27 beautiful coffee table books to give as gifts

This is the perfect book for anyone who loves colour, pattern and craft. It’s a visual delight, a kaleidoscope of colour and a font of endless inspiration. I got one for Christmas and was absolutely thrilled with it!

The first part of the book is a history of, and an intimate look inside Kaffe’s amazing and maximalist London house. It’s packed with amazing ceramics, needlework, quilts and paintings beautifully photographed by Debbie Patterson.

The second part of the book includes quilting, knitting and needlepoint patterns as well as a basic ‘How to’ section.

A perfect gift for the knitter, needlepointer, quilter or indeed anyone who loves colour and texture.

Written by renowned watch expert Gisbert L. Brunner, this book is THE ultimate authority on the prestigious Rolex brand. In it, Brunner documents all of the aesthetic, technical and historical facts of this fabled and celebrated watch.

Updated in 2023, this new edition includes the latest models of the legendary Submariner and Daytona series, the brand’s traditional lines, which have already celebrated their 70th and 60th anniversaries.

More than just a reference volume, this book is a must have for both Rolex lovers and watch lovers more generally. It’s also a handsome and substantial tome that will look great on any coffee table. All in all, a great coffee table book to give as a gift.

In this beautiful book Carolyn Mullet guides us through fifty of Europe’s most beautiful private gardens. Each garden is documented through stunning photography and short profiles which outline the history of the garden, its owners and the terrain which it inhabits. Among the featured gardens are works of eminent designers such as Tom Stuart-Smith, Andy Malengier, and Louis Benech. 

Adventures in Eden is the ideal armchair getaway for the gardening enthusiast, allowing glimpses into personal garden artistry that are sure to spark inspiration.

This book is a A visually stunning journey into the diversity and wonders of forests. A perfect gift for anyone who loves to walk in the woods and to tune into the language of nature and the world around us.

The photos are truly stunning and combine beautifully with Wohlleben’s fascinating and accessible narrative to showcase the incredible properties and behaviour of these incredible terrestrial giants.

A book for the nature lover.

Peonies are for me, the most romantic and extravagant of blooms, and this lovely book perfectly showcases their amazing variety.

The book starts with an outline of the history of the bloom and then profiles 50 beautiful varieties detailing their size, fragrance and where and when they bloom best.

The final section, Growing and Care, outlines those varieties which are easiest to grow and which produce the best flowers for cutting.

With commentary on each bloom, easy-to-follow advice and glorious photography, this book will appeal to everyone who appreciates the beauty of this magnificent bloom.

With its beautiful, full-colour photography, scorecards, and locator map, this is the essential book for any fan of cricket.

From the  ‘home of cricket’ at Lord’s, to the mecca of Indian cricket at Eden Gardens, this far reaching guide ranges across five continents and brings you a pitch side seat at all of the best cricket venues around the world.

Accompanied by corresponding articles from The Times of notable matches at each venue, this is a must for the serious cricket fan.

One for the petrolheads and car lovers. Beautiful Machines, delves under the hood of these timeless and elegant cars, tracing their history and showcasing the engineering that sets them apart.

Get ready for a journey through the most stylish sports cars of the past century and the captivating stories that turned them into icons of the road. From the renowned Porsche 917 (a favorite of Steve McQueen) to the Ferrari Daytona (famously featured in the Miami Vice TV series) and the elegant Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond’s preferred mode of transport), this book uncovers the intriguing tales behind these classic cars.

A beautiful book to gift with great reviews on Amazon.

1000 Record Covers presents a selection of the best rock album covers of the 60s to 90s from music archivist, disc jockey, journalist, and former record-publicity executive Michael Ochs’s enormous private collection.

For those of us of a certain age it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but it’s also a historical study of the evolution of album cover art and its reflection of changes in pop culture over time.

A great gift for anyone interested in music and/or the evolution of cover art.

This book is a follow up to the bestselling How to Decorate by prestigious paint company Farrow & Ball. Packed with stylish and easy-to-follow decorating advice it’s a great gift for anyone interested in interior design.

This quote from leading interiors magazine Elle Decoration:

‘Beautifully photographed spaces, from urban apartments to stately country houses, illustrate the ways paint can change a room’s feel, with lots of practical, easy-to-follow tips. If you’ve ever deliberated between shades of white, or wondered where the firm’s famous colour names came from, you’ll find the answers here.’ – Elle Decoration

Anyone who likes the unique and eccentric style of filmmaker Wes Anderson is going to love this book. In Accidentally Wes Anderson, Wally Koval photographs the world’s most Anderson-like sites in all their faded grandeur and pop-pastel colours, telling the story behind each stranger than-fiction-location.

