Tuesday Book Review: Home Sweet Home by Oberto Gili

The experience of a lot of really great interior design for a lot of people is through books and magazines. By necessity then, their experience is seen through the filter of a photographer, and what better lens to look through than Oberto Gili.

Gili has been documenting interiors since the 1970's and his eye for the dramatic and unexpected creates not just a wonderful photograph but a tangible experience of what that space would be like.

Another great feature of this book....no text! Now I don't even have to pretend to have read it all. In fact, too much verbiage would get in the way, when you look at the projects you can almost tell the story just from the pictures.

There are many favorite projects here but two really stand out. One is the apartment of Richard Meir the other, the painter Ellsworth Kelly. Both of these chapters manage to tell the story of two huge personalities through small vignettes and insights to the way the relate to their built environment.

So if you are like me and enjoy a voyeuristic tour of homes of the likes of Renzo Mongiardino, and Isabella Rossellini you will definitely enjoy this new offering by Rizzoli. It comes out this month so look for it, it will make a great addition to your collection.

New Must Have Book

My favorite type of design books (and I have a million of them) are the ones that make me look at the subject in a whole new way. If you are like me, then you are going to LOVE the new book "Louis Vuitton Architecture and Interiors".

I have been a fan of the way LV has always been able to present a consistent design message with a few key iconic symbols they are able to deftly weave consumer products, architecture and interiors creating a message that not only reinforces the brand but also sends it in exciting and unusual directions.

This book is broken down by location, then at the end dedicated chapters to Skins, Facades and Signage.

The book has some great photography, but some equally interesting interviews with the architects for each of their signature stores. One of the more interesting aspects were the photos of the exteriors taken in a way to show the context of the store with the surrounding city (the image of the Moscow Store with St Basel in the background is a notable example).

A New Must Read

Hitting the bookstores this month is a new book by the people who bring you Metropolitan Home Magazine. It's called "Glamour: Making it Modern". I have to admit that I have yet to receive my copy but I am thrilled to say that I have been included among some of the other amazing projects. Thank You Metropolitan Home for all your support!!!

Please run out and grab a copy, and be sure to let me know what you think!

My New Favorite Book

I recently received from Amazon, that has quickly become my new favorite book on Interior Design. It is Saladino Villa. It is his new book about how he renovated his current home in Montecito, just outside of Santa Barbara, CA.

What makes this book so special, is not only the work amazing, but Mr. Saladino goes out of his way to explain his motives and the process, including lots of before and after shots, as well as a few architectural drawings.

I think this book is a Master Class in Interior Design. He really lifts the veil on the process, making it possible to see into the mind of one of our greatest living Interior Designers.

This book is a must have!!!

I Found Just What I Needed

I have been looking lately for a small book case (well calling it a book case may be overstating the need) but somewhere to stack books in my daughters nursery. As you can tell Orange is pretty much my only accent color, so trying to find just the right thing, can prove to be a bit of a challenge. 

This morning I was looking through the new CB2 catalog and there it is!! the perfect piece.

My order is already placed, I can't wait for it to arrive.

5 Books I Love About Florida

I am in Miami, Florida this weekend, so I was inspired for this weeks book list. I hope you find some things here that inspire you.

Addison Mizner, almost single handedly created the concept of Florida. His work on both residential and commercial projects has set the tone for the state that even continues today. This book provides some great images and insights into his philosophy that I think are fascinating. Here is the story of a man, who visited a swamp, and imagined a tropical wonderland.

Long considered the ultimate playground of the rich and famous. Well that continues to this day and they have built some of the greatest homes, all of which are featured here. The houses vary from Italian Villa's to French Chateaus. If you want a book about architecture as fantasy, then this is the book for you.

Miami's South Beach is known for it's amazing collection of art deco gems. This book highlights some of the best examples. It shows some great examples of the flamboyant style of early Miami. The candy cane colors, capture the tropical, resort feeling.

What started as an experiment in "New Urbanism" and has revolutionised the way people look at planned communities. This book highlights some of the beautiful homes that have been created in this community, perched on Florida's gulf coast.

