Inspiring Coffee-Table Books For Mediterranean Enthusiasts
Sometimes they are a manifestation of a lifestyle, sometimes they are simply reference books. No matter what angle you prefer to look at it, everybody enjoys the presence of statement books in their library or on their coffee table.
Coffee table books function both as a practical, guiding item and an object of beauty, entertaining guests and adding elegance to a living room. Choosing to display an inspiring book undoubtedly makes some personal expression of identity and understanding of aesthetics.
It is always said: “never judge a book by its cover.” In this case, this might not be so true because these books are a lot about visuals and the satisfaction those visuals make one feel. The decorative aspect of them cannot be dismissed. They have the potential to take one away from this moment’s stress, anxiety or dull setting, to another world, making one simply happy but most importantly, dream and think. That is why, a magnificent cover is also while choosing an inspiring book.
As we try to reflect, the Mediterranean is more than a sea. It represents a lifestyle which is synonymous with slow and simple living, good food, milder climates and warmth. These books that we have chosen are perfect for those in love with Mediterranean destinations, gastronomy and lifestyle.
© Assouline
This book from the luxury publishing house Assouline and Lizy Manola is focusing on one of the most popular destinations in the world: Mykonos. Mykonos is the perfect example of the typical blue and white architecture of the Cyclades islands revealing a serene life in the middle of the Aegean with its magnificent beaches, it is also a favourite of the world jet set with its luxurious lifestyle, and nightlife. The book is offering a fantastic representation of the island with nostalgic storytelling accompanying stunning imagery.
SAINT-TROPEZ – THE ULTIMATE MEDITERRANEAN HOME, BETA PLUS PUBLISHING
Saint-Tropez – The Ultimate Mediterranean Home by Alessandra Home Interiors, €89.50, Beta Plus Publishing
© Beta-Plus Publishing
The French Riviera, known in French as the Côte d’Azur, Coast of Azure, is a place that has been the inspiration for many films, books, songs and visuals. Beta Plus Publishing’s book was created by interior architect Sandra Cerfontaine, founder of Alessandra Home Interiors, and a real ambassador of the Mediterranean art of living. Focusing on one of the most famous spots on the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, Saint Tropez, the book offers us a glimpse into the inspiring and modern holiday homes.
AT HOME IN TURKEY, THAMES & HUDSON
© Thames & Hudson
This book by Thames & Hudson is a fresh and inspirational style book by the celebrated photographer Solvi dos Santos and authored by Berrin Torolsan. This stunning collection captures the soul of 25 contemporary Turkish homes in hundreds of photographs taken during each of the four seasons and all over Turkey, from Istanbul and the Black Sea to the Aegean and Cappadocia. Each is given a mini essay and a photo spread, the latter being a mix of wide-angle shots and details. The houses range from seaside retreats to modern city apartments, from wooden chalets to stone dwellings, diverse and contrasting just as the profile of Turkey as a country. Perhaps the best part about these houses in the book is that they are not showcases, they are all homes, alive and capturing the soul of a Turkish home. It is perfect for inspiration, from large matters to small details, a focus on textiles and wood as well as blending of old and new.
GREAT ESCAPES MEDITERRANEAN, TASCHEN
“The azure-blue Mediterranean restores the body, mind and soul!” reads the description of this book on Taschen’s website. In fact, the publishing house has multiple Great Escapes series books focusing on the Mediterranean aesthetics. Yet this one is a meeting point of the most breathtaking destinations and places: from the cave-like suites at Perivolas, in a majestic position high above the Aegean on Santorini, to the Hôtel Le Corbusier in Marseille, a place of pilgrimage for lovers of architecture. Angelika Taschen set out in search of the most beautiful hotels on a great variety of coasts, islands and beaches, taking you on a luxurious journey.
MEDITERRANEAN LIVING, BRAUN
Imagine the Mediterranean, and everyday lives of people living there… surrounded by stunning panoramic views, ancient olive trees, crystal clear waters and sounds of crickets. The lifestyles of people around the largest inland sea absorb African, Arab and European influences and incorporate the various local architectural styles. The favourable climate of this region has been a source of endless gratitude to nature therefore the architecture has a common element of living in harmony with nature. This book by Manuela Roth presents the exciting creative variety of contemporary homes and apartments designed by international architecture firms along with up-and-coming local architects. Light and breezy layouts, cooling materials, and shade providing constructions are complemented by terraces, patios and gardens. Mediterranean Living shows rural dream residences made of natural rock as well as airy apartments at the heart of metropolises and ultra-modern villas. It takes us on a journey from Spain via Greece all the way to Morocco and Israel.
THE NEW MEDITERRANEAN, GESTALTEN
This beautiful design book is a modernist take on Mediterranean aesthetics — a growing inspiration in interior design that embodies the simple and slow living associated with the Mediterranean lifestyle through minimalism, earthy tones and natural materials. The New Mediterranean shows you how to bring this sumptuous, sun-drenched minimalism into your own home.
A welcoming, new, down-to-earth modernism is gaining momentum, from California to Morocco, Portugal to Mexico. This direction in interiors combines Mediterranean folkloric influences with a contemporary aesthetic—taking cues from sunny landscapes to embrace warmth, light, and organic elements.
SLIM AARONS: LA DOLCE VITA, ABRAMS
Slim Aarons: La Dolce Vita is a celebration of fabulous living, Italian style, as seen through the lens of the famed photographer Slim Aarons. This the fourth volume of Slim Aarons books published by Abrams, is focusing on the photographer’s ‘love-affair’ with Italy. From breathtaking aerials of the Sicilian countryside to intimate portraits of celebrities and high society taken in magnificent villas, Slim Aarons: La Dolce Vita captures the essence of “the good life.”
UNDER THE MEDITERRANEAN SUN, RIZZOLI
Written by Nadia Zerouali and Merijn Tol, this beautiful culinary book is a food journey from Northern Africa to Southern Europe and the Middle East. The result? Flavours and colours! Lots of them! Authors Nadia and Merijn have always traveled extensively to research their beautiful cookbooks. In journeys throughout southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa, this dynamic duo document the food, people, and stories encountered along the way. For Nadia and Merijn, the Arab world has no strict geography, as certain dishes in Spain and southern Italy are as influenced by the “Arab world” as those in Morocco, Tunisia, and the Middle East. Under the Mediterranean Sun is a personal food odyssey to find the people, places, and dishes that unite the Mediterranean and the Arabic world.
