Q: What’s something most folks treasure, yet rarely buy for themselves? A: Coffee tables books—that literary eye candy that’s as lovely to page-through as it is to display.
A: We turned to seven experts—in areas ranging from fashion to food—and asked them to choose a display-worthy book they’d be glad to give or receive. See their picks below; then rush on over to your nearest bookstore and get gifting.
1. FASHION
Who: Krystal Faircloth; blogger, A Pinch of Lovely
This Louisiana girl’s personal style is at once enviable and approachable. We’ve been shopping from her holiday gift picks and party dressing tips all season.
Book Pick: Pantone on Fashion: A Century of Color in Design by Leatrice Eiseman and E.P. Cutler, with contributor Julien Tomasello
“This book fuses my two loves—color and fashion. My background is graphic design, so seeing how it has impacted the way fashion views color choices and combinations is very fascinating to me. Not to mention, this book cover is so vibrant and striking on a table.”
2. FOOD
Who: Stacey Little; blogger, Southern Bite
With a passion for spreading the gospel of Southern food, blogger and cookbook author Stacey Little invents and shares recipes you can actually pull off.
Book Pick: The Southerner’s Cookbook: Recipes, Wisdom, and Stories by the Editors of Garden and Gun
“Not only is it beautiful, but this book is also filled with amazing recipes that are just as much a part of the culture of the South as Spanish moss and sweet tea.”
3. MIXOLOGY
Who: Robert Longhurst; bar manager, Josephine
Our neighbor in Nashville’s 12 South, this contemporary restaurant was the location for our first Draper James Ambassador dinner. Oh, and we’re obsessed with their Brussels sprouts!
Book Pick: The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, with photographer Alanna Hale and contributor Martha Holmberg
“I like the book because I relate to the simple and no-nonsense approach to bartending.”
4. ART
Who: Leslie B. Jones, Director of Museum Affairs & Curator of Decorative Arts at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art
Leslie is currently overseeing the restoration of the magnificent interiors at Cheekwood, the gardens and museum located only a few miles away from our Draper James flagship boutique.
Book Pick: American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell by Danilo Eccher and Stephanie Haboush Plunkett
“This publication truly shows the breadth of Norman Rockwell’s talent as an artist and as a chronicler of American life. Although much of Rockwell’s imagery is of a bygone era, we will always be able to relate to the characters and events that are featured in his work.“
5. GARDENS
Who: Patrick Larkin, Senior Vice President of Gardens at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art
Patrick oversees Cheekwood’s vast and diverse 55-acre gardens.
Book Pick: Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration: 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy, edited by Paige Dickey, with photographer Marion Brenner.
“This beautifully photographed book showcases many of the gardens that have been saved through the work of the Garden Conservancy in addition to many other private gardens.”
6. TRAVEL
Who: Kristin Luna; blogger, Camels & Chocolate
With her charm and adventurous spirit, this Nashville native has us venturing (at least virtually) from Borneo to Brazil to Belgium and back.
Book Pick: Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton
“You’ll be hard-pressed to meet a soul with Internet access who hasn’t been touched by Brandon Stanton’s poignant portraits—and the stories that accompany them—captured on the streets of New York.”
7. INTERIOR DESIGN
Who: Mark D. Sikes, Interior Designer
The ultra-talented interior designer isn’t just the visionary behind our stores; he’s also decorating Reese’s family home in Nashville.
Book Pick: One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood, with text by Julia Reed, foreword by Bunny Williams, and photography by Paul Costello and Rodney Collins
“Antiques expert Furlow Gatewood restored his family’s historic compound in Georgia, adding and rescuing buildings and decorating them with amazing and poetic style. A chronicle of that passion project, this is the chicest book in the world—and it’s so Southern.”