5 Favorite Books: Design Icons

I was reading about John Saladino yesterday, and in his bio he mentioned Van Day Truex, and it got me thinking about some of the true (no pun intended) design Icons, people who, almost single-handedly created this profession. So today my book selections honor those folk. I hope that you enjoy the list, there probably are not a lot of surprises on it, but if there are books here you don't have they will be worthwhile additions to your collections.





Truex attended Parsons School of Design just after it's founding and went on to become it's President from 1942- 1952 as well as Director for Design at Tiffany's. His Interior Design clients included some of the most well known of the east-coast elite. This figure, known as much for his design talent as his social skill, is probably one of the most influential figures in Interior Design of the 20th Century. Its a great story from small town boy to Design Arbiter, and a perfect book for anyone looking for an insight into that world.





Yes, I know that Diana Vreeland was not an Interior Designer, but in her role as columnist for Bazaar and then Editor of Vogue, this dynamo of a woman has done more to educate people about design, and the value of taste, than almost anyone else. Her story of unrelenting standards and ability to spot and create trends, I found to be inspirational.

No list of Design Icons would be complete without Albert Hadley. Student and subsequently friend of Van Day Truex, also great friend of Billy Baldwin and then partner to Sister Parish, he has seen it all. This book has some great images, including the work he did for Mrs Vincent Astor and the Kennedy White House. I love also that it includes some of his sketches as well, so you can really see his design intent.

A great book about Maison Jansen, a French Design house. Working with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as well as the Shar of Iran, they created some of the most elegant interiors of the time. Lavishly illustrated, this book is great eye candy, and a terrific addition to any library.

I really like this book. When it first came out on Amazon, it did not get great reviews, people complained that most of the images are black and white, which is problematic since Drapers' work is all about color, but I think that misses the point. Her work captured the drama and spirit of the time, and while most of the projects are large scale homes or hotels, it makes for a terrific read especially for anyone interested in that period. I liked it.

5 Favorite Books: About Books

I love to read other design blogs and one of my favorites is Peak of Chic, they did a post earlier in the week about books as decoration (http://thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/2007/07/books-serve-as-decoration.html), and it has inspired my book post this week. As many of you know books are one of my great passions, and I use lots of them in my designs, so here are a few books that I thought you might enjoy, about the joy of books:

5 Favorite Books: Palm Springs

While I am not convinced that the middle of summer is the best time to visit, that is exactly what I did. I was in Palm Springs this week, for a few meetings etc. It had been several years since I had visited and it reminded me just how much I love the desert. The thing that I think I like about Palm Springs though is definitely the architecture. Unlike a lot of other desert communities, such as Las Vegas or Phoenix, Palm Springs embraced the idea of modernism with a fervour that few communities have. What you can see now is one of the best collections of modern architecture, in a condensed place, as well as a community that has taken this identity and created a town that celebrates this style and continues on the vanguard of modern design.

This week I have selected a few books from my collection about Palm Springs, some talk about its history others it's style, but they are all entertaining books in their own right. I hope you pick up one or two, and let me know what you think.

Celebrating the weekend retreat, this book is a great starter book,,,, great images and some terrific examples of beautiful homes.

I am a big fan of all the books that Dianne Saeks does on design, and this is no different, if you were to have only one book on Palm Springs, this would be a tough one to pass up.

Another great volume on Palm Springs Architecture. Adele Cygelman has worked at some of the finest architectural magazines in the world, and brings her trained on to bear this brand of modernism. She has gained access into some of the finest homes in the desert and presents them with stunning photography.

Often regarded as the man who started the modern craze in Palm Springs. The houses of Albert Frey were some of the first to marry modernism with a desert context. His houses remain the benchmark of style even today.

This book looks at the Palm Springs of today, its a great insight to what is happening now, as people buy and renovate, or build from scratch, and how they are managing to capture the spirit of a very special place.

5 Books I Love: Summer Entertaining

So I am a bit frantic today I have 12 friends coming for dinner tonight (several of them are designers which adds to the pressure) in a house that is way too modest for this sort of event. So it has got me thinking about how I should go about this. I have decided that I am going to do something quite simple, Ceviche, followed by Grilled Lobster with a watermelon and Arugula Salad followed by a fresh Fruit Salad. We will be eating outside in the garden, it will be quite a simple affair with fresh delicious food.

I took my inspiration from some of my favorite cookbooks, by two of my most favorite cooks, Bill Grainger and Donna Hay, both from Sydney, Australia. Between the two of them they have amassed quite a collection of books, but the 5 listed here are among my most popular. It is amazing to me just how simple all these recipes are, often just a few ingredients, but you will be shocked by the depth of flavor.

For instance Bill has a Chicken Soup recipe, that is made from canned chicken stock and a few vegetables, it takes only about 10 minutes to make but tastes like you have slaved all day in the Kitchen, try it, it will rock your world!

Donna Hay on the other hand has made a career by taking classic recipes and reinventing them in a simpler way. One of my favorite books of hers is Flavors, instead of each chapter broken up by course or ingredient, it is broken down by tastes, so there is a chapter on salt, or lime, it's a refreshing way to look at food and makes putting together a meal a real breeze.

Anyway, try some of these books and see what you think, it really is a new way of looking at food.

Bon Apetit!

5 Books I Love About American Design

With the 4th of July holiday on the horizon, what better time to celebrate the great design of America. These books are a selection that I love the highlight the beauty of the classic American Style, simple, straightforward and with an inherent elegance. I hope you enjoy.



Just as a reminder if you click on the image it will take you straight to Amazon in case you want to purchase a copy for yourself.

