Best Design Books

Book Review: Venetian Chic by Francesca Bortolotto Possati

September 23, 2016

Book Review: Venetian Chic by Francesca Bortolotto Possati – Venetian art connoisseur, interior designer, and hotelier Francesca Bortolotto Possati knows the intricacies of Venice. To have her as a guide is to experience firsthand her passion for the private side of the mythic city whose daily visitors outnumber its population. Join her to visit artists’ studios, elegant Venetian friends, and palaces’ secrets. Follow her on a gondola ride or through hidden gardens; discover restaurants, markets, and artisan shops. The discerning eye of photographer Robyn Lea makes this book a revelation of the Venice of dreams, which will surely allow readers to see this iconic destination through new eyes. See also: Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah Lavoine Francesca Bortolotto Possati is the CEO of Venice’s Bauer Hotel group. A native of the city, she is greatly involved in its culture as a patron of the arts and board member of Save Venice Inc., a foundation dedicated to restoring important works of Venetian architecture and art. She also sponsors the Zuecca Project Space, a non-profit area that hosts exhibitions for local and international art communities. Bartolotto Possati presents the Ca’ Foscari Award at Venice’s international literary festival each year….

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Art

New Book Releases: Reflections By Matt Black

September 22, 2016

New Book Releases: Reflections By Matt Black – When filmmaker Matt Black interviews current artists, it’s personal. His perceptive queries prompt these creatives to reveal intriguing pieces of their journeys. Jeff Koons explains the childhood experiences that made his art possible; Damien Hirst shares the motivation behind his spot paintings. These twenty-one conversations are casual, comfortable, and insightful. Illustrated with the artists’ work, artists in their studios, and shots from Black’s video interviews, Reflections is a unique foray from the printed page into the world of the cinematic, and a work of art in itself. See also: Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah Lavoine Born and raised in Paris, Matt Black moved to New York City in 1998. He has established himself as a creative mind much called upon in the field of art, and his many projects have led him through filmmaking, curation, design, and photography. In 2011, Black launched REFLECTIONS, a series of films focusing on art world luminaries produced for the award-winning cultural website NOWNESS. The series captures the vision and inspiration of each globally renowned creative and immerses us in their singular world. See also: Book Review: Scandinavia Dreaming – Nordic Homes Keep following Best…

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FASHION

Book Review: Fendi 50 Years by Steidl

September 21, 2016

Book Review: Fendi 50 Years by Steidl – “Fendi is my Italian version of creativity. It’s Italian to its core. It’s not only Italian, it’s Roman,” says Karl Lagerfeld of his position as Creative Director. This set celebrates his astounding 50 year tenure with the label – the longest collaboration ever between a designer and a luxury fashion house. Beautifully presented in a custom-made wooden case modeled on the box of oil pastels on Lagerfeld’s work desk, it’s a compilation of exclusive interviews, recorded conversations, personal sketches and DVDs of his short films, through which we discover some of his earliest and fondest memories of the past five decades. See also: Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah Fendi is an Italian luxury fashion house whose specialities include fur, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in 1925 in Rome, Fendi is renowned for its exquisite creations on fur and fur accessories. Fendi is also well known for its leather goods such as “Baguette”, 2jours, Peekaboo or Pequin handbags. See also: Book Review: Scandinavia Dreaming – Nordic Homes The house of Fendi was launched in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi, as a fur and…

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FASHION

Book Review – Lanvin: I Love You

September 19, 2016

Book Review – Lanvin: I Love You – An important monograph on the complete work thus far of Alber Elbaz for Lanvin—one of fashion’s most transformative designers working today, who employs mise-en-scènes as a principal way of staging his work. Under the helm of present design director Alber Elbaz, Lanvin is now one of the powerhouses of Paris fashion, and his respectful nod to the origins and founding aesthetic of Lanvin is tempered by an unrivaled, transformative energy that has created a new, youthful audience for the house. One of the pillars of Elbaz’s work, apart from staging dynamic runway presentations, is a unique way of presenting his designs in the windows of their flagship stores, most notably in the boutique on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. See also: Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah These mise-en-scènes, which change every month, are well regarded as elaborate spectacles unique even in fashion. Seducing passersby into his very distinctive brand of street theater and occasionally employing prominent artists of the day, Elbaz’s windows are above all about the clothes, and his designs are given pride of place in a variety of elegant and often playful episodes. The book showcases…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Evergreen – Living with Plants