The "New Miami" is a chic cosmopolitan city, full of cutting edge style. This group, Arqitectonica was one of the first to create that break out style. Their work continues to push the envelope and redefine the skyline of this growing city.

5 Books I Love about Gardens

So each Sunday I am planning on posting a group of 5 books about a particular subject. As anyone who reads this Blog regularly knows, I am passionate about books (I have a collection of about 2000 design books) and I firmly believe that they are a necessary resource for anyone serious about design. While I think magazines are great, they do not give an in depth analysis that a book offers. Today's list is about gardens. You will notice that when it comes to gardens, I am a bit of a traditionalist and also a bit California-centric, but I hope that you enjoy the list, and that I have piqued your interest.

This book by Winnifred Dobyns, was originally published more than 50 years ago, but it has become one of the touchstones for anyone interested in the great gardens that were constructed in Southern California in the last century. But this reprint is much more than a historical book, it can provide some great inspiration for anyone looking to create an old world garden that captures some of the qualities of the classic European gardens.

2.

Almost any book by David Hicks is worthy of making almost any list of great design books (in fact I think one of my future lists will be my favorite David Hicks books). I particularly enjoy this book, as Mr. Hicks gives you access into some of the greatest and eccentric gardens in the world. It is beautifully shot and with insightful descriptions, this book is one of the most used in my collection.

3.

No list on gardens would be complete without a book by the legendary English Garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll. She is known for her books on designing classic English Gardens and borders. Her theories on layering color and texture in gardens, have influenced generations of garden designers, no matter of the style that they work on. This book on Arts and Crafts Gardens is a more accessible volume about creating a thematic garden. California has a great Arts and Crafts tradition, so this book has been particularly helpful to me, and would make a great addition for anyone who wants to create a loose cottage style garden.

4.

I included this book for people who enjoy gardens, but do not "garden". For those of us who prefer to sit on the porch and enjoy the garden, rather than dig in the soil, and actually garden, this is the book for you. It is a great story written by a couple as they construct a garden at their new home. Follow the ups and downs as they try different plantings, and follow them to the their ultimate success. It's a perfect gift for your gardening friends too (couple it with some cool gardening gloves and some great bulbs and it makes the ideal gift).
5.

For all of you that think a garden is all floral borders and gravel paths, this is a terrific book. Written by Pamela Burton (a more than accomplished Los Angeles Landscape Designer in her own right) this book looks at contemporary gardens of Southern California. Los Angeles in particular has a great collection of mid-century modern houses, and to see how these are complemented by imaginative landscape is very interesting to see. I think that Pamela's descriptions provide both insight and a historical perspective that really bring these gardens alive.

So that is my list for this week, I hope you enjoy the collection!

Top 5 Books by Other Designers

I am a total book hound, so I spend a lot of time poring over my favorite ones. In fact I am in the process of putting together my own book, so I have been especially interested lately in books by other designers, so here is a list of some of the ones I especially love, in no special order though.

John Saladino: In my opinion, one of the greatest living American designers. His work has a subtlety and warmth that is totally unique, so it is no surprise that I chose his book. I am on my second copy, because the first became so dog-eared. I like the book because he has managed to show the breadth of his work in a very comprehensive way. He also take pains to explain his process, unlike some of the other books here, he does not attempt to give practical tips, but instead concentrates on more elemental issues, and how they relate to his work. I think for a designer like this, it's a good approach, since his style is less about objects and more about the feelings he is able to create. His work is beautifully illustrated with images that are big and clear, so you can really soak up his spectacular rooms.

Vicente Wolf: Well, to be far, Vicente has two books, both of which would have qualified to be on this list, but somehow that just didn't seem right. I have already written about this book, but it really deserves another mention. The way it was put together has really made me llok at design books in a whole new way.

Mariette Himes Gomez: I think this is a terrific little book. Her work is renowned for a quiet yet luxurious simplicity and she manages to capture that in this volume. It is packed with great ideas and is small enough to be a quick read, but with terrific illustrations.

