Best Design Books

Book Review: The Night Before BAFTA by Assouline

August 1, 2016

Book Review: The Night Before BAFTA by Assouline – Even before the Oscars, the buzz of the British Academy Film Awards gives a unique energy to awards season, making one night in early February a highlight for everyone in the film business. Thus in 1999, Charles Finch’s now-famous pre-BAFTA party was born, and in the years since, Finch’s charismatic charm and creative skills have turned a small gathering on the eve of the BAFTA Awards into a star-studded bash. With a foreword by John Malkovich, The Night Before BAFTA is a behind-the-scenes invitation to this glamorous night, featuring iconic images of British actors and films, anecdotes from the party’s guests and notable figures, and the story of the famed British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Readers are welcomed into the exclusive club venue, Annabel’s, to peruse an impressive photo collection of the who’s who of British film, complemented by former Harper’s Bazaar UK editor Lucy Yeomans’s insights on Red Carpet fashion moments in film. See also: Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Hotel Design John Malkovich is an American actor and director who has appeared in over seventy films, including Dangerous Liaisons, Empire of the Sun, and Being John Malkovich. He…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Bathroom Design

July 29, 2016

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Bathroom Design – For each bathroom there is an image of the whole house (placing it in context and providing a flavour of the general design style), images of the bathroom, and a floor plan showing its relation to other spaces. The pages that follow are entirely devoted to detailed drawings showing the arrangement and construction of the bathroom, in particular sections, elevations and construction details of all the fitted units and joinery. These drawings are all made to a consistent style and to a set number of scales for easy comparison. Dimensions are also included with the drawings as well as details of fitted units (baths, showers, basins, etc.). See also: Book Review: Farfetch Curates Art The credits for the project include contact details of suppliers so that the exact materials and fixtures can be sourced. The projects are arranged into chapters by type of dominant material: glass, steel and stone. The book will be invaluable for all practising architects as well as those considering commissioning a high-quality bathroom for their own house. See also: Book Review: Dolce Vita Style Virginia McLeod has worked for a number of private practices in London and was also the…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Mini Edition of Creative Space

July 28, 2016

Book Review: Mini Edition of Creative Space – Creative Space looks at 30 homes, from New York to Tokyo, via London and Paris, of the designers, directors, stylists, artists, graffiti writers, curators, novelists and innovators who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary culture. Filled with post-modern pop collectables, vintage junk finds, camouflage and graffiti, clothing and toy collections, these homes showcase quirky and original interior decoration. Looking at these interiors city by city, among the 30 homes featured in the book are those of artist and designer Julie Verhoeven and Maharishi founder Hardy Blechmann in London, graffiti artist Fafi in Paris, artists Ryan McGinness and Wes Lang in New York, innovative creatives Jaybo and Lucio Auri in Berlin, Barcelona filmmaker Roger Gual, and Tokyo’s cult photographer Yasumasa Yonehara and artist Aya Takano. The spaces they inhabit and work in give a real image of today’s avant garde. You May Also Like: Book Review: The Luxury Collection – Room With A View Francesca Gavin is Visual Arts Editor of Dazed & Confused and Editor at Artsy and Harper’s Bazaar (France). She is the author of 100 New Artists, Creative Space and Hell Bound: New Gothic Art, and her curatorial work includes ‘The…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Kitchen Design

July 27, 2016

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Kitchen Design – Detail in Contemporary Kitchen Design features more than 30 kitchen designs from around the world, each created by a notable architect for a specific residence. Arranged into chapters according to the dominant material used – stone, timber and steel – each design is accompanied by an image of the whole house, clear photographs of the kitchen itself and a floor plan showing its relation to the other spaces within the house. Detailed photographs and architectural drawings show the arrangement and construction of the kitchens, and sections and elevations reveal the construction details of fitted units and joinery. These drawings have been specially created to a consistent style and to a set number of scales for easy comparison. See also: Book Review: Discover Juan Pablo Molyneux Book – At Home Dimensions are included, as well as model details of all the units and appliances, with suppliers’ information so that these can be easily sourced. A selection of insightful case studies include interviews with clients, designers and manufacturers and provide an overview of the whole process of commissioning and creating a contemporary bespoke kitchen. An invaluable reference for practising architects, interior designers and students, this…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Construction and Detailing for Interior Design

