18 Good Reads to Add to Your 2022 Wishlist

WOMAN MADE: GREAT WOMEN DESIGNERS

As author Jane Hall says, “Woman Made attempts, as a reference point, to ensure that women designers have a better chance of visibility.” Her book profiles more than 200 female creatives – specifically within the field of product design – working from the early 20th century to the present, and includes icons and trailblazers such as Ray Eames, Eileen Gray, Florence Knoll, Ilse Crawford and Faye Toogood. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order by surname, and each features a key product image as well as a brief biography of the designer. An essential reference for anyone interested in the history of design and the often under-the-radar work done by women in this particular creative field, Woman Made both informs and inspires.

VIVID: STYLE IN COLOUR

Packed with eye candy, Vivid conveys the storied experience of renowned stylist Julia Green, showing how the application of colour in our homes and workplaces can create different atmospheres and outcomes. There are eight chapters divided by colour – orange, red, blue, green, pink, yellow, neutrals, and black – and full of inspiring imagery courtesy of photographer Armelle Habib, as well as interviews with colour mavens around the world, including designer Mariella Ienna (who is based in Sydney and Palermo), and Laurence Leenaert of LRNCE, in Marrakech. Short essays delve into topics such as the science of colour and colour psychology; the use of bold or clashing colour; and styling with colour in small spaces, and for the seasons. If you love colour, this book should be at the very top of your wish list.

LIVING BY THE OCEAN: CONTEMPORARY HOUSES BY THE SEA

Paleontologists have determined that human beings were living alongside the Indian Ocean at Pinnacle Point, near Mossel Bay, 170 000 years ago. And if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed much since then, it’s our ongoing delight at the prospect of living close to the sea. What has changed is the style in which we do so – which is what this gorgeous coffee-table tome presents. From awe-inspiring dwellings perched on clifftops to covetable houses built on white-sand beaches and even a home constructed underwater, Living By The Ocean covers architectural innovation and creativity on six continents, and features designs by 47 internationally renowned architects. Stunning exteriors and inspiring interiors of each home are showcased, with all 50 projects sharing a genuine sense of connection between the buildings and their surroundings.

ATLAS OF INTERIOR DESIGN

The most in-depth survey of contemporary residential interior design ever published, this remarkable book includes interiors from 50 countries in its survey of more than 400 of the most inspirational residential rooms from the past eight decades. As the publishers suggest, “No one style wins out in this book” – it covers an enormous range of designers, periods and looks. It includes iconic homes belonging to such luminaries as Luis Barragán and Dieter Rams, as well as less well-known – but no less exceptional – interiors. An essential resource for any design professional.

A ROOM OF HER OWN: INSIDE THE HOMES AND LIVES OF CREATIVE WOMEN

Featuring the homes of 20 prominent women designers, artists, jewellers, creators and makers around the world, this visual treat of a book is an inspiring showcase of what it means to live creatively today. With both photography and text by multitalented photographic artist Robyn Lea, it also succeeds in looking beyond the exquisite aesthetics of the spaces featured – which range from a castle in Liechtenstein to a sprawling compound in Mexico – to examine the personal ideals and everyday making practices of the women who have created these breathtaking homes.

OTTOLENGHI TEST KITCHEN: SHELF LOVE

We’ve all – especially in the last year or so! – had the not-so-fun experience of standing in front of our kitchen cupboards or fridge, wondering what to cook with what we’ve got. Fortunately, help is at hand – because the latest book by celeb chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his team is all about relaxed, flexible home cooking, and is based on what the test-kitchen team like to cook for themselves. The key word is “flexible”: Shelf Love shows its readers how to create dishes that will feed the family while also packing all the “wow” factor of an Ottolenghi meal.

NENDO: 2016-2020

Known for the sheer volume of its output while producing numerous award-winning designs, nendo is a Tokyo-based multidisciplinary studio 1 founded by Japanese designer Oki Sato. Expect work in every medium imaginable, from paperclips to watches, shoes, chocolates, glassware and furniture, all the way up to interior design and architecture.

