Books & Gifts

This book promises an opportunity for self-reflection and lasting change, by getting to the bottom of why we've accumulated too much stuff in the first place, therefore allowing us to transform our lives. Professional decluttering and design team Cary and Kyle of New Minimalism will take you through every step, from assessing your emotional relationship to your stuff to decluttering your home to then turning it into a beautifully designed space that feels clean and tidy without feeling sparse or prescriptive. And all of this without filling up a landfill--you'll find resources and strategies to donate and reuse your stuff so you don't have to feel guilty about getting rid of it!

Dimensions: 0.7" H x 8.5" L x 7.5" W
Hardcover
Weight: 1.5 lbs
208 pages
Written by Cary Telander Fortin, Kyle Louise Quilici
Publisher: Sasquatch Books

• Use a natural loofah, not a synthetic sponge
• Buy milk in glass bottles or make homemade nut milk
• Opt for a waste-free shampoo bar
• Skip the printed receipt and opt for an email instead
• Wrap gifts beautifully with cloth

Homeowners, designers, and architects are always looking for new sources of inspiration. 150 Best of the Best Apartment Ideas offers hundreds of photos of some of the most innovative and interesting apartments from around the world.

Each of the entries have been created by distinguished international architects and designers who have worked to achieve practical, innovative, and stunning solutions adapted to the specific needs and particular tastes of their clients--using eco-friendly and sustainable materials. Expressing the diversity of current trends in apartment design 150 Best of the Best Apartments is an invaluable resource for professionals and students in various fields, including architecture, interior design, and retail, as well as homeowners looking to keep current on the latest in contemporary residential architecture.

For more than 50 years, this homesteading classic is the essential book of basic skills and country wisdom for living off the land, being prepared, and doing it yourself. Keep your family healthy, safe, and independent--no matter what's going on in the world. From homesteaders to urban farmers, and everyone in between, there is a desire for a simpler way of life: a healthier, greener, more self-sustaining, and holistic approach that allows you to survive and thrive--even in uncertain times. With its origins in the back-to-the-land movement of the late 1960s, Carla Emery's landmark book has grown into a comprehensive guide to living a self-sustaining lifestyle.

Inspired by nature's colors, textures, and patterns, design icon Erica Tanov uses her passion for textiles to create beautiful, timeless interiors that connect us to the natural world. Now, in her first book, Design by Nature, Tanov teaches you how to train your eye to the beauty of the natural world, and then bring the outdoors in--incorporating patterns and motifs from nature, as well as actual organic elements, into simple ideas for everyday decorating and design.

Dimensions: 11.0" H x 10.0" L x 8.2" W
Hardcover
Weight: 2.15 lbs
232 pages
Written by Erica Tanov, Ngoc Minh Ngo (Photographer)
Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Going Off the Grid: The How-To Book of Simple Living and Happiness contains step-by-step instructions for creating your self-sustaining refuge in the untamed wild or the blacktop jungle. Through Collins' methods, you'll identify and purge unnecessary stressors from your everyday life. You'll also learn the basics of off-the-grid living from home construction to energy alternatives, from sewage disposal to internet access.

Dimensions: 0.41" H x 8.5" L x 5.5" W
Hardcover
Weight: .51 lbs
192 pages
Written by Gary Collins
Publisher: Second Nature Publishing

Are you yearning for a simpler existence? Find the rural escape of your dreams in this beautiful book from the creators of the wildly popular tumblr Cabin Porn.

Created by a group of friends who preserve 55 acres of hidden forest in Upstate New York, Cabin Porn began as a scrapbook to collect inspiration for their building projects. As the collection grew, the site attracted a following, which is now a huge and obsessive audience.

Dimensions: 1.3" H x 9.2" L x 7.2" W 
Hardcover
Weight: 2.26lbs
336 pages
Written by Zach Klein, Steven Leckart, Noah Kalina
Publisher: LIttle Brown and Company

For many, owning a home is the ultimate goal in their life. To have a place that reflects who one is, their values, and that they can call their own is a natural dream to have. However, in today's economy, owning a house can be more difficult and unattainable than ever before, which has led many people to look at alternative means of home ownership, such as the shipping container home.

Growing in popularity in recent years, shipping container homes are attractive for a number of reasons. The most obvious is that they are environmentally friendly and a great alternative to building a brand-new home. It is entirely possible to build a shipping container home out of recycled containers, reducing the amount of waste in the waste stream, and providing quality building materials for a fraction of the price.

Dimensions: 0.14" H x 9.0" L x 6.0" W
Paperwork
Weight: .23 lbs
68pages
Written by Alec Edwards

The yearning for a life of pared-down purity has built to a roar, and Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter--the husband-and-wife owners of General Store, one of California's most talked-about shops--are at the forefront. In Abode: Thoughtful Living with Less, these tastemakers make a graceful case for living better no matter your budget or abilities, guiding you to create a space this is simple and true. Their time-tested methods create interiors that maximize openness, strip a building back to its bones, and amplify natural light, evoking unpretentious tranquility. 

Dimensions: 11.2" H x 10.8" L x 8.9" W
Hardcover
Weight: 2.9 lbs
256 pages
Written by Serena Mitnik-Miller, Mason St Peter
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

From the home organizers who made their orderly eye candy the method that everyone swears by comes Joanna and Clea's signature approach to decluttering. The Home Edit walks you through paring down your belongings in every room, arranging them in a stunning and easy-to-find way (hello, labels!), and maintaining the system so you don't need another do-over in six months. When you're done, you'll not only know exactly where to find things, but you'll also love the way it looks.

Dimensions: 0.8" H x 9.9" L x 7.0" W
Paperback
Weight: 1.62 lbs
256 pages
Written by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers

Scandinavian interior design is admired the world over for its simplicity and understated elegance. Rooms are typically airy, light, and bright. Furnishings are modern classics from the key names of Scandinavian design mixed with pretty antique and vintage pieces. The beauty of natural materials, especially wood, is celebrated. It's a style that's entirely in tune with our current desire for calm, comfortable, and uncluttered spaces to live in. The 20 homes featured in this book are presented as case studies, with chapters including Elegant Simplicity, Vintage Inspired, Pared-down Modern and Contemporary Rustic. 

Dimensions: 0.8" H x 10.1" L x 8.8" W
Hardcover
Weight: 2.07 lbs
160 pages
Written by Sara Norrman
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small

YouTube Star Nikki Boyd shares her best advice for how to design a beautiful, welcoming, and well-organized home. Nikki developed and honed her five essential steps to an organized home through her experience working as a professional organizer. Now in this book, she shows you how to transform your space and enhance your life at home.

Dimensions: 0.9" H x 9.1" L x 7.3" W
Hardcover
Weight: 1.9lbs
224 pages
Nikki Boyd
Publisher: Paige Tate & Co