Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Free Online Book Review

If one blindly believed the messages delivered from the advertising world we might be convinced that we lived in Label Land. Branding of products from the most lofty to the most mundane is clearly big business and the only bigger business involves the purchasing of all this Label-eze. Labels, however, are not new.

History is full of lessons that speak to the power of the visual symbol around which movements, armies and entire nations rally. Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800-1815 by Odile Nouvel-Kammerer (Abrams) undertakes a viewing of the multiple visual cues consciously utilized by Napoleon in his conquests.

Once crowned Emperor he needed a symbol. Maybe an eagle, lion or an elephant he asked his political advisers. They suggested the symbol of France during the revolution; the cock. Napoleon replied, “The cock is nothing but poultry” and decided on the eagle with thunderbolts in its claws, a symbol of the Roman legions and Charlemagne.

Eagles appeared everywhere. In a design vernacular rich with masculinity (eagles on swords, eagles on thrones, thrones made of swords…etc.), a most interesting swath of imagery is decidedly feminine. One section of the book explores the decorative imagery of Psyche, the nymph who became the symbol of willful, inconstant femininity.

Psyche gave her name to the first full-length mirrors; it was the first time in history, we are told, that women could see themselves naked from head to toe. Psyche was also represented by the butterfly so we see insects of all sorts alight on beds, bowls and porcelains of all sorts, so much so that the Serves manufactory acquired its own collection of specimens.

A particularly beautiful butterfly settled on a bronze cup cast from a mould of the breast of Paolina Bonaparte, Napoleon’s favorite sister.

It seems that the imagery of Napoleon holds its power to captivate even today. There is something about label that does linger. For a more detailed look at the wide range of his influence on design and imagery, this is a very good read.

Interior Designers in the OC: Book Review

It appears that size does matter, though, in this instance, not the way you might expect. In Flann O’Brien’s absurdist novel The Third Policeman, Officer MacCruiskeen occupies his time by creating miniature chests similar to one that a military officer might use to store his valuables.

Within this chest is found another chest completely identical except for the fact that it fits inside the larger. Within this chest is found another and so on with each growing slightly smaller with each revelation. By the 32nd chest the officer’s work is so small as to be invisible as are the tools that he requires to craft the objects of his obsession.

The object of this week’s review is John Mack’s The Art of Small Things (British Museum Press) and it seems that the fantasy world of O’Brien’s officer is not that far from reality. Within its pages you will find miniature paintings executed with a single hair from a squirrel’s tail, Marcel Duchamp’s Boiten-en-Valise (a miniature suitcase containing tiny versions of his own works) as well as a work by Willard Wigan, who carved a tiny Statue of Liberty within the eye of a needle.

The book has been published by The British Museum and its contents are mainly taken from their collections. The craftsmanship, artistry and imagination, not to mention the skill and precision, depicted in this fascinating book make it an important addition to a library that embraces all the world’s wonders both large and small.

Interior Designers in the OC: Book Review

Ralph Lauren by Ralph Lauren (Rizzoli) should not be missed. Rather than go on and on about this 500 page visual feast, I simply recommend that you run, don’t walk, to your nearest book dealer and secure a copy. Plan on days of quiet uninterrupted time to explore the range of his vision and the lifestyle he has so successfully packaged and delivered to a style-hungry world. You will not be disappointed.

Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Book Review

The English House by Hermann Muthesius explores a moment early in the 20th Century when British Architecture became of international importance. It was during the early years of 1900’s that Hermann Muthesius, a former cultural attaché’ to the German embassy in London, compiled his lengthy description of contemporary British domestic design.

The book, first published in German, was bound in three beautiful volumes by the great Berlin art publisher Wasmuth. The volumes quickly became a pivotal publication in establishing of the British Arts and Crafts movement. In general, the book focused on the new country houses of the middle and upper middle-class families and was written in a very detailed and unsentimental manner.

