Our thoughts on interior and gardening novels to get your hands on
BOOKS are a great gift — default or otherwise — and while they don’t have the immediate whizz-bang response of some twinkly bits or baby soft cashmere — they, above all — will stand the test of time.
Yes, they may suffer from being perfecty acceptable, but when the last of the wrapping paper is rammed into the wheelie bin and you’re left with a house that looks like it suffered from the tail end of Katrina, then the gift of a book comes into its own — it’s a post-Christmas consolation.
And while the daffs are busy shoving their elbows above ground and thoughts turn to spring again, well, then is the time to savour some interior-inclined tomes.
And because we will not, for the most part, buy beautifully presented, large format, hard-back works of art for ourselves — giving them as a gift makes for a perfect present. If you lust after them in the home section of your local book shop, guaranteed your friends will, too — so here are a few old and new to give as gifts.
Who wouldn’t want to have Dominic Bradbury’s address book? The man gets into the most beautiful homes in the most beautiful parts of the world and brings them all back, in photographic form, to the rest of us, who are living in ‘normal’ circumstances.
This year’s book by the prolific author and commentator takes more or less the same approach as his other work, but drills down into the details —hence the ‘close-up’ title. And his introductory statement is really about how good design works. No matter how decorative an interior — or even how much money or personality is thrown at a look — easy functionality is the ultimate test.
So what Bradbury does is explain this to us in each chapter, dealing with context, scale, clarity, symmetry, cohesion and balance — there is more, but you need to buy the book to find out.
And of all the books reviewed this year, this would be my favourite buy. Why? Because it’s delicious to flick through, and there’s an idea a second for the avid interior nerd — and then there’s the drill-down aspect, which explains why the mise en scene works — as well as an introduction to architectural and interior design ‘names’ from all over the world. That’s not to be sneezed at — and, to be fair, Bradbury fills 430-odd pages of outstanding interiors in a modest and considered way.
There are so many images that the reader will first just go through the pages, but the real nut of the book is in the explication and commentary, with easy, numbered images to show exactly what the author is highlighting in the text. This is a great present for male or female, young or old, professional or not. Buy the book.
(Special offer for Irish Examiner readers, €16 — to order, call 01-5009570 and quote IE. Free delivery within Ireland.)
And, now, for a book that’s not new, has been written up forever, it seems, but which still makes it onto this list, because it’s a simple and elegant tutorial on how to get the best out of your home. There’s a handy, step-by-step guide for the self-builder (of whom there are many in this country, and more waiting in the wings), but it’s just as good for the long-term resident looking to revamp their nest.
Despite the fact this book was published last year, and technically shouldn’t be on this 2015 list — do consider it. It’s reasonably priced and your mother, lover, and other will appreciate the words and pictures. Bannon is a stand-out architect in his simplicity — and he carries that into his books, as well
And from the simple to the sublime — look upon this ye mighty and weep. Room is a seven-star, boutique hotel of a book with model looks and, oh, almost 500 pages. Again, it was published late last year — and arrived too late for our picks then, but it’s making the grade now because it’s such an impressive piece of work.
This is the kind of book you’ll give to the interiorphile, desiger, architect in your life, or even an avid retailer, as Room is as much about shops as homes, as much about commercial interiors as it is about nice rooms. And it’s so cool — the reader will shiver with anticipation.
The premise is simple — 10 leading lights of the design world pick ten of the best interior-design projects of the last five years. The cuators are all leading lights in their field, from Michael Boodro, of Elle Decor, to Tony Chambers, of Wallpaper, to Eduardo Duarte, a leading commentator from Portugal, and Jon Otis, of NYC’s Object Agency.
I could go on, but you still have time to order a copy and read the list for yourself. The one thing I’ll say about this book (apart from ‘don’t look for anything cosy here’) is that is would be an ideal pressie for a shop-owner, publican, coffee purveyor, surf shop and dinky little craft or clothes-boutique owner.
There are some great envelope-edge ideas within its pages that will translate — and cheaply, too — to a high street near you. And, then, there’s the inestimable pleasure of just flicking through this massive tome — so support is necessary.
