If there’s one thing I love about this time of year, apart from all the extra candles and blankets that start appearing around the house, it’s the flurry of new Nordic books being released.
Yes, we all know this is conveniently timed for the Christmas present buying rush, but for me a new book is a total treat any time of year.
From design and inspiration, homes and interiors, through to people and places, if you, or someone you know is inspired by the Nordic way of life then I’m sure there will be lots for them to discover in my roundup of new titles.
Design and Inspiration
HAY by Rolf and Mette Hay, edited by Kelsey Keith, with a foreword by John Hoke III, £39.95 and published by Phaidon.
Safe to say I’ve devoured every line of this very special book, which has been published to coincide with the Danish design brands 20th anniversary. Packed with beautiful images and interviews, explore husband and wife Rolf and Mette Hay’s journey, HAY’s incredible rise in global popularity, as well as the ever-growing collaborations they undertake with leading international designers to produce their much-loved pieces.
Pretty Small: Grand Living with Limited Space by Gestalten, £35 and published by Gestalten.
With both British and Danish homes averaging 1.9 rooms per person this lovely interiors book showcases inventive ways we can all make the most of our living space. From managing storage, to adapting rooms for different uses at various times of the day, you will be truly inspired whatever size your home may be.
The Sensory Home: An inspiring guide to mindful decorating by Pippa Jameson, £25 and published by Rylands Peter & Small.
For me design should not only look good but do good too. Packed with handy hints and clever tips on how layout, colour, texture, scent, lighting and more can all help you create a calmer and more harmonious home, this beautifully organised book is sure to inspire you.
Japandi Living: Japanese Tradition. Scandinavian Design by Laila Rietbergen and Marlous Snijder, £40 and published by ACC Art Books.
The Japandi interiors trend isn’t going anywhere. Combining serene Scandinavian design elements with the richness of Japanese traditions it is characterised by a combination of beauty, functionality, and clean lines. This beautiful book not only showcases some amazing places and spaces, but also gives practical tips on how to achieve this look in your own home too.
Homes and Interiors
Soft Minimal: A Sensory Approach to Architecture & Design by Norm Architects, £55 and published by Gestalten.
I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve already recommended this book to already, and safe to say it’s one of my favourites too. Danish design studio Norm Architects never fail to inspire and in their first self-curated book you will find eight sections dedicated to their incredible projects and practice methods.
Nordic Homestead by Riina Ahtola & Kati Pilli-Sihvola, €32 and published by Cozy Publishing.
I adore all Cozy Publishing’s books and hope their latest title will join my collection soon. Showcasing ten families, that have all moved to the Finnish countryside, this book follows their journeys, their home renovations, as well as their shared desires to leave the hustle and bustle of daily life behind and start afresh surrounded by nature.
Dear Old Home: Nordic Houses with Charm by Frida Steiner, €32 and published by Cozy Publishing.
Visit a series of beautiful Finnish homes where the past and future intertwine. These characterful properties range from a rose-hued log house to a spacious loft-style home by the sea, an Art Nouveau villa, an old village school, a former courtyard storehouse and a world heritage site.
My Hygge Home: How to make your home a happy place by Meik Wiking, £16.99, and published by Penguin Life.
A gorgeous guide to the art of creating a cosy, happy home, the latest book from internationally bestselling author, Meik Wiking, is inspired by Denmark’s approach to design and its culture. With simple tips based on research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, Meik reveals how to make your own happy place and celebrate cosiness like a true Scandinavian.
People and Places
Kinfolk Islands by John Clifford Burns, $45, and published by Artisan Books.
Filled with ideas and inspiration for where to escape, explore and unwind, Kinfolk Islands is full of breath-taking photography, practical guidance as well as thoughtful destination ideas off the beaten track. Covering islands big and small, I particularly enjoyed the story about the Finnish archipelago.
Olafur Eliasson, Experience by Olafur Eliasson, with text by Michelle Kuo, £69.95, and published by Phaidon.
Take an in-depth look at the work and practice of acclaimed Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. Tracing his career from the 1990s through to the present day, Eliasson’s sculptured and large-scale installations often explore the relationship between humans and the natural world with awe-inspiring results.
A Year with our Food Stories by Gestalten and Our Food Stories, £35, and published by Gestalten.
If like me you’re an avid follower of Nora and Laura of Our Food Stories, then you will adore their first cookbook. Taking reference from the changing seasons, these delicious, gluten-free recipes are shared alongside dreamy photographs taken in their home and in the rural landscape beyond throughout the year.
Walter Gropius, An Illustrated Biography by Magnus Englund and Leyla Daybelge, £100, and published by Phaidon.
It may be over a decade since I spent the summer visiting all three sites of the Bauhaus, but the influence Walter Gropius had on my design journey will last a lifetime. This visual biography tells the story of Gropius’s life, both personal and professional, through a collection of letters, telegrams, sketches, photographs and posters.
All book cover images courtesy of the publishers, all other images by Nicola Capper.
Enjoyed reading this post about new Nordic books? Then find out more about one title in particular, Soft Minimal by Norm Architects.
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