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Architecture & Design

Are you looking to be inspired by some of the finest designers and architects? You find a wide selection of fascinating architecture and design books at Tales. The design books can inspire you to renew your style or house, but you can also use them in your creative process both as a student or professional. If you are more into buildings and the process behind them, take a look at our architecture books that will take you around the world to the most wonderful and groundbreaking buildings on Earth. All of them will look good on your coffee table.
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  • Save 21%
    by Jeanne and Bastide Damas
    £13.49

    In Paris dispels the myth that there is only one type of Parisian woman, and offers a rare glimpse of the city that real Parisienneslive in - taking us into their homes, their careers, their style - and what being Parisian means to them.Profiles of twenty real-life women of Paris - artists, activists, booksellers, and filmmakers, aged fourteen to seventy, living in tiny attic studios, grand apartments, or houseboats - are accompanied by more than 100 full-colour photographs by Jeanne herself as well as tips on secret Parisian hideaways and the French art de vivre: from the five types of red wine to order depending on the occasion, and the bars to drink them in, to the best red lipsticks, and places to be kissed.Witty, elegant, and modern, In Paris reveals the secret to living like a Parisian, wherever and whoever you are.

  • Save 24%
    by Frederic Chaubin
    £18.99

    Brutalistische Architektur, lange Zeit gering schätzt und erst in jüngster Zeit von einer jungen, netzaffinen Generation von Architektur-Aficionados neu entdeckt, war ein weltweites Phänomen, hat aber seine wohl wunderlichsten Betonblüten im ehemaligen Ostblock getrieben. Während mehrerer Reisen durch Osteuropa spürte der französische Publizist Frédéric Chaubin in zumeist peripheren Regionen des ehemaligen Sowjetimperiums architektonische Kolosse auf, die wie Kulissen zu Science-Fiction-Filmen erscheinen. Jenseits der genormten, staatlichen Sowjetmoderne scheinen sie durch ihren Nonkonformismus, ihre stilistische Vielfalt und regionale Extravaganz das Auseinanderbrechen der UdSSR bereits vorwegzunehmen.Ihre Architekten nutzten die Freiräume, die durch das Bröckeln der monolithischen Staatsstruktur entstanden: Sie gingen weit über den Modernismus hinaus und fanden zu den Wurzeln des freien Erfindens zurück. Die Wagemutigsten schufen Projekte, von denen die Konstruktivisten nur träumen konnten (Druschba Sanatorium, Jalta), andere zeigten ihre Fantasie auf expressionistische Weise (Hochzeitspalast, Tiflis). Ein Sommercamp, inspiriert durch Modellskizzen einer Mondbasis, offenbart suprematistische Einflüsse (Prometheus-Jugendlager, Bogatyr). Auch die sprechende Architektur war in den letzten Jahren der UdSSR weit verbreitet: Chaubin fand in Kiew ein Krematorium, das mit Betonflammen verziert war, und ein Forschungsinstitut mit einer abgestürzten fliegenden Untertasse auf dem Dach. Das "Haus der Sowjets" in Kaliningrad wiederum scheint den Betrachter wie Big Brother zu beobachten.Der eklektische Stilmix spiegelt die ideologischen Träume jener Zeit wider - von der Weltraumbesessenheit bis zur Neuerfindung der eigenen Identität. Er zeigt auch die ungeheure Weite der UdSSR und wie lokale Entwicklungen manch exotische Wendung nahmen, bevor sie das Ende des Landes mit herbeiführten.

