Merrell Publishers

Japandi is the newest and hottest trend in interiors: a harmonious combination of functionality, comfort, and the minimalist look that characterizes Scandinavian design, with the purest elegance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Japandi harmoniously blends Scandinavian hygge with wabi-sabi, a concept derived from Zen Buddhism that advocates peaceful sobriety and invites us to admire the beauty hidden in slight imperfections in nature. This first major survey of Japandi style will introduce the reader to the fundamentals, and to iconic objects that will transform and interior into a Japandi-inspired retreat. Chapter one of the book examines the converging principles that have contributed to the emergence of Japandi Style such as functionality, neutral colors, the importance of organic materials, and the thoughtful simplicity of shapes. Chapter two presents some of the most emblematic works of Japandi Style, and the design studios behind them. Chapter three gives examples of how to decorate and furnish rooms – the living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, winter garden, or home office – in Japandi Style.

Artistic expression in the Middle East is experiencing something of a renaissance. Domestic patronage is flourishing, and an impressive array of new museums and art fairs across the region is helping to stimulate international interest in an increasingly influential movement. Art of the Middle East is an accessible overview of modern and contemporary art of the Middle East and Arab world from 1945 to the present, with an emphasis on artists active today. This new revised and expanded edition features the work of 12 additional artists, as well as a consideration of the impact of the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring, which erupted across the region in 2011. The featured works are divided into seven themed sections - including literature, portraiture and the body, and politics, conflict and war - while extended captions provide an engaging commentary on each artwork and the artist behind its creation. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this landmark publication is an authoritative guide to a challenging and exciting body of work.

Even in times of economic hardship, perfume is an affordable luxury, recognized for its ability to make us not only smell good but also feel great. No woman's dressing table or bathroom cabinet is complete without at least one bottle. Cult Perfumes is the first book to explore the most exclusive boutique perfumeries producing some of the world's most captivating scents. Tessa Williams documents more than 25 perfumeries and brands, ranging from the pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, established by Dominican friars in 1221, and the classic English company Floris, founded in 1730, to the new eponymous range created by the famed fragrance expert Roja Dove. Williams goes behind the scenes at each perfumery to interview the perfumers and explore the evolution of the company, the ethos behind the brand, and its signature scents. With a concise illustrated introduction to the history of perfume-making and features on iconic perfumes, future cult classics and the so-called 'noses' who keep the brands attuned to today's popular scents, Cult Perfumes will be as alluring to lovers and collectors of perfume as the fragrances it presents.

If you have ever bought a cookery book not only for the recipes but also for the mouth-watering images and attractive design, then A Book for Cooks is for you. Food writer and self-confessed bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown surveys 100 pioneering cookbooks, selected by her for their influence, for their unusual recipes or simply for their beauty. All types of cookery book are featured, from the seventeenth century to the present, with cuisine ranging from Italian to Moroccan, Indian to South American. Among the famous chefs and writers included are Mrs Beeton, Raymond Blanc, Robert Carrier, Elizabeth David, Nigella Lawson, Claudia Roden, Constance Spry and Alice Waters. Each entry includes a brief commentary on the book as well as photographs of its cover and several inside pages. Also featured are contributions from leading chefs, cookery writers and other food experts, either discussing their top 10 cookbooks or describing how they organize their own collection. With more than 500 colour illustrations, lively text, including a short history of cookery books, and an elegant design, A Book for Cooks is a culinary delight for all foodies.

Ask almost anyone to describe their ideal home, and the chances are that it'll be spacious and glamorously decorated, as though it has leapt straight from the pages of a glossy magazine. But enviable decor alone does not result in happiness. The days of simply 'getting the look' are over; we are now more interested in achieving a contented home life than in considering purely the aesthetics of our interiors. After all, home is not simply a pretty backdrop to life, but a practical and integral part of it. In this timely new book, interiors expert Rebecca Winward first considers what makes our homes so vital to our happiness, then outlines the basic principles that create a happy home. The main part of the book follows a clear room-by-room arrangement, with sections on such elements as layout, colour, coverings for walls and floors, storage and accessories for each main space in the house. Useful, down-to-earth advice is accompanied by inspirational photographs from stylish homes of all kinds, and every chapter concludes with a list of dos and don'ts for achieving the perfect happy room. Happy Home is not so much about a certain style as about a certain style philosophy. Follow these principles, and your home will be functional, beautiful - and ultimately happier.

Once upon a time, only typesetters needed to know about kerning, leading, ligatures, and hanging punctuation. Today, however, most of us work on computers, with access to hundreds of fonts, and we'd all like our letters, reports and other documents to look as good - and as readable - as possible. But what does all the confusing terminology about ink traps, letter spacing, and visual centring mean, and what are the rules for good typography? Type Matters! is a book of tips for everyday use, for all users of typography, from students and professionals to anyone who does any layout design on a computer. The book is arranged into three chapters: an introduction to the basics of typography; headline and display type; and setting text. Within each chapter there are sections devoted to particular principles or problems, such as selecting the right typeface, leading, and the treatment of numbers. Examples throughout show precisely what makes good typography - and, crucially, what doesn't. Authoritatively written and designed by a practitioner and teacher of typography, Type Matters! has a beautifully clear layout that reinforces the principles discussed throughout.

A companion and successor to Merrell's hugely successful Dream Homes (more than 50,000 copies in print), this book presents 100 exceptional interiors of all styles from around the globe. From sumptuous, state-of-the-art city apartments created by professional designers to quirky holiday retreats transformed by their dedicated owners, More Dream Homes is an exciting kaleidoscope of locations and decoration ideas. Each project is fully illustrated with beautiful photographs by celebrated interiors photographer Andreas von Einsiedel, while Johanna Thornycroft describes concisely the key characteristics of each home and how these have been achieved, providing insights into the work of leading designers. More Dream Homes contains a wealth of inspiration for lovers of interior design or anyone seeking to make their dream home a reality.

This is a guide to mixing furniture and accessories from different periods in your home. The book combines inspirational ideas with practical advice, helping anyone to create a stylish, comfortable and functional home.

This title is a thought-provoking exploration of the radical directions that the creative industries are taking. The book reveals how a new generation of products, materials and surfaces will align design with such areas as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology.

Wine is a product of the land, made by dedicated producers in intriguing places all over the world. This stylish new book invites the reader to explore those regions and thus understand how a particular wine evolves from where and when it is created. Experienced wine writer Rosalind Cooper reveals how the vine grows through the year, and for each month, she focuses on a particular aspect of wine: for example, how it is made; vintages and vats; or how to choose the ultimate selection for your home cellar. There are mouth-watering menus to match to wine choices, and atmospheric accounts of where to travel to experience at first hand the most significant parts of the world of wine. Fairs and festivals where the wine lover can celebrate in style are also featured, and each chapter concludes with a fascinating profile of a key wine producer, from Stéphane Tsassis of Champagne Laurent- Perrier to Peter Gago, Chief Winemaker of Penfolds, Australia.

With its perfect combination of new and old, romance, nostalgia and comfort, country style has universal appeal. From a converted barn in the English Cotswolds to a Mallorcan finca, and from a Russian dacha to a grand Swiss villa, the100 fabulous interiors featured in this book will provide endless inspiration for city dwellers seeking to escape the fast pace of urban living, and committed countryside lovers contemplating the restoration or refurbishment of their rural idyll. Johanna Thornycroft describes how colour, pattern and the sympathetic use of traditional materials and finishes have been employed in each project to create a confident and relaxed style, while beautiful images by leading interiors photographer Andreas von Einsiedel bring to life the charm and character of every house.