CHIC VOLUMES

Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.

- ALVIN LIM

RALPH LAUREN: A WAY OF LIVING

A Norman-style stone manor in Bedford, New York. In the same state, a downtown apartment in Manhattan, plus a beach house at the tip of Long Island. A timber-heavy ranch in Colorado, a tribute to the American West, and an ultra-glam, two-house retreat in Jamaica.

These are the dwellings that celebrated American designer Ralph Lauren built and will now share, in glorious photos (above), as part of an intimate tell-all commemorating the 40th anniversary of his namesake interior design brand, Ralph Lauren Home. Available from Rizzoli.

JAMES BOND DESTINATIONS

From ancient Egyptian temples and the jungles of Brazil to the pristine waters of Cote d'Azur and the cobbled streets of Rome, international superspy James Bond's adventures over the 25-film franchise have brought viewers to glamorous and exotic locations across the globe. James Bond Destinations is the ideal companion piece for fans eager to pore over 62 years of cinematic history, thanks to the hardback's plethora of production photographs and on-set anecdotes or the perfect travelogue for jetsetters looking to retrace 007's travels. Available from Assouline.

THE GOURMAND'S LEMON.  A COLLECTION OF STORIES AND RECIPES