The best home and interior books for Christmas
The holiday season is on the way and what better gifts for your design-savvy friends and family in Neutral Bay and beyond than a beautiful home interior book?
After a turbulent year and serious issues with international shipping, some booksellers are expecting supply shortages this festive season, so now is the time to get out into local bookshops.
Architecture books
You can’t live in or around Neutral Bay without developing an eye for historic and modern home design. Architecture at the Heart of the Home by Jan Henderson and Dianna Snape takes a look at unique indoor spaces. Full of beautiful colour photos, the book is a must for any architecture lover’s coffee table this Christmas.
The Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses by Dominic Bradbury includes a house in Wahroonga, just half an hour from Neutral Bay. A stunning art book from Phaidon, it’s a must for lovers of mid-century architecture around the world.
You could also check out Audacious Architecture by Stone Barry, which features dramatic buildings around the world.
Interior design
During the pandemic, interiors have become more important than ever before as everyone has been stuck in their homes. Books like Curate: Inspiration for an Individual Home by Lynda Gardener and Ali Heath, Principles of Style by Sarah Andrews, Living Well by Design by Melissa Penfold, and Minimalista: Your step-by-step guide to a better home, wardrobe and life by Shira Gill all take a look at fresh ways to think about interiors this year.
Sydney living
Sydney Art Deco & Modernist Walks by Peter Sheridan takes you on a self-guided walk through Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay, just across the Harbour. Places We Swim Sydney: A city guide for water-loving people by Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon may have come out last year, but it is still essential reading for any water-loving Sydney-sider. A simple guide to all the best places to swim in and around Sydney, friends or family members who enjoy a dip will love this book.
Living by the Ocean: Contemporary Houses by the Sea from Phaidon, the leading purveyor of stunning art books, provides the perfect inspiration for Neutral Bay residents living by the water.
Organisation
Working from home has meant lots of people have started to rethink how they organise their homes. If you have friends or family who are now working from home you should consider Residential Interior Design: A Guide to Planning Spaces by Maureen Mitton and Courtney Nystuen, Never Too Small: Reimagining Small Space Living by Joel Beath and Elizabeth Price, or Future Home Design: A Home That Adapts To Different Phases Of Your Life by Farinah Husodo. All of these impressive titles are full of forward-thinking methods to keep the modern home up to date with the modern lifestyle.
Animal lovers
At least one person on your Christmas list is going to be an animal lover. You can’t look past Where They Purr: Inspirational Interiors and the Cats Who Call Them Home by Paul Barbera and Resident Dog: Incredible Homes and the Dogs That Live There by Nicole England. Both these fun books mix a love of interior design with a love of pets. What better way to celebrate animals and design at the same time?
Where to find quality books
Whatever you have in mind, consider shopping local this festive season, where possible. Dymocks in Neutral Bay is always worth checking out for new releases and old favourites, and its well-read booksellers will be able to suggest the perfect book for any reader. Just remember to get in early! This year, books from overseas are in short supply and may sell out before Christmas.