  • Save 27%
    - The Complete Guide Second Edition
    by Clive Hallett
    £21.99

    Dieses Buch erklärt das Verhalten und die Eigenschaften verschiedener Stoffe. Modedesign wird weitgehend davon bestimmt, wie die Stoffe funktionieren, sich bewegen, anfühlen und aussehen. Die erfolgreichsten Modedesigner*innen sind diejenigen, die ihre Materialien verstehen und ihre gestalterischen Fähigkeiten mit technischem Wissen verbinden.¿ Aktualisierte und erweiterte Ausgabe¿ Neue Kapitel über Nachhaltigkeit, Produktentwicklung, biosynthetische Fasern und Smart Textiles¿ Stärkerer Fokus auf Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit

  • Save 20%
    - Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency
    by Sarah Ichioka
    £22.49

    Proposes regenerative principles with potential to transform how we design, make and manage our buildings, infrastructure and communities

  • Save 28%
    by Square Enix
    £27.49

    Final Fantasy Vii Remake: Material Ultimania is the latest masterpiece by the renowned author, Square Enix. Published in the year 2021 by the same name, Square Enix, this book has set a new benchmark in its genre. The book dives deep into the world of Final Fantasy, providing readers with an unparalleled understanding of the game's universe. Square Enix, known for their intricate storytelling and attention to detail, doesn't disappoint with this publication. The book is filled with rich content, detailed descriptions, and a plethora of information that fans of the Final Fantasy series will appreciate. Published on December 28, 2021, this book is a must-have for all gaming enthusiasts. Square Enix, the publisher, has done a commendable job in preserving the essence of the game in this book. It's a treasure trove of information that will transport you to the world of Final Fantasy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to delve deeper into the Final Fantasy universe.

  • Save 10%
    - TIK TOK MADE ME BUY IT!
    by Rhiannon Shove
    £8.99

    As a silent act of rebellion, this illustrated edition of Burn After Writing invites you to put your phone down, pick your pen up and turn sharing nothing into an art. And when you're finished, toss it, hide it, or Burn After Writing. [Previously published as Burn After Writing Teen]

  • by Virgil Abloh
    £12.99

    "A collection of essential quotations from the renowned fashion designer, DJ, and stylist"--

  • Save 23%
    - Techniques, Recipes, Finishing, and Firing
    by Gabriel Kline
    £16.99

  • Save 23%
    by Sara Caldas
    £15.49

    Finding original colour combinations that work is one of the most tricky questions in design and graphic design. Knowing how to use it creatively will maximize the impact of our designs and design ideas.

  • Save 23%
    - The Collection
    by Glyn Callingham & Graham Marsh
    £16.99

    The Cover Art of Blue Note Records is Graham Marsh and Glyn Callingham's classic collection of the finest record sleeves produced by the celebrated Blue Note record label.

  • Save 16%
    by Phaidon Editors
    £14.99

    Discover more than 500 of the most innovative, influential, and enduring products from the last five centuries in this fully revised and expanded edition of Phaidon's much-loved companion to the best of design

  • Save 12%
    - Building Density for Everyday Life
    by David Sim
    £26.49

    A visual and clear guide to building better density to create happier, more livable cities. With foreword by Jan Gehl.

  • Save 20%
    by Charlotte Cotton
    £11.99

    Provides an introduction to contemporary art photography, identifying its important features and themes and celebrating its exciting pluralism through an overview of its most important and innovative practitioners.

  • - collecting and making
    by Miranda Forrest
    £18.99

    This book explains how to collect materials to make your own glazes. It gives practical instructions about sourcing and harvesting material from your local environment, mixing a glaze, testing samples, applying the glaze, and firing the work.

  • Save 23%
    by Jane Jacobs
    £15.49

    In this classic text, Jane Jacobs set out to produce an attack on current city planning and rebuilding and to introduce new principles by which these should be governed.

  • Save 26%
    - Quilts and Other Works Celebrating Flowers
    by Liza Prior Lucy & Kaffe Fassett
    £21.49

