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Wave Books (Poetry)
I've pretty much forgotten all about poetry since leaving college and its various literature courses, but these few books have reminded me just how lovely a small collection of musings can be. I won't even begin to dissect or analyze any of them, because I'm certainly not qualified, but I will say I enjoyed looking through each of them. Also, be sure to check out Wave Books' erasure site (in relation to A Little White Shadow, see below), where you can create your own erasures. It's sort of fun. shown left to right: New Exercises by Franck Andre Jamme, Translated…
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The Contemporary Gar...
Does it seem like reference material on modern/contemporary gardens are a bit thin? This book looks to have quite a bit of inspiring photos to expand your landscape design ideas. -An accessible and affordable overview of 100 contemporary gardens from the early 1920s to the present day -Traces the history of the contemporary garden, from the experimentations of the early 20th century, David Hosack’s Rockefeller Center Roof Garden (1933) for example, to today’s conceptual creations such as Tony Heywood’s Split (2003) -Includes gardens all over the world by leading designers such as Roberto Burle-Marx (Brazil), Tadao Ando (Japan), Adriaan Geuze…
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An Awesome Book
Hrm, so this is a geared-towards-kids book, which usually isn't within the realms of what I normally would feature, but it's kind of too cute not to mention. So, there you have it. To see inside, go here. $15.00, Buy it here.
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Modern Japanese Hous...
The next time I'm at the bookstore, I'm planning on checking this book out...I'm a little more than in love with the small modern homes that seem extreme in their simplicity. Such inspiration for a future home... Modern Japanese House is an overview of recent domestic design trends in Japan and features an array of projects from a variety of architects, both known and new to the international architecture scene. The projects are divided into five chapters - Tiny Houses, Inside/ Outside, Multi Generation Houses, Work/Play, and Vacation Houses - that reflect the issues particular to residential design in Japan.…
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The Phaidon Atlas of...
If you're into architecture, you must add this to your list of books to get (if you don't have it already). Be prepared for a vast amount of pictures; it's amazing. Explore the best architecture of the 21st century in this collection of 1037 exemplary buildings sited all over the world...Divided into six world regions, the Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture provides an important overview of global and local trends in architecture. This truly unparalleled resource presents easily accessible world data exploring the geographical contexts for 21st century architectural production in a global framework. Each of the six…
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Catalog: The Illustr...
We're all familiar with mail order catalogs, and, yes, they do clog up the recycling bin, but have you ever thought about how they are documenting everything from our fashion to food styles? Catalogs from decades ago chart how we lived by what we bought, and this book gives an overview of the catalog's history, from the first Montgomery Ward book to the most recent companies. My favorite: an overview of 45 years of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book (what luxury at the time) and seeing celebrities model clothes in their pre-famous days. The background stories of how some companies…
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Not For Tourists Gui...
What an excellent interpretation of a guidebook- if you've lived in a city for a little while or a lot, it'd be interesting to see what things you haven't seen or done. "Not For Tourists is a growing series of guides to major cities. Their philosophy is simple: people need to use the cities they live in, commute into, or travel to effectively. They need to use their city’s transportation systems; its governmental infrastructure; its shops, restaurants, and nightspots—and they need all of this information while they’re on the move in a format that’s more accessible than the Yellow Pages,…
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The Global Shortlist...
Man, I've got to tell you this book is the 'go-to' travel bible if you care about staying in hotels that have that extra special something. Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique & luxury hotel specialists, have compiled 30 of their favorite hotels around the world with personal reviews from well-known names, various local knowledge, tips, and things 'worth getting out of bed for'. You'll get inside information from those in-the-know: which restaurant and bars to visit, what room to book, and some worthy sightseeing if you feel like stretching your legs. Each hand-picked hotel has a unique look and…
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Jean Prouvé
If you have as much of a crush on Prouvé as I do, then you'll appreciate these two links that'll save you mucho denero (the list price is $250.00). Today the oeuvre of French architect and designer Jean Prouve is considered essential to the history of twentieth century design. Prouve's furniture designs were determined by the interior spaces the pieces would inhabit, and they developed in tandem with the Modernist principles of the "art of living" and "harmonious habitat" that were so characteristic of the time. This exquisitely produced and comprehensive volume, which was put together by Paris' Galerie Patrick…
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Signed Edition of Ar...
If you're serious about the history of modern architecture (or know someone who is) you'd be smart to snap up these puppies quickly. The years between 1945 and 1954 were the high point of American modern architecture and the journal Arts & Architecture was on the forefront of the movement. Under the guidance of editor John Entenza, the publication helped establish the careers of Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and Richard Neutra, among many others. It famously initiated the Case Study House Program, which has come to epitomize mid-century modern residential architecture in the United States. Taschen has now…
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House Beautiful The ...
I usually tend to get a bit nauseous whenever I see copious amounts of floral fabric in a room (I call it the 'cabbage rose' syndrome), especially if there are table skirts involved. If any of you seem to share these symptoms, don't worry, you won't run into that stuff in this book. Sure, there are some interior shots that tend towards the more traditional style, and yes, there are some floral fabrics, but this book is more of an invaluable guide and resource than picture book. What got me was how the book is so thorough; it walks you…
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ABC3D pop-up book
This is such a neat book; I'd leave it open to a different letter every so often just to appreciate it fully. This is no easy A-B-C! Marion Bataille's 3-D exploration of the alphabet is truly a work of art. From the lenticular cover to the clever execution throughout, bold letters move from point A to Z in ways you never imagined possible. Discover this treasure & prepare to be amazed! Hardcover. Approximately 7.25”x5.75” $19.95, Buy it here.
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To Each His Home: In...
You'll not find shelter magazine type homes here, instead you'll be treated to one of a kind homes that speak more about their owners than this season's trends. It's a house tour of quirky, layered interiors, and it'll give you permission to do more with your own home after viewing what these home owners did with theirs...not that they're all super crazy, it's just that each owner doesn't seem particularly interested in making their space look like anything other than a reflection of themselves. In To Each His Home: Inspired Interiors as Unique as Their Owners, photographer Bilyana Dimitrova takes…
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LUXE City Guides
These look to have some interesting information on wherever your travels might take you. LUXE City Guides - the consummately stylish pocket travel guides, packed with astute, opinionated information for the busy and sophisticated visitor. Each hip, smart and stylish pocket-sized guidebook is packed with a highly selective and opinionated list of only the best shops, restaurants and hotels, unique services and lifestyle options each city has to offer. And what's more, LUXE guides come with handy online updates. Each guide, $9.99 Australia, China or European Travel Set, $17.99-$26.99 Asian, Europe, or World Grand Tour Box, $75.00-$110.00 Buy it here.
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Forecast: Nozone X
This book has a kind of wry humor; it's packed with all sorts of graphics and comics that show just how bad our world could get, and you find yourself chuckling along until you realize that some of the events aren't all that far-fetched, and in fact, some are actually happening. It's a little disconcerting to have disasters drawn in a friendly sort of way, yet I suppose that gives a special sense of visual punch and irony. A few of my favorite highlights: Julia Hoffman’s Let’s Get Carbon-ated questionaire, Johnny Sweetwater's Endangered Species chart, the Nozone Survival Kit by…