COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE WEEK: CINDY SHERMAN

This week’s Coffee Table Book, Cindy Sherman: The Complete Untitled Film Stills, is a series of Cindy Sherman photographs taken between 1977-1980. A retrospective is currently on view at MoMA and the museum published its own book to complement the show, and her first groundbreaking series is where it’s at. Untitled Film Stills features Cindy’s first major series of black and white images taken in her early twenties and “is widely seen as one of the most original and influential achievements in recent art.” Ms. Sherman reinvented Photography and the self-portrait, and this book is where it all started.

Cindy Sherman: The Complete Untitled Film Stills

Can’t make it to the retrospective? Check out the MoMA interactive exhibition online!

[ad#ad-5]

COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE WEEK: 100 WAYS TO HAPPY CHIC YOUR LIFE

If you’re a fan of Jonathan Adler, his latest book “100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life” is a must have. The title says it all, really. 100 Ways, complete with bonus craft projects that anyone can do, guides everyone from the completely lost to the dabbling designers. Adler’s aesthetic makes us smile, reminding us that a happy home is the foundation for a happy lifestyle. This is truly a self-help guide for the house.

Jonathan Adler 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life

 Some tips to get you started…

100 Ways is full of tips that I bet you never thought of, like this one. A heavy curtain behind the bed adds sexiness in a flash.

These days, every bookshelf on earth is suddenly beautifully curated, as if it came out of the box that way. Mr. Adler breaks down the mystique with inspirational tips like “create a hippie-dippie love moment.”

Jonathan Adler reminds us to pay attention to the small spaces, it’s one of the most commonly overlooked design opportunities. You won’t believe how giving a boost to that sad hallway or neglected nook can boost the design-worthiness of your abode.

Embrace Irreverance, he suggests. Channel your inner Bansky and suddenly it’s hard to ignore those cheesy dime a dozen paintings you see at the flea market.

[ad#ad-5]

COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE WEEK: LIVING IN A NUTSHELL

A small apartment plus a small budget equals nothing special, unless you have handy resources like this week’s coffee table book, Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces. Written by award-winning television producer (Oprah, Nate Berkus) Janet Lee, this handy guide is filled with over a hundred easy projects to bring your pathetic rental to life. With so many never-before-seen ideas in Living in a Nutshell, it’s hard not to find some major inspiration here. We’ve included some of our favorites below.

I’m surprised this look hasn’t inspired Louis Vuitton to get into the furniture business. Add some pizazz to that dull Ikea cabinet you know you have with printed vinyl sheets and a hairdryer.

A simple light cord sourced from Urban Outfitters and a lamp-shaped wall decal create this funky lighting. Try out the same idea on an artistic light cluster, bedside lamps, chandelier decals, and more!

Who doesn’t love paint-by-number art? Create a kitschy modern look by cutting it to fit a vintage side table.

One of the biggest problems in rentals is boring, outdated cabinets.  Transform them instantly with some fabric and liquid starch, which promises to remove without a trace when you’re ready to move.

This diy frame made with hardware store-bought doorjamb weather stripping is not only a fraction of the cost of professional framing, it’s also better looking.

[ad#ad-5]

COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE WEEK: FLEA MARKET STYLE

Flea market shopping can be daunting, especially when you’re shopping for the home. Enter Flea Market Style, the ultimate guide to the world of junk.

Flea Market Style

If you find yourself craving an old world look, this book provides excellent inspiration to get you started. From expert insight on how to spot valuable objects to tips on arranging vintage with modern, this gorgeously photographed book is a true inspiration to those who want their home to tell a story.

[ad#ad-3]

COFFEE TABLE OF THE WEEK: TOKYO NOBODY

This week’s coffee table book, Tokyo Nobody, is a collection of Tokyo photographs by Masataka Nakano. If you’re a fan of Tokyo architecture or you’ve ever wondered what a city would look like devoid of people, this book is for you.

Tokyo Nobody

“For 11 years, photographer Masataka Nakano has kept watch for the most impossible of scenes: central Tokyo street scenes inhabited by nobody. These aren’t manipulated composites but rather the result of a dedicated opportunist. There’s something very eerie about these desolate moments and their startling absence of congestion, usually so integral to the portrayal of this environment.” (review from Multilink Magazine)

[ad#ad-3]