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Barkitecture

20130508-054643.jpg It is not often that we carry a book that we used to stock close to 15 years ago. But, Barkitecture, is one such book that has made a comeback on our shelves. Written by a longtime dear friend of ours, Fred Albert, the book really is timeless for pooch fans. Get a creative glimpse of creative doghouses and some of the lucky pooches who get to call them home. Some of these dog houses are over the top, but it is fun to see just how ‘out of the box’ some of the designers went when creating these canine palaces. Really such a fun coffee table book for any dog lover.

*This post was approved by Bailey.



 

 

My Manuscript is Finished!

20130424-093541.jpg I wanted to share with all of you that I finished the manuscript for my book, and I will be sending it off to my editor in New York today. I am a bit over the moon! The above photo was from yesterday where I spent the day shooting table vignettes. Pure heaven for me. I want to thank everyone who has sent encouraging words along the way. It is fun to have all of you along for this journey with me. There is still much work ahead with edits, more photography and page design–I will keep you posted along the way. Spring 2014 when the book comes out will be here in a flash…



 

 

Edible Selby

20130418-065633.jpg I am a big fan of the work of photographer Todd Selby. Best known as, The Selby. He captures creative folk in their environs quite like no other. He is able to capture the personality of the inhabitant as much as capture the vibe of a space. That is quite a talent. Plus, everything I have heard or read about him is that he is just one heck of a nice guy. We have been selling his new book at Watson Kennedy, ‘Edible Selby’ which focuses on the kitchens, gardens, homes and restaurants of 40 creative culinary figures. Each is accompanied by watercolor illustrations along with the unmistakable Selby handwritten questionnaire. There is also a signature recipe from each person he highlights. I love this book–visual, interesting, entertaining.
The Selby



 

 

Pepper & Salted

20130329-065147.jpg Food books can make such great gifts. The above 2, ‘Salted’ and ‘Pepper’ delve deep into the history of both, while also being cool enough to leave out on the coffee table. Filled with recipes, they are also interesting cookbooks. The duo wrapped together makes for a quite special combo gift. We had a customer the other day buy the ‘Pepper’ book and we tied off a small pepper grinder to the package, which made for a festive, clever, and oh so useful gift.



 

 

Grace

20130318-055057.jpg I had mentioned in a post last week that I had started reading the book ‘Grace’ when we away. The fab orange cover drew me in from the start. Her memoir is quite intriguing and entertaining–delightful, really. I had read snippets over the years about Grace Coddington at Vogue, but it was not until I saw the 2009 documentary ‘The September Issue’ that I witnessed the creativity that she brought to the table. Her witty voice comes through onto the pages of her recounting story after story of her colorful life. The book is also dotted with her pen-and-ink illustrations, which are whimsical and a sweet addition to the pages. The fantasy “travelogues” as they are described, which are her trademark, have been the spreads over the years in Vogue that I have always found most fascinating. It is interesting to get into the mind and read about the life of the person who creates such magical imagery. A perfect book to read snippets at a time, which makes taking it on a trip, spot on. Also a great Sunday afternoon by the fire book.



 

 

Signed Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks

20130226-090523.jpg I am happy to report that we just received another round of signed bookplates from Ina. I love selling books that are signed by the author. It just makes them extra special. My fondness for Ina runs deep, as most of you know. To be able to sell her amazing cookbooks signed by her–even better. They make such great gifts. The colorful spines adding a hit of color to any kitchen or bookshelf they grace.



 

 

American Beauty by Thom Filicia

20130217-081006.jpg I gave a shout-out for this book the other day, but then received several e-mails with questions about it from readers, so I thought I would highlight the entire book for you. For those of you unfamiliar with Thom Filicia, here is a bit of background. He worked at the design firm, Parish-Hadley, in the earlier part of his career. I kind of get chills just typing that, as I can only imagine what an extraordinary experience that must have been. If you are a regular reader, you know what high regard I hold Mister Hadley in. Thom then was part of the Emmy award winning, Queer Eye series. He has been named to just about every “Top 100″ design list, and has created interiors for many known folks. As I said the other day in the post, meeting him, he is just one gracious fellow.

20130217-082143.jpg The book centers around a home he purchased on Skaneateles Lake, in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The house was in need of a major renovation, so you are taken along for the ride from start to finish.

20130217-082402.jpg He shares his resources, as well as the up & down journey of renovating a home. Even when you are a design professional, the task can be daunting. The end result, an incredibly warm and inviting retreat.

20130217-082617.jpg Light filled and centered on the glorious view of the lake, the house is transformed into a modern oasis. What I like most is it really is not overdone. It is filled with things that he and his partner have collected over time, giving the home a patina right from the start. Filled with beautiful photos and tip after tip, it really is part memoir, part decorating book. Great left out on the coffee table to peruse for ideas and design inspiration.

A restful Sunday to each and every one of you. Thank you, always, for joining me on the journey.



 

 

The Essential New York Times Cookbook

20130118-081920.jpg Classic recipes for a new century is the tag line of this phenomenal cookbook compiled by Amanda Hesser from noteworthy recipes dating back to the 1850′s to current day that have been featured in the paper. As she states in her introduction, that it is a 150-year flip book of American cooking. This book excites me to no end. With over 1400 recipes and 931 pages, this cookbook is destined to become a classic. It is not an update of the best seller by Craig Claiborne, which covered a decade span of food coverage when he was at the paper. Hesser’s version works from a much wider scope. The 2 books working great side by side in any well-stocked cooking library. The dandy red cover making this edition a stand-out in the visual department. We have a nice stack that arrived just the other day that has found a temporary home on the front table at the Home store.



 

 

Stacks and Stacks of Books

20130117-064148.jpg It was another partial display day yesterday with various areas getting a little re-do, along with getting the Valentine table up and running. We re-worked one overly large display of books into 2. The art/design books had been melded with all of the food/cook books.

20130117-064706.jpg Displays are a very organic thing and can grow over time. The stacks in the singular display just got too tall, and a bit tough visually to take all in. By separating them, it created a much stronger visual, also making it much easier for the customer to fully enjoy and peruse.

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House Beautiful: Colors For Your Home

20130105-081852.jpg A book that keeps flying out the door for us is ‘Colors For Your Home’ by House Beautiful. Based on the popular monthly column in the magazine, this little book easily fits into a purse or valise. Perfect for bringing along to the paint store when you are choosing new paint colors, with 300 designer favorites. What I like best is it lists the paint company, the color, and the color number. From Benjamin Moore to Farrow & Ball, it highlights all the best paint companies and many of the spectacular colors they offer. All presented in lovely room after lovely room, so you get a snippet of how it looks in a real setting.