Five Gorgeous Art and Design Books to Read This Fall

Photo by Eric Clark

Timeless: Classic American Architecture for Contemporary Living, by Patrick Ahearn

From a 17th-century blacksmith’s shop to his own Wellesley Farms cottage, local architect Patrick Ahearn finds the balance between preserving a historical home and adding modern touches. This hardcover tours 18 of his signature creations, including a reimagined captain’s abode.

Out 2/2/18, $60, ORO Editions.

Dreamscapes, by Claire Takacs

Shutterbug Claire Takacs transports readers to Mother Earth’s most serene gardens in her new book, Dreamscapes. Lose yourself in more than 60 ethereal spreads, including Martha Stewart’s evergreen-filled Maine escape and Singapore’s 160-foot vertical gardens.

Out 2/6/18, $50, Hardie Grant Books.

Making America Modern: Interior Design in the 1930s, by Marilyn F. Friedman

The 1930s marked a new era of design, trading Old-World European opulence for simplicity and practicality (think: Paul Frankl’s “Speed” chair). Boston Design Week speaker Marilyn F. Friedman unpacks the revolutionary decade in this new text, complete with 200-plus images.

Out 5/9/18, $50, Bauer and Dean.

Fashioned from Nature, edited by Edwina Ehrman

Gowns adorned with beetle wings. Bodices inlaid with ivory. Capes layered in feathers. This text takes a critical look at the fashion industry’s impact on the environment, while also celebrating its eco-friendly successes (such as actress Emma Watson’s 2016 Met Gala dress, made from recycled materials).

Out 5/29/18, $40, V&A Publishing.

Art & Vinyl, edited by Jeffrey Fraenkel and Antoine de Beaupré

A record’s sleeve is just as important as its sound. To wit: The sensationalism of Andy Warhol’s now-iconic Sticky Fingers cover (featuring a working zipper) only heightened the Rolling Stones’ fame. With work by Pablo Picasso and Yoko Ono, Art & Vinyl highlights hundreds of noteworthy LP covers.

Out 4/24/18, $75, Fraenkel Gallery/Editions Antoine de Beaupré.