September 16, 2016

Book Review: Evergreen – Living with Plants – From rooftop gardens to flora-laden balconies, flowers and plants bestow a warm grace to unconventional and indoor spaces. See also: Interior Design Books: Kaleidoscope, Living in Color and Patterns Private paradises nestled in the backyards of homes. Rooftops that act as community gardens. Edible patches of beauty hidden within city blocks. Evergreen shows the verdant aesthetic statement that allows city dwellers to bring nature back into the every day and quenches urban gardening desires. Living with plants is mutually beneficial; beyond the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, leaves, flowers, and stems bring a warm and individual charisma to any space. Throughout this engaging collection of projects, urban gardening is complimented by a softer side: balconies that add an extra relaxing touch to a morning cup of coffee, flowers that provide calming fragrances throughout the home, or romantic blooms that feed the soul rather than fill a plate. Evergreen also inspires those who already live in the midst of lush horticultural and sustainable oases. Straightforward plans and examples illustrate how to transform unused spaces, both indoors and out, into flourishing and functional patches. Sketched floorplans visually detail a myriad of projects including which…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks and Other Hide-Outs

September 14, 2016

Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks and Other Hide-Outs – The cabin has become our third place, our hideaway where we can recharge our spirits and reconnect with ourselves, away from the restraints of society and the stress of the everyday. This book presents the best new cabin architecture and design. See also: Interior Design Books: Kaleidoscope, Living in Color and Patterns Escaping from the city and the everyday. Making a home within the forest’s foliage. Using architectural remains as a foundation for a new retreat. These are the makings of many daydreams and the realities present in The Hinterland. For, even if it only lasts a moment, we all need a change of scenery. Cabins provide that coveted change. Located on mountain tops, nestled in villages, or ensconced in lush forests, The Hinterland showcases homey hide-outs and charming cabins from shelter to domicile. These getaways free us from the distracting and unessential, and offer to put us back in touch with nature and reclaim our own inner peace. Thoughtfully crafted and built, the stories behind these structures are just as curious as the walls themselves. Through portraits of the inhabitants and their invitingly inventive homes, The Hinterland explores architecture and…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Scandinavia Dreaming – Nordic Homes, Interiors and Design

September 13, 2016

Book Review: Scandinavia Dreaming – Nordic Homes, Interiors and Design – The nuanced realm of Nordic design has two personalities. On one side, there sits the open, light, friendly, and democratic constituent. And, on the other hand, is its moody counterpart: sleek and sophisticated; timeless and traditional; and deeply rooted in the sensations and juxtapositions of nature. Within the lines of tile-covered roofs born from the existence of nearby clay deposits and large windows that let in light during the shorter winter days, insight into this special thread of skilled craftsmanship awaits. Scandinavia Dreaming presents dazzling interiors, architecture, and products that show the richness, variety, and intensity of contemporary Nordic spaces. Artisans fresh from design school breathe new life into the wonted usage of tile, wood, glass, ceramics, and other customarily Nordic materials. Profiles of brands and personalities that have influenced and, arguably, brought Nordic threads to the forefront of design conversations, tell an intriguing story: an aesthetic and historic journey through a vast world of style and heritage. Design firms such as Hay, Ferm Living, and Frama are highlighted and extolled for the new layer of warmth and energy that they bring to contemporary Danish design while honoring Scandinavian aesthetics and…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah Lavoine

