Best Design Books

Book Review: The Italian Dream, a Photographic Adventure

November 9, 2016

Book Review: The Italian Dream, a Photographic Adventure – For more than three years, Aline Coquelle, the well-known globe-trotting photographer, and Count Gelasio Gaetani d’Aragona Lovatelli, a member of one of the oldest aristocratic Italian families, have followed the map of Italy’s best wines. Guided by Gelasio, readers are introduced to a tribe of artistic and wine-loving amici who share their passion for their country’s heritage and bounty. The Italian Dream: Wine, Heritage, Soul is an escape into the effortlessly elegant Italian lifestyle, savoring wine behind the private gates of family castles and vineyards, from the foothills of the Alps to the hill towns of Tuscany to the relaxed southern seasides. See also: Take a Tour of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels with Chic Stays Winemaker, industry consultant, cellar advisor, speaker and visiting lecturer, Count Gelasio Gaetani d’Aragona Lovatelli is an eclectic and versatile authority on Italian and international wines, having traveled and worked in the U.S., South America, England, and the Far East. Inheriting from his maternal grandfather, Baron Raimondo Franchetti, a passion for wine, agriculture, and terroir, Gaetani studied agricultural sciences in Italy, attended the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London, and gained industry experience working for Julius Wile…

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Art

Book Review: In Search of Bawa the Master Architect of Sri Lanka

October 25, 2016

Book Review: In Search of Bawa the Master Architect of Sri Lanka – This book answers some important questions about Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s pre-eminent architect, and his legacy. A sizeable introduction to Bawa’s world, life, education and work is reviewed by eminent Bawa scholar, David Robson. This precedes a site-by-site tour of 45 of his buildings scatterd throughout Sri Lanka. Many are considered “pilgrimage sites” by up-and-coming architects, designers and lay people interested in his extraordinary and enduring talent. Insightful texts, contemporary and archive photographs and a plethora of drawings illustrate the individual buildings that range from private dwellings to public buildings, schools and hotels. Each is representative of Bawa’s pioneering work on tropical modernism. The book ends with a brief section on buildings that have been transformed, lost or are at risk for one reason or another. David Robson is an architect, academic and writer who had a personal friendship with Geoffrey Bawa. He is Bawa’s official biographer, having published three books – BAWA: The Complete Works (2003), Beyond Bawa (2005) and Bawa: The Sri Lankan Gardens (2009). He is also the author of Anjalendran: An Architect of Sri Lanka (2011) and…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Unexpected Creations Lotus Arts De Vivre

October 24, 2016

Book Review: Unexpected Creations Lotus Arts De Vivre – Celebrate the exceptional style of Thai jeweler Lotus Arts de Vivre, beloved the world over for its daring, nature-inspired pieces, with Unexpected Creations. Journey into a realm of finely wrought bracelets, necklaces, and rings whose magnificent details are inspired by Asian folklore and culture. Lotus’s artisans pay homage not only to the brand’s Thai heritage, but also to Indian moguls, Indonesian rulers, and Chinese emperors. See also: Take a Tour of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels with Chic Stays Seamlessly melding precious metals and jewels with organic materials such as ebony, seeds, nuts, seashells, bamboo, scarab wings, and ostrich eggs, these pieces are one of a kind, bringing to life mythical beasts and ancient tales from Asian folklore. Lotus also goes beyond jewelry, creating all aspects of an elegant lifestyle, including home decor, travel accessories, furniture, and paintings. The stunning original photography in this volume will whisk readers away to another time. Rolf von Bueren founded Lotus Arts de Vivre along with his wife, Helen. Growing up in Frankfurt, Germany, in an artisan environment, an appreciation for skilled craftsmanship was instilled in him from an early age. In 1962, von Bueren…