Based on the viral online phenomenon and community of the same name, Accidentally Wes Anderson celebrates the unique aesthetic that millions of Anderson fans love – capturing the symmetrical, the atypical, the unexpected, the vibrantly patterned, and distinctively coloured in arresting photographs from around the world.

A travel book with a difference.

The Modern Caravan offers a glimpse into the world of mobile homes built for life on the open road. Filled with captivating stories and countless photos showcasing beautiful van interiors and breathtaking landscapes, this book shares 25 tales from individuals and families who have exchanged the comforts of a stationary life for ever-changing views and eye-opening adventures.

From a family exploring Australia in a cozy vintage camper to a young couple crafting a modern trailer inspired by the colours and textures of the desert, each carefully designed tiny home balances style with functionality. An inspirational gift for the caravan or RV lover.

Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die is the ultimate guide to the top fly-fishing destinations worldwide. Author Chris Santella takes you on a journey through fifty incredible locations, featuring in-depth interviews with fly-fishing experts like Dan Callaghan, John Randolph, Mike Fitzgerald, and Joan Wulff.

From the wilds of Mongolia to the Florida Keys and Montana’s Armstrong’s Spring Creek, each spot is brought to life with its cultural and natural history, colorful anecdotes, and essential travel information. This book, adorned with 40 stunning photographs, is a perfect gift for any fishing enthusiast or armchair traveller.

This book is the perfect gift for anyone interested in travel. It’s so inspirational that it will expand your bucket list every time they flip through the pages.

Coming from National Geographic, you know the photos are going to be breathtaking, and they do not disappoint. Just the cover, featuring a stunning image of a historic guesthouse precariously perched on a cliff in the Swiss Alps, makes you want pack your bags and get going.

It’s perfect for displaying on a coffee table as a conversation starter and as a source of inspiration for future travels.

Greece stands out for its stunning landscapes, warm hospitality, crystal clear seas and amazing hotels, making it a top choice for many travellers.

In this book Angelika Taschen takes the reader on a journey from the mountains of Macedonia in the north to the Peloponnese and to the various islands in the south. She introduces us to some of the country’s most exceptional hotels, such as Imaret in Kavala, situated in a former Ottoman complex; Tainaron Blue Retreat in a secluded former defense tower in the Mani; and The Windmill, a converted windmill on the island of Kimolos in the Cyclades.

A great gift to expand the horizons of any lover of this beautiful country.

A great book for the traveller and the Londoner alike, this book takes the reader into the hidden interiors of some of London’s most famous buildings, from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station, Big Ben to the Old Bailey.

Unseen London takes you deep into the city’s infrastructure, the changing rooms of iconic sports venues, the heart of the Establishment, and behind the scenes of opulent buildings in the Square Mile. Accompanied by insightful text, the book features wonderful photographs that tell the story of each place’s creation, use, and the power dynamics at play in this amazing city.

A Londoner born and bred, I found this book a fascinating and interesting read.

Looking for the perfect gift for someone itching to go on an adventure but not sure where to start? Unforgettable Journeys has got you covered.

This book will have them gearing up for hiking, road tripping, or sailing the high seas. With over 200 options including hikes, drives, cycling trails, train routes, and boat trips, this book brings each destination to life with captivating storytelling, stunning photography, and helpful maps. It even offers alternative routes to make planning their next trip a breeze.

Paris, loved by millions and known as the chic capital of the romantic world, is a popular destination for visitors. From the charming les passages couverts to the stunning jardins, Paris has something for everyone. This book though, draws the reader beyond the obvious tourist attractions to the pockets of tranquil calm waiting to be discovered.

In this edition of her popular Pretty Cities series, photographer Siobhan Ferguson offers her unique take on the City of Lights and presents a must-have guide on how to fully enjoy what the city has to offer, whether it’s in plain sight or off the beaten path. Explore boutique stores, cozy cafes, old-world bookshops, and more as you’re taken on a journey across Paris for your very own Pretty City experience.

This book is all about the stunning aerial photographs and is a perfect choice for displaying on any coffee table.

Best selling author and photographer, Gary Malin has put together a collection of breathtaking photos, ranging from the crystal-clear waters of Maui to the rocky shores of Northern Michigan and the picturesque coastlines of Nantucket.

A beautiful and soothing book to peruse at your leisure.

This comprehensive book features hundreds of covers and archival interiors from past Vogue editions, showcasing the best artists, cover illustrators, and photographers of the twentieth century. From Edward Steichen to Irving Penn, this book takes you on a journey through the history of this iconic media powerhouse.