Muthesius shed light on the importance given by the British to owning a comfortable and private house in deference to most of Europe where apartment rental was the norm. This must-read book is populated with new homes designed by Norma Shaw, Philip Webb, William Lethaby, Edwin Lutyens, Charles Voysey and Charles Rnnie Mackintosh, each remarkably responsive to the needs of an evolving new class.

For the first time since its initial printing, the book is fully available in English and offers readers a peak at what architects and designers have drawn inspiration from for over a century.

Interior Designers in the OC: Book Review

Wherever you go you will find it. It is one of the beautiful, inescapable parts of life on this planet, however it is possible to become so involved the distractions of daily life that you skim right over it; not so much ignoring it which implies a conscious decision, but more the bliss of the ignorant.

Wallowing in great ignorance it is possible to move through one’s day and seen great chunks of one’s life without the awareness of its subtlety and power. The illusive element that I refer to is “color.”

How often have you had a conversation with someone and then not been able to recall the color of their eyes or the shade of their tie or blouse? Color is always present. The real question related to color is “are we ready to actually see it?”

If color is of interest to you, then may I introduce John Pile’s book Color in Interior Design. If you are a homeowner and wish to learn more about color and all that it involves then this is the book for you. If you are a student wanting to build your body of knowledge related to color; then this book is for you.

If you are a design professional and you would like to keep a book in your library as a quick and easy reference guide; then this is the book for you.

The author has a long history of producing quality educational volumes which make the subject matter attainable. For all interest levels, Mr. Pile delivers information in a way that is educational without being heavy-handed or cumbersome. Pick up this volume and see how much you learn.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Book Review

A point of view or perspective carries a potential of great power. Convictions attached to and supported by one’s point of view can drive decisions and shape the unknown. A ripple achieved by one stone and still water reaches far. Shifts in reality so subtle as to be missed in the moment carry implications and time is their caretaker.

As a constant companion, they inevitably disclose their truth. Lives are touched, grazed, nudged and bruised. Lives spin, real, weave and stumble. They attempt to right themselves and take the first steps in their newly shaped experience.

For the opening scene alone I recommend to you a book published in Germany in 1985 with an English translation the following year. Written by Patrick Suskind and translated by John E. Woods the book is titled Perfume.

The story has little to do with our typical subject matter. The book, however, offers a description of life in 18th Century France, which I have carried with me since I first heard the words of the opening scene read aloud to me at a dinner party 10 years ago.

My point of view changed substantially as the meaning of these words struck home. Like a paintbrush vanquishing an outdated, unrealistic scene, Suskind’s descriptions of the day-to-day realities of 18th Century France painted a crisp and precise new view. This view is the unrelenting backdrop for a gripping tale that will leave you breathless. Find the book and see what I mean.

Book Review from one of the Top Interior Design Firms Los Angeles

Time, I am convinced, has become the ultimate luxury. To have time; to make time; to find the time; all carry a risky richness born of a scarce commodity and demand which far outpaces the supply. Often I move through my day only conscious of the fast disappearing minutes before my next commitment commences.

When the unforeseen occurs and a dose of this rare elixir offers itself, you’re a fool if you don’t make the most of the moment. Recently I leveraged the unexpected as best I could by roaming through my little collection of books. Blessed is the person who finds what they are looking for.

Surprised is the person who finds something wonderful while just ambling along. I fall squarely into the later category having come across a book I have not opened in over ten years. Time has been good to both of us. The book is still delightful and I’m still standing without visible means of support.

Of great interest to me are manners, which are trotted around in public these days with the implication attached that all is well in the world. Whether this is the case or not, we will discuss at another time. For the precious moment at hand I would suggest to you a book titled Rituals of Dinner: The Origins, Evolution, Eccentricities, and Meaning of Table Manners by Margaret Visser.

The author turns an intelligent and witty eye toward the table and delivers a delightful exploration of the nuances found when we gather for a meal. The Rituals of Dinner explores every aspect of our eating rituals and, in doing so, helps us understand the possibilities for pleasure and the dangers, which at times, these exchanges imply.

