new books i love

I’ll admit it…I’m a bit of a book hoarder; design, garden, and lifestyle books to be precise. I have books on benches, under night stands, piled on stools, and covering virtually any shelves! I go back to them time and again for inspiration or just to get lost in the beautiful photographs.

I have acquired four gorgeous books recently that I know I will come back to frequently. One in particular may just be my favorite of all time!

I have long admired Jenni Kayne’s aesthetic in both her homes, clothes, and shops. We are fortunate to have one of her Apparel + Home stores in Montecito. I was excited to buy her first book, knowing it would be just as organic and beautiful. I was right! She takes us through the seasons with recipes, table settings, and helpful tips styled at her homes and other gorgeous backdrops. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes…her gluten free blueberry muffins look divine!

More often these days we are hearing about living with less…an art I definitely have not mastered, but strive to do better. The authors of Abode own a shop called General Store that now has three locations. I had heard of the shop and was intrigued when I spotted the book at my local bookstore. The homes in this book have a clean, unfussy and organic vibe that speaks to me…especially now that we own a home in Big Sur.

The homes are warm and inviting without the clutter that we all tend to accumulate. And don’t get me started on the outdoor section…perfect for summer ideas and dreams. Now I just need to visit one of their stores!

Brooke and Steve Giannetti are pretty famous in these parts as their stunning 5 acre farm is located in nearby Ojai. Having already thoroughly enjoyed their previous books, Patina Style and Patina Farm, I put in my order of Patina Living as soon as I heard about it.

This is a lifestyle book about their adventures on the farm with their myriad of animals, gardens, and of course, their amazing home. Like the previous books, the photographs are ravishing. The difference is this one seems a bit more personal and will make you yearn to have a farm of your own…especially if it looks anything like Patina Farm.

And now we get to my favorite book. Drumroll please…

Let me preface this by saying I have been a fan of landscape designer Scott Shrader for years. I’ve kept every issue of magazines that feature his work or home. One of my favorites was Patrick Dempsey’s garden in Veranda magazine…totally dreamy!

Here’s the thing. Most design/garden/lifestyle books have a few homes or gardens you like. I loved every single page of this book. It was already sold out at my local bookstore, Chaucer’s, so I waited for it to arrive from Amazon on Mother’s Day weekend. My daughter, who was visiting, can attest to my excitement as I drooled over the gardens and homes in this book. Now I don’t have to keep saving magazines!

I highly recommend all four of these books. While they are very different from each other, what they all have in common is the power to inspire and dream!