COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE WEEK: NEW YORK IN THE 70s

A curated set of coffee table books makes a great statement. Art books can bring a drab coffee table to life, double as accent furniture when properly stacked, and entertain those restless guests of yours. Coffee Table Book of the Week is our weekly selection of stylish books to spruce up your home. – FM

Photographed by Allan Tannenbaum and prefaced by Yoko Ono, this is a humongous and impeccably edited collection of photographs documenting 70s New York. There’s something for everyone in here, ranging from art to politics and everything in between. You’ll yearn for the life you missed out on (unless you lived through it all, then SCREW YOU!), but at least you can now experience it all secondhand.

New York in the 70s

From Amazon: “The photographs encompass many aspects of New York life while capturing the heady exuberance of the era-from SoHo and the art world to the city’s politics and society. By photographing everything from street gangs to disco divas, from homeless to Hollywood stars, Tannenbaum had assembled a personal diary of his journey as a photojournalist and raconteur through a strange and exotic era of New York life.”

Some selections from the book, courtesy of The Digital Journalist…

LOOKALIKES: PHILIPPE STARCK’S LOUIS GHOST CHAIR

Designer Philippe Starck’s take on the classic Louis XV armchair, the Louis Ghost Chair, has become an iconic jewel in the crown of its manufacturer, Kartell. The funky chair has been increasingly popping up, in all its transparent glory, in rooms in need of space maximization or as an edgier option to your standard matchy-matchy dining set.

Some examples of this iconic chair in use.

Transparent plastic furniture makes a space look bigger and less crowded, but it’s not always cheap. The Kartell original will put you back $410 per chair at Design Within Reach.

Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Armchair, $410

To get the same look for less, consider the Mystic Round Back Arm Chair from Target, which is a spitting image of the Kartell model. And, at just $239.99 for a two piece set, you can have four for practically the same price as one Kartell.

Target 2 Pc Mystic Round Back Arm Chair in Clear, $239.99

If it’s the look of Lucite you’re after, as opposed to a Louis XV lookalike, the IKEA Tobias chair would look great if you have a grand dining table you want to take center stage, and comes at just $99.99 a chair.

Ikea TOBIAS Chair, $99.99