Let’s chat about coffee table books! In the era of the eBook, I’m all the more convinced that I want to be surrounded by books that are not only useful but also beautiful. Visiting the library a few weeks ago reminded me of this as I grabbed a stack of giant art & design books that were so inspiring — so I thought I’d show you a few that I’ve got on my wishlist right now.

These picks are all in my general areas of interest (fashion, graphic design, lifestyle, travel, architecture, etc.). I like to choose books from publishers that specialize in this genre, particularly Taschen, Chronicle, Assouline, etc.

Got any good recommendations? I’m always up for some cool design books or anything related to travel and style. And aren’t these grown-up coloring books too fun? (Confession: Sometimes I like to color in Jude’s coloring books too. It’s so soothing!)