Editor’s Picks: Best in Books, Hot Titles for Great Gifting
Here at HOME, books are among our favorite gifts to give and receive, at the holidays and all year long. (We especially love the coffee table book; glossy hardbacks with slick pages, beautiful photos and informative content are practical and pretty—which, to us, meets the criteria for great gifting.) This holiday season, check out some recent favorite titles for decor enthusiasts, avid cooks and intrepid gardeners—and everyone in between—
on your shopping list. Or treat yourself!
A House by the Sea
by Bunny Williams
Does someone on your gift list need a vacation? (Or, do you?) Open the pages of this book and step inside the luxury Caribbean retreat of renowned designer and Virginia native Bunny Williams. Readers are invited to explore her home, La Colina, inside and out—from breezy, luxurious interiors to
lush tropical gardens and outdoor rooms. Each chapter features an essay written by a Williams’ friend who has visited the property. Eye candy and a delightful read.
Christmas at Designers’ Homes Across America
by Katherine McMillan and Patricia McMillan
Designers help clients deck their halls at the holidays—but what about their own homes? Here, they’ll show you. Be inspired by nearly 250 pages full of photographs and ideas from noted designers’ homes across the country (including the king of vintage tree ornaments Christopher Radko himself). Learn their decorating strategies while gleaning insider holiday decor survival tips—from preserving trees, to caring for ornaments, to incorporating unusual color schemes and centerpieces. Get an insider’s look at some of their rituals and traditions, too.
Color at Home: A Young House Love Coloring Book
by Sherry and John Petersik
Richmond-based bloggers and bestselling authors Sherry and John Petersik are at it again following the success of their first two home improvement books. This time, partnering with illustrator Joan Borawski, the DIY darlings have created a way for you to play house: In this charming coloring book for all ages, you can design a new sofa, experiment with color schemes, try a new pattern on a pillow—or just color your way to a state of calm. For a complete gift for a decor lover of any age, throw in a pack of new crayons or artist’s colored pencils.
It’s the Little Things: Creating Big Moments in Your Home Through the Stylish Small Stuff
by Susannah Salk
As a petite hardcover, this gem of a book will look beautiful resting on an end table—as part of the very kind of vignette author Susannah Salk is urging us to create. She believes homeowners should incorporate things that they love and have meaning in their lives into their everyday interiors. Divided into five sections—Surfaces, Walls, Mantels, Little Moments and Big Moments—this book is sure to inspire you to style your home as a personal reflection at every turn.
How to Celebrate Everything: Recipes and Rituals for Birthdays, Holidays, Family Dinners, and Every Day In Between
by Jenny Rosenstrach
From the bestselling author of Dinner: A Love Story (and the popular blog by the same name) comes Rosenstrach’s latest work—part cookbook, part ode to family traditions and rituals. In a charming compilation of recipes, anecdotes and photographs, the author provides ideas and inspiration for reveling in family life—including celebrating everything from traditional holidays to unique family rituals like “The Sleepover Breakfast” and “Miracle Mashed Potatoes.”
Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories
by Jocelyn Delk Adams
For the bakers in your life, this collection of down-home desserts comes packaged in a hardcover cookbook dripping with vintage charm. Baker-blogger Jocelyn Delk Adams (her blog is grandbaby-cakes.com) has adapted recipes from her grandmother, affectionately known as “Big Mama,” for new generations. Her recipes, tips, techniques and mouthwatering photos will inspire bakers of all abilities, and perhaps, as she says on her blog, “not feel guilty about enjoying dessert.”
The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods
by Erin Gleeson
Wholesome ingredients, simple and delicious vegetarian recipes, vibrant photographs, and whimsical illustrations and hand-lettering make this cookbook a multifaceted delight that’s equally at home on the kitchen counter as on the coffee table. Even if those on your shopping list are carnivores, there’s much to feast on in this cookbook.
The Flower Chef: A Modern Guide to Do-It-Yourself Floral Arrangements
by Carly Cylinder
Floral design beginners and aficionados alike will enjoy this how-to design book. Breathtaking photographs, helpful general tips and easy-to-follow directions put over 80 stunning floral arrangements within reach for beginners; even seasoned professionals might take a tip or two.
Julia Reed’s South: Spirited Entertaining and High-Style Fun All Year Long
by Julia Reed
Julia Reed—widely regarded author, journalist, columnist and humorist—is also known as the consummate Southern hostess. In her latest book, she shares a down-to-earth guide to throwing an unforgettable party. Whether it’s a formal dinner, holiday cocktails or a hunt breakfast, Reed provides—in her signature fun-loving style—easy-to-follow recipes, ideas for invitations, tablescapes and floral arrangements, and, best of all, advice on creating a mood.
Plant: Exploring the Botanical World
by Phaidon Editors
Go ahead, judge this book by its cover. Part botany lesson, part art history lesson, it contains a carefully curated collection of botanically themed images, including the work of noted artists, photographers, scientists and botanical illustrators, as well as rare and previously unpublished images. Photographers, gardeners, artists and armchair botanists—or anyone with a love of nature, really—will appreciate this visually stunning survey of the world of plants.
Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces
by Michelle Slatalla
Not only will readers admire visual tours of enviable gardens around the world, they will also appreciate planting guides for a variety of climates, ideas for do-it-yourself projects, advice from landscape professionals, and in-depth looks at unique outdoor structures like yoga studios and chicken coops. This book is a gift that certainly qualifies as both practical and pretty.