Throughout the history of humankind, table manners have been one way of keeping the peace and of domesticating some of the wilder aspects of human behavior. It offers us a window through which we observe not just how, but why we act as we do. Worth reading from beginning to end, the author saves a postscript for those still interested titled “How Rude Are We?” You may be surprised but you will not be disappointed.

Book Review from one of the Top Interior Design Firms Los Angeles

Life is not always fair. Life is not always easy. But life is what we make of it regardless of our circumstances. The joy and happiness witnessed in the lives of those have been given little seems severely contrasted by a lack of thankfulness demonstrated in the lives of those with much. Regardless of material surroundings, it appears that thankfulness is what propels one to a joyful and beautiful life.

With these two extremes of heart and condition available, it is rewarding to cross paths with a life lived fully in the celebration of beautiful possibilities. Bunny Williams’ career as a celebrated interior designer has spanned 30 years. Her body of work has been well chronicled in the pages of major shelter magazines.

Her refined taste and attention to detail has earned her the reputation as one of our nation’s leading tastemakers. Her book An Affair with a House (written with Christine Pittel) allows a rare and instructional look at the evolution of an 18th century New England house.

Following Ms. Williams and her husband John Rosselli through the ups and downs of bringing a derelict property back to life, this book not only shares with its readers the results of refined taste, but a commitment to a spirit of place and beauty which comes from sharing your home with friends and family.

At once a practical and inspirational guide, An Affair with a House offers readers many options. From broad pictorials of the gardens to detail shots of the interiors, the photographs inspire. The text doesn’t fail to deliver insight, wit and wisdom from a one of our country’s great lover of homes.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Free Book Review

“Extending an invitation is to assume responsibility for another’s happiness the entire time spent under one’s roof.”

This thought provoking quote illustrates the joyful exuberance of a book I recommend very highly. If you are inclined to be a thoughtful host, wish to strengthen an already sound entertaining skill set, or are a wide-eyed novice looking for a road map, this little book is worth the effort.

It’s seasonally perfect title, Winter House by Charlotte Moss (Clarkson Potter/ Publishers) offers a sane and sublime glimpse into a home fine-tuned to shelter guests from the weighty blanket of winter.

For 20 years, Ms. Moss has built a career and reputation as a creator of warm and sumptuous environments. Her skills at combining rich patterns and colors, stunning accessories and tableware along with unique design details sets her apart as a leader, from whom there is much to learn.

As a passive recipient of the author’s skill and passion, a winter retreat, nestled in the mountain town of Aspen, comes to life and beautifully illustrates her tips and techniques that can find direct application in your Living Room, Dining Room or Bedroom.

While not a “how to” book in the literal sense, this book becomes a road map by which any reader can find themselves closer to their dream of a house made into a home.

Treat yourself and your next house-guest to this gathering place for good ideas which will make your home more beautiful.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Best Books Review

Many years ago I made my first visit to Provincetown, a charming little town at the far end of Cape Cod. With great history, intimate architecture, meandering lanes and the ocean on three sides, it has many allures, none of which disappoint. On my first day I wandered through the center of town.

I passed a candy shop and saw, for the first time in my life, taffy being pulled. Quite the sight it was; these lethargic lumps of gummy candy stretched and pulled over and over. Great lengths of sticky sweet candy stretched high in the air hovering over the marble cutting table is an image which remains clear in my head to this day.

I am feeling like stretched taffy today; pulled here and there as the holidays descend. Time is moving fast and the lists of things to accomplish grow long and I feel like I’m staring down at that marble cutting table from an elongated span high above.

I’ve discovered a quick cure. A heavy dose of inspiring architecture ingested quickly can provide a bit of an escape; to this end, a little book titled The World’s Greatest Architecture, Past and Present by D.M. Field is just the ticket.

Lots of pictures (text if you want to come back in January and learn more about what you are viewing) and an easily carried format make this book an escapists dream. With a cup of coffee or tea you can flip through the pages and be inspired by Caernarvon Castle (built by the English King Edward I to subdue the Welsh) and then zoom around the world to look at the Kyongbok Palace in Seoul Korea.