July 26, 2016

Book Review: Construction and Detailing for Interior Design – Construction and detailing are vital skills for all students studying interior design and architecture. This new edition of this book allows each student the means to find and put into practice the appropriate solution to fabrication issues and also to express their own personal aesthetic. The relation of existing building shells to the construction and detailing of new elements is also explored. Practical tips are given throughout the book, the roles of consultants, manufacturers, suppliers and fabricators are explained, and theories of modern, sustainable approaches to interior detailing are discussed. See also: Book Review: A Touch Of Style The chapters are packed with professional, annotated drawings and explanatory photographs of techniques, materials and tools. Through these, the principles of sound construction are explained. This second edition includes revised diagrams to increase clarity, more on sustainability and more on services and lighting. See also: Book Review: Discover Juan Pablo Molyneux Book – At Home Drew Plunkett is Head of the Department of Interior Design at the Glasgow School of Art. Since 1981 he has practised as an interior designer based in London and Glasgow. Plunkett is also active as an exhibi tor,…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Hotel Design

July 25, 2016

Book Review: Detail in Contemporary Hotel Design – Hotel interiors need to satisfy the imaginations of their customers and whet the appetite for a return visit or recommendation, and the design that gets the formula right will do as much to prolong the life of the business as the service delivered within the hotel. This book explores in detail 36 of the best recent hotel interior design schemes, featuring projects by leading architects from around the world. The book is divided into three sections embracing newly built and refurbished hotels as well as conversions. See also: Book Review: Discover Juan Pablo Molyneux Book – At Home Each project includes photographs as well as detailed drawings and plans, where appropriate, as well as informative text describing the design concept and process. A bonus CD contains drawings featured in the book, in both eps and dwg (generic CAD) formats. See also: Book Review: Chaumet 3-Volume Slipcase Set Drew Plunkett was Head of the Department of Interior Design at the Glasgow School of Art. Since 1981 he has practised as an interior designer based in London and Glasgow. He is also active as an exhibitor, curator and critical writer. He is the author of Drawing for…

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Interior Design

Book Review: 1000 Interior Details for the Home and Where to Find Them

July 22, 2016

Book Review: 1000 Interior Details for the Home and Where to Find Them – This book looks at every aspect of interior detail for domestic spaces. It is designed to appeal to anyone interested in improving the home environment, from DIY enthusiasts to professionals such as architects and interior designers. Products selected come from around the world and are all currently available to buy (websites of manufacturers/suppliers are included in the product captions). The selection includes a combination of the newest and the best products launched since the millennium, arranged into chapters to provide inspiration for every space in the domestic interior. The book has seven chapters: Walls and Floors; Doors, Windows and Stairs; Heating and Cooling; Kitchens; Bathrooms; Lighting; Home Technology. Each chapter is prefaced by an in-depth interview with a leading architect/designer, who has a specialist knowledge of the chapter’s subject. For example, James Soane, co-founder of Project Orange, looks at windows and doors. Gregorio Spini, the founder of Kundalini, one of Italy’s most progressive lighting manufacturers, discusses domestic lighting. Jack Mama, creative director at Philips Design, talks about technology in the home. See also: Find 1250 Interior Design Inspirations at Covet Lounge Catalogue Ian Rudge is the co-founder…