September 12, 2016

Book Review: Decorate your Home Like a Parisienne with Sarah Lavoine – Living like a true Parisienne starts at home. Interior designer Sarah Lavoine sees the quintessential Paris apartment as a stylish sanctuary from the stresses of life. Covering each room in the home, Lavoine explains her approach to using color, highlights the indispensible elements of each space, and suggests how to add unforgettable details in order to create a restful and chic environment. With vibrant interior photographs and charming hand-drawn illustrations, ChezMoi is a design handbook that introduces contemporary French style, accented by French-girl-next-door advice on everything from fashion to beauty to cooking to shopping. Moreover, Lavoine’s in-the-know list of Paris addresses allows visitors to traipse through the arrondissements like locals—or even purchase items from abroad. With her original and useful advice, Lavoine reveals how to create a truly French, meaningful, fulfilling lifestyle, no matter where you live. See also: Interior Design Books: Kaleidoscope, Living in Color and Patterns A leading interior designer, Sarah Lavoine and her agency have become synonymous with Parisian taste, contemporary aesthetics, and craftsmanship. Her product line is available at Barney’s New York, and her work has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, ElleDecoration, and…

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Lifestyle

Velo: Lifestyle & Wheels Bicycle Culture and Design

September 9, 2016

Velo: Lifestyle & Wheels Bicycle Culture and Design – Velo introduces a wild bunch of passionate cyclists – frame builders, urban planners, artists, photographers, and those who ride professionally – who are making an impact. They are not only shaping styles, but promoting cycling as a primary form of transport. The book also explores the aesthetic of today’s cycling culture and presents custom-made frames and art bikes as well as a selection of contemporary illustration and design influenced by the cycling movement. Geared toward anyone who has a personal or professional interest in cycling, Velo is the fast lane into a current topic that is both entertaining and socially relevant. Cycling is zeitgeist. With rising fuel prices and mounting ecological awareness, bicycle sales are significantly up. Activity became activism and then lifestyle. Moving on two wheels is now a movement. Velo is a striking visual journey into the multifaceted world of cycling and the diverse tribes that inhabit it. These range from hardcore 2-wheel globetrotters, downtown messengers on fixed-gear bikes without brakes, laid back pedallers on old-fashioned Dutch bicycles, fashionable cyclists on vintage racing bikes, and dedicated fans of high-tech racing machines and e-bikes. The book also gives insider views into…

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Interior Design

Interior Design: The Design Hotels Book

September 8, 2016

Interior Design: The Design Hotels Book – Discerning travelers who thrive on unique experiences can choose from the world’s most inspiring hotels through this book. Featuring one-of-a-kind architecture and design by the sea, in the mountains, and in the world’s greatest cities, The Design Hotels Book leads you to new exciting properties and the creative visionaries who brought them to life. With almost 500 pages of stunning accommodations, this is the most extensive edition of The Design Hotels™ Book to date. The hardcover showcases an exclusive selection of singular hotels from around the world, and every page is thoughtfully arranged with a perfect balance between imagery and text. The publication introduces more than 280 hotels and their makers in 185 destinations with striking architectural, landscape, and portrait photography. Detailed profiles contain information about the architecture, design, and location of each hotel as well as their distinctive features, giving readers valuable insight into the future of the hotel and luxury sectors. See also: Book Review: New Bar and Club Design by Bethan Ryder Design Hotel represents and markets a curated selection of more than 280 independent hotels in over 50 countries across the globe. More than a collection of hotels, the company…

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Lifestyle

Lifestyle: The New Nomads – Temporary Spaces and a Life on the Move

September 7, 2016

Lifestyle: The New Nomads – Temporary Spaces and a Life on the Move – Mobility is the ultimate new form of freedom: freedom from routine, traditional values, and geographic restraints. Today’s creatives thrive on a lifestyle that enables them to work six months in a shared office in Berlin, spend the summer in a caravan in Chile, and show up in time for their next project at a temporary desk in New York. This growing trend has generated visionary ways of designing products and spaces that facilitate a nomadic yet high-tech life. From a modular dwelling system on wheels to an inflatable classroom in a repurposed dumpster, this book compiles a wide range of flexible spaces and innovative products that define today’s nomads. Through innovative technology, and by (literally) thinking outside the box, the designers behind these concepts give people the freedom to call the entire world their home. See also: Book Review: New Bar and Club Design by Bethan Ryder Today’s internet generation no longer needs a home. It is mobile. It works six months in a shared office in Berlin, spends the summer in a caravan in Chile, and shows up just in time for the next project at…

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