I would say my love of beautiful coffee table books started when I was 5. My mom, an avid collector of beautiful things has amazing coffee table books and art books. They were always very present in our home all over the place. They were not only on the coffee table which I loved. She intermixed them on bookshelves, dressers etc.
When I was in high school I started collecting my own coffee table books. My first one was an Absolut vodka book. Odd for a high schooler but I was obsessed with the magazine ads. To a point where I along with my mom would take them out of magazines for me to collect. I am pretty sure I had about 80 different ones. Next came my all time favorite coffee table book “My Love Affair With Jewelry” by Elizabeth Taylor. I have always loved Elizabeth Taylor and this book is so cool. Its not only a fabulous looking book but its an autobiography of sorts. It shows all her jewelry and the stories behind it and her life.
The collection just grew from there. Almost every year for my birthday and Christmas I would get some new fabulous coffee table or style book that my mom knew I was after. Even ones I didn’t know I wanted. I did the same for her. We have been giving each other Coffee Table books for so long I think our combined collection is insane. She prefers more arty, political coffee table books where as I go for more decorating and style books. I think this shared love is a great thing we have in common as well as something to discuss when we give them to each other and can sit and pour through them.
When A and I moved into our first place together I knew I needed my coffee table books to be involved in our decor but I did not want to turn our place into a typical “girlie girl house.”
I do have my own office in our second bedroom so A portion of my books reside there in various spots.
We also have this amazing ledge at the top of our stairs that was screaming for some love. I mixed coffee table books, pictures, things we love(owls for me, cows for him) and flowers. The mix is so fantastic for both of our tastes. I love that every single day the natural light hits that part of our living room and really brings that space to life.
I love that my mom and I share this love of collecting beautiful books. Some of mine are a little worse for wear what with college, moving into first apartments etc but I love them just the same.
There is something about coffee table books that are just so beautiful to me.
What is your favorite thing to collect?
I love beautiful books too 🙂 I can’t wait til we move into a spot with more space so I can collect more beautiful books for our home 🙂
I used to be obsessed with them too… then the movers stole my stuff… and I haven’t gotten to replace any of them yet (and that was in 2008… so.. yeah)… however, I did make my wedding album as a coffee table book… and I’m totally 100% obsessed with it. You should do yours that way, too… since you love them as much as I do! 🙂
What a neat collection! I have never thought about collecting coffee table books before.
Ohhh I used to love the Absolut vodka ads! I have one “coffee table book” and its “Where Are They Buried?” which tells you all about where famous people are buried and various tidbits of information pertaining to their life/death – I find it soooooo interesting!
Love it! I can’t wait until we have a nice coffee table that we can make pretty with fun things like books!
I have a stack of books on almost every table in my house! haha!! They aren’t as neat as yours look tho! I’m always looking for more to add to the stack so I may have to try a few of the ones you have shown!
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I love the way you’ve used the coffee book tables! Too cute! I need to pick up the Mary Kate and Ashley one.
What a fun thing for you to share with your mom! As a kid I was always fascinated by coffee table books. I only have a few now, but I really like them. My favorite is a book that has pictures of every painting Van Gogh ever did with little stories about them, as well as copies of cool artifacts like letters he wrote, etc. I can spend hours looking at it.
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These books would be perfect for any fashion lovers out there!