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Interior Design

Find 1250 Interior Design Inspirations at Covet Lounge Catalogue

July 22, 2016

Find 1250 Interior Design Inspirations at Covet Lounge Catalogue – Take a look and discover more than 1000 products and 1250 inspirations to create wonderfull bedroom interiors. Covet Lounge just release a new edition of Covet Catalogue, an amazing tool for Interior Designers. See the Catalogue FOR FREE and Request Hard Copy Catalogue Design has always been about the experience. Despite a younger, more digitally savvy and connected world, the fundamentals of the workplace in design remain unchanged. Ultimately, design is about people and relationships. Covet Lounge always need to consider the entire end user experience, and so space, products, deadlines, budgets and collaborations are the basic needs that a designer must always meet. Trade shows have always been a way for brands to unveil their latest collections, the design trade comes together in hopes of finding the next best thing, products are sold and contacts exchanged but relationships and connections get lost in time and business. In order to succeed in the design industry brands must always be at the forefront of innovation and service. Eight extraordinary brands have come together and laid their concerns and observations on the table & one common conclusion was expressed – with the cut-throat, fast paced,…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Art Game Book by David Rosenberg

July 21, 2016

Book Review: Art Game Book by David Rosenberg – With games, puzzles, quotations, and commentaries, the Art Game Book is an original way to explore 20th-century painting, sculpture, architecture, design, video, installation, and photography. Newly updated, with abundant illustrations and a glossary, this extensive book also includes an international guide to museums, websites, fairs and modern art events around the world. In addition to beautiful reproductions, commentaries, and a glossary of the important art movements, this exciting book includes a resource guide to help you check out the world’s major modern and contemporary art museums, find the best websites, and choose among the most important art fairs and events. To be serious while not taking oneself seriously: that’s the objective of this book, which allows the reader to explore the complete history of 20th century art with enthusiasm and curiosity. Developed to be both comprehensive and accessible, The Art Game Book is a new way of approaching art history. See also: Book Review: Fendi Roma The works included here are perfect representations of 20th century art, but are fresh examples and not the usual suspects. This book is, in essence, a game that allows the reader not only to test his…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Chaumet 3-Volume Slipcase Set

July 14, 2016

Book Review: Chaumet 3-Volume Slipcase Set – Chaumet, established in 1780, is one of the crown jewels of Place Vendôme, the epicenter of the world of Parisian fine jewelry. Following the French Revolution, Marie-Étienne Nitot and then his son, François-Regnault, became official jewelers to Napoléon I and Empress Joséphine, thus founding the business that grew into the luxury brand known today as Chaumet. In 1812 Nitot fils acquired an hôtel particulier on Place Vendôme, becoming the first fine jeweler on the square. Book Review: A Touch Of Style Alexis Gregory is the founder of Vendôme Press, a publishing house dedicated to fine arts, music, architecture, and culture. Gregory has contributed to magazines including Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveler, and Town & Country, and he has written several books including The Golden Age of Travel; Families of Fortune: Life in the Gilded Age; and Private Splendor: Great Families at Home. He also wrote In the Spirit of Venice and Place Vendôme for Assouline. Jewelry historian Vivienne Becker is an award-winning journalist and author based in London. A contributing editor to Financial Times’s How to Spend It magazine, Becker writes for publications around the world, and lectures and broadcasts on her subject. She organized and wrote the…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: In The Spirit Of Rio

July 14, 2016

Book Review: In The Spirit Of Rio – Rio de Janeiro is the “Cidade Maravilhosa” that greets everyone with friendly faces and open arms. Its magic begins with its natural beauty, which has amazed travelers since the first explorers landed in the sixteenth century and has inspired countless artists, designers, architects, poets, and musicians for more than 450 years. The massive statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado mountain watches over the sea and the mountains, the concrete jungle and the world’s largest urban forest, the simple colonial facades of churches concealing rich baroque interiors, and the scantily clad bodies that parade the beaches, where all classes gather in the democracy of bikinis and sungas. But the attraction of this unique place is even deeper; it lives in the hearts of its citizens, the cariocas, who, no matter where they go, radiate the sun they so revere. Generous, creative, open-minded, and in constant motion, they are a people of all colors and creeds, which, despite the difficulties of social and class divisions, never loses its morale, its smiles, and its faith in the victory over the daily battles of the human condition. Epicenter of the colorful explosion…

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