Jeffrey Bilhuber: In a book by designers, I am always looking for an insight into how they came up with the designs that I love so much. This book does not disappoint. Bilhuber's work is known for its warm attention to detail, that he makes look effortless, so I was intrigued to see what the process was that lead to these designs.

Noel Jeffrey: One of the frustrating thing about design publications of all sorts is that they contain great photographs, that are just that, great photographs. Often in composing these images, furniture is moved or removed, to create an image that portrays the feeling of the room, more than its actuality. The thing i love about this book is that he includes furniture plans, so you can get a real sense of how the room is put together. It makes the book, so much richer and informational.

New Favorite Book

Vicente Wolf is one of my favorite designers of all time, and, as anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, I am a nut for for books. So when a new Vicente Wolf book comes out, I am always excited. His new book "Crossing Boundaries" is as useful as it is beautiful. Vicente, an accomplished photographer, has spent years travelling the globe, taking photographs, which he has referred back to constantly as source material for his inspiring work. In this book he walks through his design process and gives insight into how travel images, have inspired rooms.

In the images above, you can see how Caribbean imagery is effortlessly transformed into a modern interior. There are many examples like this in the book, it is just fascinating. I hope you all grab a copy.

New Way to Look at Bookcases

There are some things in life that we all take for granted; "what goes up must come down", "water always runs downhill", these are pretty much universal constants. One of the other things that we normally take for granted is that bookshelves are horizontal. This doesn't have to be the case. I have included some images of a project where I used diagonal shelves for displaying books, and it creates a terrific visual drama. Another element that helps, is using color on the inside of the shelves. This is an old technique that can do wonders to jazz up a display of books or collectibles, by creating a vibrant backdrop.

The general message of today's posting is, don't take anything for granted. Just because shelves are usually horizontal, doesn't mean they have to be. I think one of the things that makes great design, is the ability to look at the ordinary, in an extra ordinary way. I would love to here your ideas about things that you have used in a new and fresh way.

Designing With Books

Collecting books is one of my great passions, so much can be learnt about someone, by a casual glance through their bookcase. Here are some ideas about making your collection a bit more decorative. Enjoy!


1. I love to use books to create warmth and personality in a room. The different topics speak about your interests and values.

2. I like to use books stacked on tables to lift and provide height for lamps or framed pictures, they provide a wonderful opportunity to give height and scale to your collections.

3. A lovely corner in a Living Room is an ideal spot to create your own personal library, if you don’t have a whole room you can dedicate to it. A comfortable chair, a small table and a lamp and you are good to go.

4. When organizing your books, be a little freer, don’t be ties to anything as rigid as the Dewey Decimal System, what about organizing by author, topic or even by color. Just be sure to have some order, there is nothing worse than spending hours trying to find your favorite tome.

5. One of my favorite rooms of all time is a small Library that I turned into a Dining Room for eight. It created the perfect backdrop for intimate dinners surrounded by works of wonder.

6. Paperbacks? We all have them; I like to cover them all in heavyweight paper. Usually I use an off white, but I have been known to use splashes of color, or what about alternating black and white for a stark, rhythmic look, or even choose a different color for each or your favorite authors or subjects (my Dianna Vreeland books are all in red of course).

7. My favorite places to buy books? Nothing completes a trip to New York without a trip to Potterton Books or Rizzolli, San Francisco of course has Stouts, and who can go to Santa Monica without a quick stop by at Hennessy and Ingalls for a few “essentials”? Paris I always stop in at the Librairie Des Antiquaires for an amazing selection of antique books on the decorative arts, and in London Thomas Heneage Art Books, can take me a whole day.

8. The internet is also a great resource for all sorts of books too, some of my favorite sites: Amazon.com (I am addicted to the 1-click option), Alibris.com is a search engine that combs the collection of a huge group of independent booksellers across the nation, and of course Ebay.com (who knew I need a book on how to create my own parade float)?

9. My favorite book is Old World Inspiration for American Architecture published by the Portland Cement Company in 1929. It is a constant reference for historical precedents, a constant inspiration.

10. I love to give and receive books that I or my friends have already read. There is something romantic about poring over pages that others have already gleaned, it like sharing the experience together.