North, south, east and west, from ancient days to modern times, you will find something real to spark your interest. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Top LA Interior Designer on Giving Back During the Holidays

Instead of a book review today I’d like to share the following link with you. I was recently interviewed about establishing The Swan Scholarship at Los Angeles City College to help at-risk students. You can read this interview at the Celebrity Do Gooders blog. I hope you will consider ways which you and yours can give back to your community during this holiday season. The book review will return next Monday.

Top Los Angeles Designer’s Book Selections

I have very clear recollections of my mother attempting to convince my younger sister that the broccoli on her plate was something really delicious. Year after year, the exchange remained the same: mom selling, sister not buying. They both had distinct views of the same thing; views that could not have been more different. As it turns out, neither was completely wrong, but the consumption of broccoli ends up a solely personal decision.

A book that has been on my library shelf for sometime now is Hollywood Style by Diane Dorrans Saeks. I pulled it off the shelf last week as part of a little research project and finally made time earlier today to crack the cover.

The title offers a hint of the pot-luck nature of book’s contents. To some readers, style will be found in the effort behind the successful corralling of shapes and forms, color and textures, periods and details. To others, the invocation of style is through this wide and loosely determined filter of Hollywood. Ultimately I think it’s a bit like broccoli; either you like it or you don’t.

Take a look and share with use all your thoughts on this broad and interesting book.

Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Book Review

When you least expect it, things happen. A friend you’ve not seen for years bumps into you. A phone call rockets a business deal to completion and sometimes a simple book can prove so intelligent and instructive that you can’t imagine having not read it years before.

This was my response to reading Adam Lewis’ Van Day Truex, The Man Who Defined Twentieth-Century Taste and Style. Best known for his long reign as design director at Tiffany & Co., but also known and revered for his years of unfaltering leadership at Parsons School of Design, he has developed the tastes of America’s design leaders.

Anyone who enjoys interior design, fashion, architecture and furniture design will find this portrait of Truex a fascinating read. The names, the stories and the interlocking worlds of art and design all come together in the life of a man that Brooke Astor called “one of the most charming men I ever knew.”

From my last read-through of the book (it has become something of an annual ritual), I took this quote from Charles Sevingny, a Paris-based international decorator and former Truex student to heart: “I was at my drawing table looking through some shelter magazines, like House and Garden, you know, and he came by and asked what I was doing. “

“When I said I was getting ideas for an assignment, he was furious: “ ’ Go to the source for ideas, go to the Metropolitan Museum, find your inspiration in nature, to the Museum of Natural History, but never rely on something that someone else has done.’ ”

Shortly after reading this, for the first time, I canceled all my magazine subscriptions. Wise words from a wise and talented man. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

One of my weekend rituals is to read through parts of the New York Times. I don’t pretend to read it all. I don’t pretend to find some of it remotely interesting. But each week there is something of interest which makes the effort of sifting through all that paper and ink worth while.

Today, the Style Magazine has caught my attention and I’ve gleaned a few articles that strike me as worth exploring. What is of more immediate interest for our conversation today is the wide variety of topics that come under the ever-expanding umbrella of design.

Two of the most fundamental elements of design are shape and color. The former involves dimension, scale, contour and a variety of other components that establish a basis for conversation and understanding. The latter invokes theory books and color wheels and also one of the most fascinating books that I’ve read in a very long time.

Color; A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay. In a sweeping and vivid trek through the colors on an artist’s palette, Ms. Finlay leads us on a journey through the pages of history and around the world sharing with us how the colors we choose to value have determined the history of culture itself.

There are so many captivating stories of how artists and businessmen have harvested from nature the array of colors used to create masterpieces that I would simply be quoting great passages of the book if I were to try and share them with you.

