As a man, there is an expectation that our personal spaces are minimalist. Lawn chairs and floor lamps (or table lamps sitting on the floor because there are no tables) clustered in front of a large and expensive TV with a video game console attached. But the times are a changin’, and we have been owning our spaces in similar ways that women are known to. We’re paying attention. Our spaces are being more intentional. Comfortable, designed, curated. Not long ago, a good friend of mine (and brilliant artist, writer, and impeccably stylish), Karlton Miko Tyack, wrote about elevating your space. It got me thinking. And I have discovered the beauty of the coffee table book. And also, my obsession with Assouline. But what is it about the coffee table book?
At my age, men start taking their interiors seriously. A sensible time to do so, I’ve collected five recommendations for cultivating your den, smoking room, or basement. – Karlton Miko Tyack
Spoiler alert…one of them is coffee table books.
Elevate the space
Depth is the important thing. Flat spaces feel sterile. Clean tops with nothing but a smooth, flat area feel like a transitional space. Nobody is home. Everything is blank and ready to be built up. The way to fix that is easy: give the room some depth, things to pull the eyes to certain points. Coffee table books do that by livening up your flat spaces with something interesting and thought-provoking. In my house, the coffee table is the place the takeout sits on while I am firing up a good movie and wasting the night away.
Did you know that an awkward silence happens every seven seconds in a group setting? I don’t know if that is true; I read that somewhere, and I have operated on that being true ever since. The beauty of the coffee table book is that it is a conversation starter. “Oh look…a book on watches. Tell me about it.” Awkward silence saved.
Showcase your interests
Now, if you are wanting to kill the awkward silence you want to start a conversation you actually want to talk about. So, of course, your coffee table book should be surrounding something you actually find interesting. For me, I have a Citizen 100th Anniversary book (I could talk about Citizen for hours). I have an Alan Flusser book on style. And I have a James Bond trio on style, cars, and destinations. What do you want to talk about? Style? Watches? Cars? Travel? All are covered. You won’t be having any awkward silences around this table.
Assouline is the name on all of these books. It specializes in coffee table
It’s all in the details
Just like the way Assouline approaches the making of their books, the placing of them in your home is all about the attention to detail. The small things matter. There is a function and a fashion to these, so the approach is to incorporate both of them into your space.
Fashion – The colors of the books work best if they complement your space. You don’t want them to match; if possible, they can disappear into the room, and your eye is no longer drawn to them. Sizes should vary; make it look like a stack of
Function – Read them. When someone asks about them, or you start a conversation about them, that shouldn’t be the first time you open them. They should be well used, and you should be familiar with them. “You like Aston Martins; wait till you see the one on page twelve, the one from Dr. No.” “If you want to see a cool fact about the Eco Drive, make sure you check it out near the eighth chapter.” The whole point is to be used as a conversation driver, but even better if it serves as the center point.
One last tip: Coffee table books don’t need to only live on a coffee table. Have one on cooking? Make it the center point in your kitchen. Know the recipes and use it as a cookbook you display. A style one? Perfect decor for your closet. Elevate it with tips you can turn to when you find yourself stuck. Coffee table
