Individual by Jessica Bellef  (Allen & Unwin, $55)

A woman after our own heart, stylist and author Jessica Bellef is as interested in the unique lives lived in the dwellings she’s discovered as she is in the buildings themselves. Her first book is a personality-filled tour of 15 autobiographical Australian homes that reflect their owners’ inclinations. Reading like good chats with good friends, some highlights include David, who lives in a shared flat, yet has cultivated an interior rich with pieces that conjure memories of tenants past and present; Sarah and Phil, whose place is peppered with pieces of pottery and glass uncovered on the grounds of their historic cottage; Annie and Genevieve, who built their home with straw bales and reclaimed materials; and Gab and Mick, who like yellow and red so much they splashed the colours onto their walls. Slipped between the homes are takeaway tips that’ll help you create your own singular spaces, including ways to stamp your story on a rental, and how not to let kids and pets dictate your décor.

In brief

Greco Disco by Luke Edward Hall (TeNeues, $95)
Wunderkind London artist and designer Luke is passionately prolific and has gained quite the reputation for his exuberant aesthetic that blends ancient classicism with traditional English style. He’s served it up here with his signature flourish in a read packed with photos, illustrations and a lift-out sketch book. 

Remote Places to Stay by Debbie Pappyn & David De Vleeschauwer (Gestalten, $120)
“Accessible remoteness has become the new luxury,” say the authors of this wanderlust-triggering tome, and ain’t that the truth. Getting away from it all takes on new meaning at the unparalleled stays they profile in locations including Iceland, Easter Island, Bhutan and — of all places — New Zealand.

All Day Cocktails by Shaun Byrne & Nick Tesar (Hardie Grant, $40)
Offering all of the flavour and none of the bad behaviour, the low- and no-alcohol drinks featured here are filled with fruit, veges, herbs and nuts, and underpinned by sustainable practices. Written by two Australian aficionados, the inventive recipes are interspersed with tales and techniques.

Bibliostyle by Nina Freudenberger (Hardie Grant, $55)
What do your books say about you? Are you a sentimentalist, an intuitive or an arranger? This author posits that your reading material tells the story of your life, interests and values, and on these pages she peruses the private libraries, bulging bookshelves and reading rooms of bibliophiles worldwide. 

Words Philippa Prentice
Individual photography Sue Stubbs