiles seven beach homes within Australia and the story behind their careful restoration, told in the form of letters from their homeowners. Including more than 200 evocative colour photographs of unique exteriors and breathtaking interiors, this collection will encourage readers to nurture their own distinctive style and inspire them with a myriad of design ideas and resources. This beautifully presented book is written and curated by Deborah Bibby, a multi-media content specialist with over 20 years’ experience in interior design and fashion.
Thames and Hudson
CLAY: CONTEMPORARY CERAMIC ARTISANS
Ceramics and pottery have seen a resurgence in popularity and Clay perfectly captures the history and beauty of this handicraft in all its forms. From decorative pieces to functional objects and unique sculptural works, this beautifully presented book showcases 50 of the world’s most notable modern-day potters who are keeping one of the oldest human crafts alive. Featuring insights and a behind the-scenes look into these artisan’s lives and working methods, Clay will leave you itching to get behind the potter’s wheel. Clay’s author, Amber Creswell Bell, is an arts, design and lifestyle writer and curator, and in 2015 she curated four sold-out exhibitions in Sydney galleries, several of which included the work of emerging ceramicists.
Gardening and nature
Hardie Grant
AUSTRALIAN DREAMSCAPES: THE ART OF PLANTING IN GARDENS INSPIRED BY NATURE
Showcasing 15 of the most diverse gardens found in the Australian landscape, Australian Dreamscapes explores lush green oases to semi-arid settings. This book is filled with stunning photography and essays written by garden owners and designers, taking readers on a journey about how they create and nurture their green spaces. Australian Dreamscapes’ author, Claire Takacs, is a renowned garden photographer and her images are regularly included in many of the top international gardening books and magazines. Whether you’re a budding green thumb or a gardener connoisseur, this book will be sure to inspire.
PQ Blackwell
BIRDLAND
Australian fine-art photographer, Leila Jeffreys, captures the beauty of birdlife like never before. Shortlisted in the Fully Illustrated Book category of the 2016 Australian Book Designers Association Awards, Birdland includes some of the world’s most beautiful, feathered specimens from eagles and cockatoos, to owls and parrots. Sydney-based Jeffreys worked with animal rescue and conservation groups to create her breathtaking portraits, which are presented with the skill and intricate detail of a portrait painter.
Landscapes
Hardie Grant
PLACES WE SWIM: EXPLORING AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERFALLS, LAKES, HOT SPRINGS AND GORGES
From beaches, lap pools and ocean pools, to rockpools, waterfalls, lakes and hot springs, Places We Swim explores the Australian identity through swimming. This fascinating and nostalgic book reveals the 60 best places to swim, dive, jump, paddle and float around the country and celebrates the diverse landscapes and communities that make up Australia. Readers will discover what makes each swimming spot unique, gain some useful local knowledge and uncover some of the country’s most tranquil swimming spots, all within the comfort of their own home. Places We Swim was curated by Dillon Seitchik-Reardon, an environmental scientist, author, photographer and video producer, alongside editor, writer and creative producer, Caroline Clements.
Thames and Hudson
IN AN AUSTRALIAN LIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
In an Australian Light is a collection of breathtaking photography that celebrates the unique Australian light, from dusk until dawn and everything in between. Journey across the country in the magnificent book, from rugged coastline to arid outback, and admire the ways that light shapes and changes our natural landscape. This highly visual book was edited by Jo Turner who has a passion for crafting knowledge and ideas into beautiful, accessible books for audiences around the world.
Food
Sunday Press
FLAVOURS OF AUSTRALIA
Flavours of Australia is an impressive collection of modern Australian recipes, over 500 pages of stunning photography, and a host of unique and inspiring stories about the best places to eat and drink throughout the country. Travel north to south, then east to west and explore how the Australian food identity has been influenced by our diverse culture, rich indigenous history and abundance of fresh, local produce. Enjoy poring over the pages that feature the delectable delights of renowned cafes and restaurants across the ACT, including Aubergine, The Cupping Room, Lazy Su, Wildflower, and many more.
Murdoch Books
AUSTRALIAN FOOD
Australian Food is the long-awaited new cookbook from cook, restaurateur and food writer, Bill Granger, who is often referred to as the king of Australian cafe-style food. Australian Food is Granger’s twelfth book and is a celebration of Australian cafe culture, packed with recipes that showcase the country’s freshest flavours and local produce, all mixed in with beautiful photography, a touch of sophistication, and a whole lot of Aussie sunshine. Bill Granger owns 19 restaurants around the world, which offer up a uniquely Australian way of eating. His books have sold over 1 million copies and he has appeared in food media in over 30 countries.
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