Despite being a blogger by trade and finding much of my visual inspiration online, I still harbour a love for beautiful books! Whether they be big lustrous coffee table books or small, delicately printed limited edition comics, they never fail to entice me and so my collection has grown to include everything including inspirational interior design books chock full of ideas and design-philosophies, catalogue-style titles introducing you to a whole new crop of talented artists, stunningly illustrated picture books suitable for any age and boldly designed sprawling concertina books.
In this new monthly column, I will be delving into my collection to unearth and share some of my most treasured titles. So without further ado, let the printed pages parade begin…
Sage Living
Lifestyle writer and design blogger Anne Sage’s debut interior design book, Sage Living, not only showcases a series of enviable homes but also presents a whole new approach to decorating. Drawing from both her personal experiences and those of the troupe of creatives who’s homes are included within the books pages, Anne preaches brilliantly on the art of decorating for the life you want to live.
Deconstructing the home, Anne explains how each individual area can be utilised to enhance your life; whether you are after a more family focused lifestyle or are striving to achieve the perfect work-life balance, decorating the space around you is the best first step to achieving your life goals. The Sage ethos is one we can all get behind – after all, who doesn’t want a beautiful home which also acts as a daily motivation booster?
Read Bottom Up
The majority of the books from by collection tend to be much more image based than word heavy, however there is the odd exception such as my next pick – Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Sky Chatham. Told entirely through the medium of text and email and described as “a novel about falling in love (or at least like) in the digital age”, Read Bottom Up is a very modern romance filled with online flirtation and social media anxiety.
And as if the books wit and intelligence wasn’t enticing enough, there is also a spattering of beautiful illustration work by Nina Cosford dotted throughout to keep your inner visual-inspiration addict at bay.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
From an extremely contemporary story to a set of old tales which have been gifted a new lease of life – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes has been reinvented by Berlin based illustrator Sophia Martineck. Sophia is the perfect artist to reinterpret such an iconic sets of stories! Her eccentric hand-drawn style – filled with busy texture and complimented by a vintage colour scheme – has allowed her to create a book, which not only keeps the character’s mysterious spirit of adventure alive but adds in a splash of contemporary quirk.
And Quarto, the publishers of this modern Sherlock Holmes volume, have an entire series of Reimagined Classics to feast your eyes on. From Olimpia Zagnoli’s graphic depiction of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to Andrea D’Aquino’s experimental approach to redesigning Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – classics have never looked so good!
One Day on Our Blue Planet… In The Antarctic
My final pick for this month, One Day On Our Blue Planet… In The Antarctic, is the second in Ella Bailey’s new series with Flying Eye Books. Having told the story of an adventurous cub in the series’ debut, this time Ella takes us to a much colder climate to take a look at a day in the life of an adorable penguin. From gathering food to narrowly avoiding becoming the dinner of a ferocious seal, the book looks at every aspect of the penguins life, educating whilst it entertains.
As anyone who read my previous Bibelot post rounding up my favourite Flying Eye Books will know, I firmly believe picture books are not just for kids. And Ella’s series is no exception – adults and kids alike will be desperate to join the story’s lead and his troupe of adventurous friends as they waddle over icy peaks and splash through bitterly cold seas. In fact, I can guarantee that just one day with this spirited bunch will not be nearly enough!
Greg McIndoe
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