The Monocle Book of Homes: A Guide to Inspiring Residences

Brûlé (The Monocle Book of Japan), the editorial director of the design magazine Monocle, along with Monocle editor-in-chief Tuck and senior editor Giles, survey lush homes across the planet in this gorgeous collection. There’s an eco-friendly home in Fiskars, Finland, created almost entirely of indigenous wood and boasting exquisite handmade tiles created by the homeowner; an airy mid-century gem in Los Angeles with awe-inspiring floor-to-ceiling windows designed by modernist Rudolph Michael Schindler; a serene “urban oasis” in Jakarta, Indonesia; and a grand 19th-century mansion in Batroun, Lebanon. After the breathtaking tour, the authors collect 12 essays on what makes a house a home—“make it breathable, make it organic, make it with local materials,” writes designer Zoe Chan Eayrs—and subsequent sections address practical matters, such as how to incorporate plants into a design, or where to find the editors’ favorite home elements (which include an Italian Nolita 3659 lounge chair and salt and pepper mills from the U.K. brand Very Good & Proper). Design-lovers will be in heaven. (Aug.)