1.
No list on American Design would be complete with Sister parish, the woman who almost single handedly created the profession. This book is a great read, as it is nice to see how little things have changed. She writes candidly about the process and the problems of dealing with clients etc, for anyone interested in the history of design, a great vacation read.


2.
A fine book by the editor of Metropolitan Home magazine. It captures the new vitality of American design, showing how much it has changed to fit today's lifestyle, without abandoning a great tradition. Beautifully shot images and a well constructed book, it is one of the staples of my library.

3.
I am a huge fan of the Arts and Crafts Style, and while it is English in it's origins it has morphed into a classic American style. This book is part of a terrific series on Bungalows and gives valuable information on restoration and remodeling. I recently worked on a Bungalow in Los Angeles and this series was the first place i turned for inspiration.



4.
I love the honest simplicity of the American Farmhouse, and this book is a great inspiration for anyone looking to create that style. It gives terrific insights and tips as well as great photo's for those who just want to look at the pictures:).

5.

It used to be all that I was ever asked to design was Tuscan or Mediterranean houses, but lately there have been more and more traditional American houses coming through the office, whether they be shingle or saltbox, I have loved them all. This book is a personal favorite because it shows some great examples of what you can do with that style, and how to work within the framework of Classic American Style but still come up with something unique and modern.

I hope you enjoy this list and have a great holiday (put another shrimp on the barbie for me ;) ).

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.

Top 5 Lamps

As part of the ongoing series that I post on Sunday's here is my list of Top 5 Lamps, Enjoy, I hope you find this illuminating.

1. 
   
   Sahara Lamp- Mark Cutler Design Well I would be a schmuck if I didn't include one of my own lamps. This was inspired by the great old hotels of Las Vegas in the 1960's. It has a vaguely retro feel and is available in stained wood or in black, white or red lacquer. Contact my office for purchasing info.
   


2. 
   
Jack Table Lamp- Circa Lighting (www.circalighting.com ) This little lamp makes me smile every time I see it. It is available in a bunch of different finishes and is such a great shape. I have used this lamp in Kids' rooms, as well as Living Rooms, I think it's totally versatile.


3. 
   
   
   

   Faux Bois Lamp - Oly Studio (www.olystudio.com) Anyone who reads this Blog often, knows that Faux Bois is one of my favorite things in the world. This lamp from Oly is a great example of the style. The scale is perfect and the concrete style finish is great.
   



4. West End Lamp- Steven Handleman (www.stevenhandelmanstudios.com ). Steven Handelman is a wrought iron manufacturer from Santa Barbara, and he makes some great pieces, this is part of his line of lamps. It has a very cool Arts and Crafts feel to it, that sets it apart from the rest.



5. Manning Table Lamp- Crate and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com ) This is such a terrific staple, that can go from Traditional to Modern. I use this lamp to add scale to a space where I don't want to make a big statement. One other thing you can do too, is open the lamp up and fill it with your favorite collection. Sea shells, toy soldiers or even dried flowers, would all create a cool, very personal lamp.

Well I hope that this list has been helpful.

Top 5 Design Blogs

A new regular feature that I thought I would introduce for Sundays was the Top 5 list. Over the next few weeks I will be creating lists of favorite things from lamps to books. The list's are anything but exhaustive, but hopefully you will find them interesting.

To start the series I thought I would start with my favorite Design Blogs. I have to admit that I did not read blogs often till I had my own, but since then I have become totally addicted. Blogs are an amazing resource for new resources, opinions and style. I have been very lucky to be featured on a whole series of blogs but I have tried to not let that influence my choices. I am sure that I will be creating another list soon, as I am discovering new blogs every day. But for now my favorite 5 are:

1. Desire to Inspire (www.desiretoinspire.blogspot.com ) Two women, one from Australia and one from Canada, who manage to find the most incredible images to post. Whether it's the work of Designer's ( a recent post on Vincente Wolfe was stunning), to artists and resources, it's a daily feast that is not to be missed. The articles are brief, and to the point, and there are always interesting comments to read as well.
2. Maison Lunatique (www.maisonlunatique.blogspot.com ) Anya Smith, an Interior Designer from Dublin, Ireland, shares her thoughts about design. She highlights great resources as well as gives terrific ideas about topics that interest her, such as ways of looking at upholstery etc. Also on her blog is a huge list of links to different manufacturers websites that is very helpfully broken down by category.
3. Hatch (www.blog.designpublic.com ) This is a great Blog that is attached to a commercial website called Design Public. Becky, who writes the Hatch blog, always has great insight into design elements. A recent posting was a great critique of Top Design, but written in a thoughtful way, not the snide, mean spirited way that most of the ones I have seen are. She also features guest bloggers and interviews too which keeps the content fresh and interesting.
4. Apartment Therapy (www.apartmenttherapy.com ) My grandmother used to say "too much is just enough" and this is true of this site. It is broken down city by city, with a variety of different contributors. It has one of the most exhaustive resource guides I have seen for small boutique design stores. I have used it when I travel to find the cool places to go etc. They claim their mission is to create great apartments, but they do so much more than that, you could spend days here.
5. Peak of Chic (www.peakofchic.blogspot.com) Chic indeed! A terrific eye for good design, this Atlanta based Blog brings together ideas such as "the Blue Room" and shows work by a variety of different designers that is on point. There is a great appreciation for the classics as well, Billy Baldwin, Albert Hadley etc as well as the new bloods. Always great insights and thoughtful commentary.

As I said, not a complete list but ones that i think are definitely worth mentioning. There are more of my favorites on the side column, who also are well worth dropping by.