    A stunning guide and vibrant pattern collection of 25 new patchwork and needlepoint projects, from renowned color expert and quilt and fabric designer Kaffe Fassett. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of flowers, Kaffe Fassett's Bold Blooms invites crafters to explore the behind-the-scenes process and fascinating design methods used to create Kaffe's bold fabrics and modern color palettesfrom ';sketching' with fabric swatches to creating mood boards and renderings to sewing visually striking quilts. Featured throughout are 18 new quilt patterns and seven new needlepoints. Ideas bloom on each page as eye-catching artwork, inventive quilt designs, needlepoint canvases, and bold ribbon patterns grow from concept to completion.Renowned for his use of color, Kaffe creates unique palettes from nature and his surroundings to create color ';moods'from neutrals and soft pastels to rich, dark tonesand he shares his design ideas, practical quilting advice, and needlepoint techniques useful to both novice and seasoned crafters throughout these colorful projects. With an emphasis on patchwork and needlework, the inventive designs and fresh color palettes translate to many creative disciplines ranging from mosaic, beading, fiber arts, embroidery, floral arrangements, and home decor. Accessible to quilting and sewing beginners and experts alike, the lively floral designs on each page are sure to inspire and send readers off on a color-filled creative journey, offering something for makers of all skill levels. Also available from Kaffe Fassett: Kaffe Fassetts Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color, and Kaffe Fassett Quilts Shots and Stripes.

  • - How to sketch yoga postures & sequences
    by Eva-Lotta Lamm
    £27.49

  • Save 29%
    by Sucker Punch Productions
    £33.99

  • Save 25%
    by Junji Ito
    £20.99

    Enter the world of Junji Ito's art--an abyss of horror and sublime beauty.

  • Save 15%
    - The Most Stylish Hotels in the World
    by Sarah Miller
    £14.49

    In the tradition of the bestselling Where Chefs Eat: the definitive global hotel guide by the real experts who know - architects

  • Save 21%
    - Repair Make Mend
    by Hikaru Noguchi
    £14.99

    As mending clothes becomes more popular in relation to the upsurge in environmentally sustainable fashion practices, Hikaru Noguchi's cult darning guide arrives in its first ever UK edition, making the basic techniques easy to grasp for crafters and non-crafters.

  • Save 29%
    - Explore the World's Most Exquisite Timepieces
    by Paul Miquel
    £35.49

    A beautifully packaged look at the world's most sought-after timepieces, with detailed photography of every example.

  • Save 29%
    - The Official Guide to the First 30 Years
    by Nintendo
    £31.99

    Power Up!Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years is jam-packed with content from all seventeen Super Mario games--from the original Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario 3D World. Track the evolution of the Goomba, witness the introduction of Yoshi, and relive your favorite levels. This tome also contains an interview with producer Takashi Tezuka, tips to help you find every coin, star, sun, and mushroom--even explanations of glitches! With information on enemies, items, obstacles, and worlds from over thirty years of Mario, Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia is the definitive resource for everything Super Mario!

  • Save 27%
    by Dominic Bradbury
    £25.49

    In a climate that ranges from cold, dark and unforgiving to endless sun and crystalline skies, the homes of the Nordic countries are lifted by ever-changing and dramatic natural light balanced by an intrinsic sense of warmth. Nordic architects today are as much informed by vernacular traditions and natural materials as their forebears, but the most recent generation of practitioners reflects a new appetite for spatial exploration and changing lifestyles. Divided into four chapters - rural cabins, coastal retreats, town houses and country homes - this survey of over forty of Scandinavia's finest and most innovative houses features work by a broad spectrum of leading architects, such as Jon Danielsen Aarhus, Tham & Videgård, Snorre Stinessen, Reiulf Ramstad and Todd Saunders. Structured by terrain to reveal the full diversity of the landscape and its architectural challenges, the book is full of fresh thinking about living spaces that are at once universal and distinctively Nordic. From country houses complete with traditional Nordic fireplaces, saunas, window seats and verandas, to remote cabin hideaways and artist's studios, there are details and grand ideas that can be applied to residential design anywhere. A reference section includes an appendix of architectural plans.

  • Save 14%
    - 10 Print Projects with Top Techniques to Get You Started
    by Susan Yeates
    £9.49

    Beginner's Guide to Linocut is an informative and engaging book written by Susan Yeates. Published in 2018 by Search Press Ltd, this book belongs to the genre of educational literature. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the art of linocut, a printmaking technique that uses a sheet of linoleum as the relief surface. The author, Susan Yeates, is an acclaimed artist and educator who has a knack for making complex techniques accessible to beginners. With this guide, you'll be able to start your journey into the world of linocut, learning the basics and gradually progressing towards more intricate designs. Whether you're a complete novice in printmaking or an artist looking to expand your skills, this book is a valuable resource. Published by Search Press Ltd, known for their high-quality educational books, you can be assured of the book's content and print quality.