In 1909, Condé Nast began the transformation of a struggling society journal into the glamorous and powerful fashion magazine we know today. With its unparalleled scope and exceptional illustrations, this book tracks that metamorphosis and is a great gift for anyone interested in culture, art, fashion, photography, and media.

‘Is this the chicest coffee-table book ever printed? Quite possibly.’ – Financial Times, How To Spend It

The Men’s Fashion Book is a comprehensive guide to the 500 greatest names in men’s fashion, spanning over 200 years of men’s style. It provides an A-Z deep-dive into the people and brands that have shaped men’s fashion history.

Filled with inspiring images, it documents the impact of designers, brands, photographers, icons, models, retailers, tailors, and stylists on the global fashion scene.

A must-have and great gift for anyone interested in men’s fashion, this book is a testament to the creativity and influence of the men’s fashion world.

We all want our rooms to look great and just that little bit different. In this book Colin King’s shows you how to take our spaces to the next level of personal creativity.

Through stories and visual essays, Colin shares his intuitive process, focusing on scale, proportion, color, and texture. It’s not about buying new things, but about rediscovering old favorites and seeing them in a new light. Styling, as readers will learn, is a metaphor for life and a skill to be honed over time.

A great gift for anyone interested in interior design or just in rethinking and updating their home.

This book features over 300 images spanning forty years of Peter Lindbergh’s career, showcasing his cinematic style and humanist approach.

Lindbergh defied industry standards, opting to highlight the essence and individuality of his models rather than just the products they displayed. He was influential in launching the careers of models like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford, among others. His impact also extended to Hollywood, with celebrities like Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, and Brad Pitt appearing in his photographs.

Lindbergh’s focus has always been on capturing the humanity of his subjects with a serene melancholy that is uniquely his own.

This book is a great gift for both the fashionista and the student of photography.

This book is a great gift for anyone interested in 20th Century architecture and design, or in house design more generally.

The book showcases fifty of the most architecturally significant houses from 1900 to the present day. It covers key artistic movements like Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Modernism, and Postmodernism, showcasing homes designed by renowned architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Edwin Lutyens, Berthold Lubetkin, and Richard Rogers. It also features innovative 21st-century houses by Seth Stein, Nick Eldridge, Robin Partington, and Ken Shuttleworth.

Beyond celebrating influential homes, this richly illustrated overview also serves as a comprehensive guide to evolving architectural movements and ideas.

Annie Leibovitz drew from over 40 years of work for this book, starting with her photojournalism for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s and continuing through the conceptual portraits she created for Vanity Fair and Vogue. She chose both iconic images, such as the last embrace photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as well as portraits that had rarely, if ever, been seen before.

The photographs cover both the political and cultural spectrum, featuring images of Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Nixon, Whoopi Goldberg and Lady Gaga.

The cover of this book is certainly eye-catching and as such, makes for a wonderful coffee table book.

It’s a big book: 556 pages and measuring 40.2 x 6.1 x 29.3 cm

This big coffee table book covers John Galliano’s iconic 15 year tenure at Dior from 1997-2011. Galliano joined Dior in 1996 as Artistic Director of the women’s collections. There, he distinguished himself with extravagant shows that combined eclectic and cultural inspirations, imbued with romanticism and historical reference.

This wonderful and extravagant book is 448 pages long and includes over 300 illustrations, including sumptious photographs by Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, Paolo Roversi and Laziz Hamani.

An extravagant gift for any fan of Haute Couture.

This is a book for the minimalist.

It explores the elegant interiors designed by London architect William Smalley and the buildings that have influenced his work.

From Smalley’s own Bloomsbury Apartment and his various projects in the UK, France, and New York, the book showcases how Smalley achieves a rare sense of simplicity, repose and peace. He creates calm spaces for private contemplation

The works of other architects who have influenced him are also included, such as a sixteenth-century villa by Palladio, residences in Mexico and Sri Lanka, and the Secular Retreat in Devon by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.

A beautifully photographed and elegantly presented, it’s the ideal coffee table book for the minimalist home.

Louis Vuitton: Catwalk provides a comprehensive look at the renowned fashion house’s collections over the years. It starts with a brief history of the brand, followed by short profiles of its former creative director, Marc Jacobs, and current head, Nicolas Ghesquière.

The book then delves into the collections, presenting them in chronological order and giving insights into their influences and standout features. It’s filled with carefully selected catwalk images showcasing the stunning clothes, accessories, beauty looks, and set designs, as well as the top models who wore them, from Naomi Campbell and Gisele to Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne. In the words of Tatler this book is: –

‘The go-to for all things Vuitton’ 

A great gift for any fashionista or lover of this luxury brand.

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