Ms. Finlay literally takes you around the world in search of the source of the most precious shades on earth and, in doing so, weaves a cloth of knowledge and understanding that is unique and singular. Enjoy this book, and the next time you stand in a museum gallery, you will marvel in a new way at the paintings staring down at you from the walls.

It’s very interesting how rapidly things can change. One phone call can change a day, week or a life. A voice from the past can bring a rush of memories that re-connect us with emotions set aside long ago. It’s been said that if we don’t learn from our past we are doomed to repeat it.

With the thought of history and the power associated with understanding what has gone before, I found a book this week that caught my imagination. The history of printed and painted fabrics found in Toiles de Jouy by Judith Straeten charts the influence of India on European fabric design.

Early in the seventeenth century, the spice trade brought painted and printed fabrics from India. While fabrics where printed locally at this time, the technology that allowed these fabrics to be washed did not exist until the introduction of the exotic product from India. The patterns initially introduced were soon adjusted to reflect imagery which appealed more to the European market.

Over the years, Toiles have come into their own as an elegant but relaxed source of imagery in the interior. The monochromatic presentation of scenic images allows for the use of these friendly prints in traditional and modern interiors. They always seem to draw a smile.

This book by Judith Straeten, who is the chief archivist for Brunschwig & Fils, is an extensive and captivating source of information and inspiration which I highly recommend. The history of this printed delight offers interesting insight into the development of the interiors we enjoy today. This is a great opportunity to learn and education has never been so delightful.

Have you ever taken the train? Last year while traveling in Russia I boarded the Nicholas I late one night in Moscow for the overnight trip to St. Petersburg. As the train moved out of the station the city lights began flashing past the curtained window of my cabin. A series of staccato images rolled past my window until I fell asleep. When I woke the series continued. Fast flashes. Each peek offering a glimpse of the world beyond. I think it is the concept of the glimpse that interests me today. In reading James Archer Abbott’s book Jansen I found the glimpse concept again of great interest. This book chronicles the 20th century’s most famous and influential interior decorating house and provides a peek into the world’s most spectacular design commissions. Founded in Paris by Jean-Henri Jansen in 1880 the firm eventually occupied offices and boutiques in New York, London, Cairo, Alexandria, Buenos Aires, Havana, Prague, Sao Paolo, Rome, Milan and Geneva.

With photos and stories which illustrate the consistent and committed “modern” aesthetic which this firm used in all their projects it also illustrates its renowned adaptation of an 18th century neoclassical style. It is an education as well as a thrilling experience to glimpse into the rarified world designed by Jansen.

One of my life lessons has to do with finding and then following personal passions. Understanding the things in this life that bring personal joy and then crafting a life which honors and elevates these involvements seems to be the path followed by those who, over time, have distinguished themselves as leaders. Life is too short for it to be otherwise. So when you find the fruits of someone’s passion (in this instance a book) it makes passing this along a joy.

In today’s book such a case is written by an author whose work we have already had an opportunity to glance at. Following her first major writing success The Valley of Decision, Edith Wharton was commissioned by Century Magazine to write a series of articles titled Italian Villas and Their Gardens. Her first novel was set in 18th century Italy and proved so vivid that it led to this series of articles which ultimately became a book in 1904.

With illustrations by Maxfield Parrish and Wharton’s thoughtful and lively exploration of the Italian Villas and Their Gardens this book easily becomes a valuable study guide for anyone interested in the reasons behind the beauty. Her clear understanding of the history of garden design as well as the fine points of refined living makes each page a draw for the next. Enjoy this sometimes sensual, often intellectual and delightfully emotional journey through the magical realized world of the Italian Villas and Their Gardens.

“A new house acquires the soul of the past when it tells a story that converts its newly minted form in a mantle of make believe.”

Russell Versaci’s book Creating a New Old House by The Taunton Press delivers on its promise of delivering the secrets of yesterday’s character for today’s homes. Mr. Versaci is a principal in the firm Versaci Newmann & Partners in Middleburg, Virginia and Washington DC. He has built a reputation as a designer of new homes in traditional architectural styles.