  • Save 21%
     
    £27.49

    Frida Kahlo's Wardrobe presents a fresh view of Kahlo's compelling life story. The book expands upon the narrative of discovery, presenting highlights from Kahlo's collection alongside her self-portraits. This pairing is unprecedented, and it will be enriched by specially commissioned photography of her belongings.

  • Save 27%
    - "Past, Present and Future"
    by King Adz
    £21.99

    The definitive history of the world's most influential fashion trend from the people who wore it best

  • Save 29%
    by Sony
    £28.49

    In the terrifying video game Bloodborne, deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner of a horror-filled gothic city. Bloodborne: Official Artworks collects the hair-raising artwork behind this modern action role-playing classic. Included are character concepts, creature designs, location illustrations, weapons, items, and more!

  • Save 23%
    - Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days
    by Jenna Rainey
    £15.49

    A contemporary paint-every-day watercolour guide that explores foundational strokes and patterns and then builds new skills upon the foundations over the course of 30 days to create finished pieces.

  • Save 23%
    - Fun and Easy Guide to Drawing Cartoons and Comics
    by Josiah Brooks
    £16.99

    Imagine, Design and Draw Your Own Characters!

Architecture

Our selection of cultural books also include architecture books. If you are fascinated by beautiful or memorable buildings we have the books for you. 

Architecture is the art form everyone is in contact with everyday. We move across a wide variety of buildings everytime we go out the door. Schools, work spaces, museums and even your own home is a form of architecture. Some buildings however have that extra effect on you. They make you shop and wonder, and most importantly they are products of their time. They are part of our history and tell the story of the time they were made. Some architects also go beyond that creating something never seen before and these are the buildings that we remember and they might even become attractions or landmarks like the beloved Eiffeltower in the city of lights.   

You could also get inspired as an architect or architectural student yourself. The architecture books invite you into the process of making a building out of the ordinary. If you are interested in sustainability you could also find architecture books about that. In the last couple of years we have also seen an increase in sustainable architecture, where materials are reused or alternative and good for our planet. They are the buildings of the future. 

We also have a collection of garden architecture books. In recent years open air spaces have been desired especially in the big cities, where fewer and fewer have access to a garden or park. Therefore we need innovative ways of finding new green areas in the cities also in order to be sustainable. For that matter we need to plant more trees and have nature surrounding us both for our planet, but also for the wellbeing of ourselves. Find ideas for new kinds of creating just that in our selection of architecture books. 



Fashion and design

Everyone wants to be stylish, and in our selection of design and fashion books you can get inspired by some of the best style icons and designers in the world. You can get that extra tip that will help you become the most stylish person in the room or one of the new style icons of Instagram.  Whether it’s about interior or clothes you will find it all among our fashion books and design books.

Fashion is a way of showing who you are. The way you dress reflects your personality and it is a way of showing how you feel or wants to feel that day, although it can be difficult to mix your outfit in the right way, and that is where the fashion books can help. Another wonderful thing about the fashion and design books is that they look stylish in themselves, and they will look gorgeous as a coffee table book. They add that extra level of style to your furnishing, and you display all your knowledge about fashion. So that is why you find the most beautiful and cool fashion books for decor at Tales. 

In our selection you find the popular fashion book In Paris by the French Instagram it-girl Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide. In the book they try to cover the secrets of the parisienne; who she is, what she wears and where she is heading. The fashion book contains interviews with 20 of the most inspiring French women from the city of light, and concludes that being a parisienne is not just about how you look and dress, but a way of life. 

If you yourself dream of having a designer carriere, you could also find fashion books for designing in Tales’ selection of culture books. Get the perfect guide to sewing, draping, and picking patterns for your next stylish creation. 

If you need inspiration to renew your furnishing you could - in addition to selecting a stylish book among our fashion books for coffee tables - also find design books about that. They help you pick the most tasteful furniture on the market and most importantly how to style them, and you could end up with the most wonderful interior in your own house. 


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