And still on stonking great tomes, Olivier Dupon’s book is another magnificent potential present. Flower arrangers will salivate and future brides will lose the plot entirely, if handed this A3 block. The name is the mission statement — this is not a fuddy-duddy book of church flowers, or Constance Spry sprays. Instead, it’s a collection of images showcasing works of art in ephemeral, floral form.
Admittedly, a really gifted arranger will be needed to duplicate some of the works here, but there are some attainable pieces for the ‘only’ amateur. Dupon opens the book by saying that while we’re all used to flowers at important occasions, we should embrace them routinely, because “floral still-lifes can ravish our senses and reflect every mood”.
And he’s brutally honest in saying his book is there to highlight the work of the floral artists he’s chosen from around the world — not a prescriptive methodology for arrangements, or a text book for arrangers. But there’s a huge variety of styles, from the sharply contemporary to the blossomy bridal, and the beautifully rustic — but that doesn’t do justice to the stardards on display — they really are world-class. You’d nearly eat this book.
So, we leave the sublime behind and move onto the supremely practical, in the form of the warm-hearted, hardback book by Rachelle Blondel — which does exactly what it says on the cover, reviving old-time cures and clean-alls in what’s described as a ‘granny-chic’ way. Again, this is a handly little book that will keep it’s place on the kitchen shelf down the years, as its earthy wisdom makes it a really useful thing.
Certainly, there are some elements that take the ‘granny chic’ vibe a bit far — making a God-awful laundry basket from an upturned lamp shade is a Kirsty Allsop step too far, but it may appeal to the felt-hat brigade.
Otherwise, the cynical metropolitan will find plenty of green-clean recipes for the old mid-century modern pieces, like hand-made beeswax, along with clever ways to clean one’s claret decanter (or to show Fatima how to do it instead, perhaps?). Bread soda, vinegar and essential oils play a starring role and there’s a lovely recipe for your very own febreze — always handy for labrador pong on the sofa, don’t you think?
Then, there’s home-made paint, waxed jam-jar covers, quilted eiderdowns and home-made cures and teas made from herbs. Recipes for balms and ointments are included, as well as lovely perfumes and scrubs —all great, knacky things to have to hand for the busy mom, nana or aunt, and a great present to give someone who loves to craft and clean.
And now, finally, to my little treasure of a book — Bob Flowerdew’s large format, multi-imaged book is a gift to give to the accomplished gardener, as much as to the beginner. Mrs Smug here thought she knew it all until wandering down the pages at the gentle narrative prompting of Mr Flowerdew (and what a lovely, appropriate name for a gardener?)
This is a comprehensive and intelligently arranged guide, with some cutesie pictures from Pete Cassidy, printed on matt, tactile paper that makes this book feel right as much as it is right.
And Mr Bob knows his onions — there he is in the introduction page, set amidst a flourishing wild garden, blond queue to one side, while, on the other, he gives a scientifically-rigorous run-down of what growiing organically means.
It’s all stuff you may be quite familiar with from these pages, but it bears telling, again and again, as we learn more about soil micro-biology as the basis for plant health and, as a consequence, for our own individual, microbiomes.
It’s all here, from companion planting to flowers and fruit and bees and bugs, and the weaving of ornamental elements into the productive garden for the health of both.
Lawns are discussed (a rarity in organic food gardening), as well as maintaining the turf and there’s a chapter devoted to keeping your garden beautiful, natural, but also tidy, which should draw in some willing non-organic gardeners to the true path. The best thing about the book, though, is the voice.
This is a nice, easy-going tutorial that enlightens and is absorbed easily. (Even for those who think they know it all.) For instance, you can set broad beans and potatoes in the autumn for early crops, if the winter is mild, which is often the case here — and the young beans protect the potato shoots from wind and frost.
Also, there’s a chapter devoted to tropical crops — for those who like a challenge — and this includes Cape gooseberry, peanuts, lemon grass and ginger — oh, and bananas, too. Bob also deals with pest control and prevention and gives a short chapter to our backyard friends — chickens, ducks and geese. A delightful book to while away the seed-sorting months and a great, no-nonsense guide to being a better gardener.
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