In a world filled with modern architectural expression, it is refreshing to find a book, as well as a career, committed to the rich vocabulary of traditional home design. Firmly rooted in Versaci’s 8 Pillars of Traditional Design, the book explores these themes using an expansive portfolio of New Old House designs.

“A new old house combines the emotional comforts of yesterday with the creature comforts of today.” This emotional comfort is the goal in the search for a connection with the past and, at the same time, establishing a responsive relationship with modern life.

Filled with great photographs and extensive detailed discussions, this book provides a well-informed resource for those interested in traditional design. Enjoy a glimpse of history which is firmly rooted in the moment.

As a child I recall a book that always made me smile. Curious George never failed to make me laugh. The unbridled energy that drove George to peek where he was not supposed to look and touch things he was not to touch always fascinated me. He dared to do the things we were told not to and he always seemed to land on his feet when the inevitable happened.

It seems that the curious nature, which made me smile so much as a child, still entertains me. Standing in the checkout stand at the grocery store this week it struck me how curiosity drives most every facet of the media today. The desire to peek into private lives and homes seems to fuel endless pages of glossy magazines.

In looking through the library this week I found a book that peeks into the homes and lifestyles in the Big Apple. Joseph Byron’s Photographs of New York Interiors at the turn of the Century with text by Clay Lancaster offers us a glimpse that is at once intriguing and surprising.

From rooms that illustrate the height of Victorian opulence to the most humble family quarters, this beautiful book is a fascinating look into a distant time. What is most surprising is the familiar distance between the highs and lows of the “city that never sleeps” and how little things have changed over 100 years later.

A friend recently observed that without a landscape architect the most refined architecture and the most exquisite interiors flounder. The simplicity of his statement stuck with me and sent me to my library. A first edition of Russell Page’s The Education of a Gardener is the volume I selected.

While there are many beautiful books on landscape architecture and gardening, I was attracted to this book for the beauty of its simplicity. Following in a four-thousand year old tradition emanating from High Asia, reaching its peak in the Islamic Middle East and Southern Mediterranean, before finding its last great expression in Renaissance Europe, Russell Page’s work spanned the globe.

This 1962 journal of the design of gardens explores the relationship of gardens to their site, and the choice and associations of plant material. The refinement of spatial ideas combined with those of color and texture meld into the works of art which was the ultimate goal of his gardens.

Filled with information on site orientation and plant materials, this book is also filled with the wonderful writing of a master artist relating truths confirmed through a lifetime of considering landscapes.

If you have a love of gardens and wish to look into the artistry which can complete architecture and interiors, and form a united artistic experience, I highly recommend this book to you.

The House in Good Taste
Elsie de Wolfe

Learn to Enjoy Homemaking

I have a clear recollection of the first time I told a client “no.” Not “no” as in turning down a project, but “no” with regards to an item or an issue within a project. A question had been asked about the use of an existing antique in a new house.

The piece had some vague sentimental value, but not much more. It was not a particularly pretty piece, but from the conversation, I knew where this was headed. In a flash I made a decision. I set aside all my diplomatic skills; faced the rather ordinary antique and simply said “no.”

I did not need to explain nor validate. I had been hired to bring a level of expertise and vision to the project, and in one word I owned these roles.

Things are either right or they are not. The grey zones are best left to the philosophers and lawyers. This type of clarity is what you will find in Elsie de Wolfe’s The House in Good Taste. Reprinted and distributed by the foundation which carries her name, this collection of articles was originally written for the magazine The Delineator.

They were gathered by the author as a clear exploration of the art of fine homemaking. In his introduction, Albert Hadley provides a quote from the author which sets the tone for all which follows. “Never complain. Never explain.”

If you are looking for a practical guide to maximize your home’s livability, this is the book you should read. I keep it near my desk and it has become a valuable resource on an almost daily basis. The author’s cry for “suitability, suitability, SUITABILITY” still resonates today.