MODERN FABRIC: TWENTY-FIVE DESIGNERS ON THEIR INSPIRATION AND CRAFT

Step into the studios of a diverse international group of modern fabric designers via the pages of this book, which includes – as the presence of her design on the cover suggests – SA’s very own textile star Heather Moore of Skinny laMinx. Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs, the profiles of Modern Fabric explore how the designers established and run their businesses, and reveal their inspiration and reflections on design.

101 COLLECTING CONVERSATIONS:
SIGNATURE WORKS OF A CENTURY

Documenting the Pretoria gallery’s inaugural exhibition – in which 42 public and private local institutions collaborated with Javett Art Centre to showcase key works in their collections – this book is more than an exhibition catalogue. It provides an overview of a century of South African art (1920– 2020) using genuinely accessible, engaging text and large images.

SCANDI RUSTIC

Award-winning bloggers and instagrammers Reena Simon and Rebecca Lawson are renowned
for their love affair with all things Scandi. Their first book reveals how you can apply key elements of classic Scandinavian design in your home, then add rustic natural textures to create a Scandi-inspired interior that’s cosy, relaxed and inviting.

MARRAKECH FLAIR

Marrakech has been captivating visitors for centuries – and in the past 100 years or so, the ancient Moroccan city’s colours, scents and sounds have inspired everyone from Yves Saint Laurent to Winston Churchill (yes, really). This book’s gorgeous imagery of the city’s storied museums, hotels and riads, with text by 1960s “It girl” Marisa Berenson – who now lives in Marrakech – is a fitting tribute to a place that should be on everyone’s travel wish list.

TADAO ANDO: LIVING WITH NATURE

Prolific architecture and art author Philip Jodidio showcases recent residences by world-renowned Japanese minimalist architect Tadao Ando in this beautiful book, which offers unprecedented access to Ando’s thought process through more than 200 photographs, line drawings, sketches and plans. Many of the residences presented are previously unseen or seldom- published works.

ARCHITIZER: THE WORLD’S BEST ARCHITECTURE 2020

Founded in 2009, the Architizer website showcases remarkable built-environment projects from around the world, and celebrates them via its annual A+Awards, which honour each year’s extraordinary architecture.

The winners are chosen by more than 400 international luminaries in fields such as publishing, product design and technology, and are also voted for by the public. The awards are then celebrated in a fully illustrated book – and this is the resulting compendium for 2020, which includes projects ranging from a huge airport to tiny weekend homes.

DESIGN SECRETS

suggests ways to celebrate raw materials and curate collections that will add something unique to your space. Packed with practical tips on subjects such as “How to use art to tell a story” and “How to dress shelves”, Design Secrets is one of those books that does what it says on the cover. It’s a masterclass in interiors from someone at the top of her game.

A CAPE TABLE

Well-known for the beauty of its Somerset West setting as well as its exceptional cuisine, Vergelegen is very much the star of this book of gorgeous photographs and food. Featuring recipes by chefs Michael Bridgeman and Roger Hindley (who head up the Stables family restaurant and produce the estate’s elegant summer picnic fare), and Michael Cooke (executive chef of the award-winning Camphors signature restaurant), this one will delight all fans of the estate.

KAFFE FASSETT IN THE STUDIO

Craft design legend Kaffe Fassett is as much a master of colour as he is brilliant at needlework, quilting and knitting, and this beautifully photographed book is a window into his pattern-packed world. It features new quilting and knitting patterns and needlepoint projects, as well as a never previously seen behind-the-scenes look at Fassett’s private home in London. Pure inspiration for the crafter in your life, Kaffe Fassett In The Studio will make a wonderful gift.

ZANZIBAR

Consisting of a cluster of Indian Ocean islands that have long been a place where cultures converge, collide and cross-pollinate, Zanzibar is a showcase of Omani architecture, Portuguese and British heritage, and Swahili tradition. The unique spirit of this special place has been captured in this colourful book of original photographs and text by Parisian photographer Aline Coquelle.

PATENTED: 1,000 DESIGN PATENTS

A remarkable collection of creativity, Patented is an essential reference guide to a century of design. Including original patent documents throughout, it features everything from everyday objects to instantly recognisable designer pieces, and celebrates the creative genius of inventors, innovators and dreamers around the world. Both a great reference book and fun to browse, it includes patents by many famous names alongside designs for tape dispensers, food processors, drink bottles and more.