If you’ve read (or are reading) the book, I’m interested in your thoughts, particularly on room designations and furniture placement. The author has specific ideas which I think fit nicely into the way we live today. What do you think?

Book Review

I’ve just returned from time on Cape Cod and, as always, my mind is still reeling from the subtle beauty that this slice of the world offers; the light and the quality of color it produces has been a constant source of fascination since my first visit over 10 years ago.

My feeble word skills will never do justice to the reality, so I will simply say that this recent experience has me looking at color all over again.

To help me with this, I’ve picked up a wonderful book and suggest it to you: Color for Interior Design by Ethel Rompilla. Whether you are in the profession or simply want a better understanding of how color shapes the world we live in, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

Ethel Rompilla is an award-winning professor of color theory at the New York School of Interior Design where she serves as an academic advisor and associate dean. Well-regarded in the design community, her book is filled with rooms by Albert Hadley, Victoria Hagen and Mariette Himez Gomez; illustrating her color theory and application.

The book begins with a fascinating historical look at color through the centuries. The author then outlines basic color theory in a clear and understandable manner. She covers the science of light and color with comprehensive discussions of optics, light physics and color wheels, then provides a wealth of practical applications.

Enhance your library and understanding of the wonderful world of color by adding this book to your collection.

Mark Hampton on Decorating

I spoke with a friend today. He and his family were evacuated from their home earlier this year in the face of the Griffith Observatory fire in Los Angeles. In the rush to leave their home they faced many questions, “What do we take with us?” “What do we save?” Fortunately, no homes were damaged and they were safely back the next day.

“What would I save?” The question lingers. I am looking at my shelves of books. Maybe I would snatch up some of my favorites? One of the saved volumes might be a book that I became familiar with shortly after its printing in 1989.

Mark Hampton was a name familiar to me from many editions of Architectural Digest. For years his work informed and inspired. When his book was released; filled with knowledge, insight and wit (as well as his sumptuous watercolors), it was an easy addition to my small library and suggested reading list.

You can try an architecture book search, but I believe the book is out of print. While revisiting the text, I found it to be just as important and applicable today as when I first opened the cover.

Book Review

As an avid book collector I find the prospect of talking about books a wonderful excuse to add to my small, but steadily growing stacks of printed wonders. Whether it is a stunningly bound, exquisitely printed Turkish volume on The Silk Road (found in a dusty stall at the Sultans Bizarre in Istanbul) or a tenderly worn copy of Russell Page’s The Education of a Gardener picked up at a Western Massachusetts tag sale, books intrigue casual readers and vintage book collectors.

Books carry us to wonderful places through words, pictures and illustrations. They educate, illuminate, inspire and outrage. At their worst, they can leave us feeling that time has been wasted. At their best, they cause time to evaporate leaving only the sound of turning pages as a link to our daily life.

It would be futile to promise you scholarly erudition as I share with you the books that I find of note. What I will commit to this suggested reading list is only from my experience. You may agree or disagree or not care at all. I will only share with you the things which cause me to, once again, commit to the idea that I can make this world a bit more beautiful.

So where to start on this suggested reading list? The possibilities are vast and reach back through centuries of hardcover classic book collections. Wanting to keep this introduction to “books on design” fresh and useful, my hand reaches for Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr.’s The Decoration of Houses. First printed at the beginning of the 20th century, this guidebook to creating a beautiful home always challenges and inspires.

With its feet unapologetically planted in the classical tradition, it raises the bar for thoughtful design while always encouraging personal style. “Most of the features of architecture that have persisted through various fluctuations of taste owe their preservation to the fact that they have been proved by experience to be necessary,” sums up for me the authors’ very direct observations on the design of a home.

At times the language can be thick to our ear (remember the opening monologue of The Age of Innocence, beautiful, but not your typical water cooler chatter), however, for anyone really interested in understanding the power of an empty room (“much of the sense of restfulness and comfort produced by certain rooms depends on the due adjustment of their fundamental parts.” P 19), they will find the reward well worth the labor.