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Interior Design

Book Review – Function, Purity and Perfection of Shaker Furniture

October 23, 2016

Book Review – Function, Purity and Perfection of Shaker Furniture – Shaker: Function, Purity, Perfection is an homage to the traditional Shaker values of grace and simplicity. Featured are twenty-eight essential pieces that highlight the defining elements of Shaker design and demonstrate a dedication to perfection. Designer and furniture expert Sir Terence Conran speaks about the profound Shaker influence on twentieth-century furniture, and David Stocks and Jerry Grant of the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon illustrate the Shaker history, tradition, and the furniture-making techniques that ensured lasting value and beauty. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… David Stocks has led the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon as its president since 2007. Prior to that he was involved in preservation organizations and led an effort to create an urban rail-to-trail park in Dallas, Texas. Jerry Grant is the director of collections and research at the Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon. He has spent thirty-five years in the field of Shaker history as an interpreter, craftsman, historian, librarian, and museum director. Sir Terence Conran is one of the world’s best-known designers, restaurateurs, and retailers. He founded the Conran Design Studio in 1956 and the Habitat chain of home furnishings stores in…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Michele Bönan, The Gentleman Of Style

October 21, 2016

Book Review: Michele Bönan, The Gentleman Of Style – Renowned Italian architect and interior designer Michele Bönan likens each of his ventures to a film script, composed of dynamic narrative, wit, and irony. An aspiring architect from the age of five, Bönan attended Florence’s Accademia di Belle Arti, which he credits with compelling his freedom of expression. Bönan’s first great success came at twenty, when a magazine published his work for the home of famous tennis player friend Adriano Panatta and other high-profile clients immediately took notice. Whether for private clients or public buildings, Bönan’s designs—ranging among hotels, restaurants, estates, and even yachts—each possess a distinctive virtuosic excellence. His aesthetic incorporates modern elements and luxuries; but historical architecture, particularly that of his native Florence, always informs his style choices. “Truth before all things” is the inspiration behind all Michele Bönan’s work, a mantra he manifests by carefully arranging the desires of his clients into their ideal environment, “translated with pure Italian flair.” Notable projects highlighted in this beautifully illustrated edition include the JK Place Hotels in Capri, Rome, and Florence; the Hôtel Marquis Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris; Palazzo Tornabuoni in Florence; Jagdgut Wachtelhof Hotel in Austria; and many more. Leonardo…

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Interior Design

Rajasthan Style a Western dream of the Orient

October 20, 2016

Rajasthan Style a Western dream of the Orient – “To travel to Rajasthan is to leave behind the world of commotion and confusion, of gloomy gray concrete, and forget the sometimes callous modern customs of the West. In Rajasthan one encounters marvel after marvel; one is surprised by beauty in all its forms—real or imaginary—and enchantment at every turn.” These words of introduction by Laure Vernière perfectly illustrate the spirit of this volume, and the photography of Anne Garde reveals the author’s vision of Rajasthan, the “Land of Kings” she has cherished for years. A travel journal composed by four hands, this photographic opus expresses the sublime beauty of the people, nature, and places of this legendary region of India. From palaces to singular creative interiors, this promenade through the myriad colors and traditional handicrafts of Rajasthan captures the idealized Western dream of the Orient. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Anne Garde creates innovative artworks inspired by industrial sites and places of memory, to showcase a side of the Western world that resists globalization. Architecture, cities, ports, factories, vacant lots, bunkers, bridges, and roads are transformed through her lens. Extralight (Verlhac, 2008). Garde is equally fascinated by the…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: 70 Years of Innovation and Play with Mattel

October 18, 2016

Book Review: 70 Years of Innovation and Play with Mattel – “Innovation became a hallmark of Mattel operations,” said Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler in 1968. “We were unorthodox, venturesome—our people were willing to try new things. This quality, more than any other, has been the key to the company’s progress.” From its humble beginnings producing picture frames for portrait studios to icons including Barbie and Hot Wheels, Mattel has been a master of imagination and innovation for seventy years. In 1938, Handler began crafting art objects from Lucite in the LA garage of Harold “Matt” Matson. Soon he was in business as Elzac Jewelry, with Hollywood starlets modeling his designs. When Handler and Matson left Elzac and went into business as Mattel, the year was 1945 and with the nation at war, plastics were restricted for military use. Innovators as they were, they began selling wooden picture frames and quickly branched out into dollhouse furniture, before changing their emphasis to toys. Barbie was born in 1959 and one year later Mattel became a publicly owned company. In the following years, Mattel launched other iconic toys, including Hot Wheels and He-Man; began incorporating other brands, such as Fisher-Price, Pleasant Company (including…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats

October 11, 2016

Book Review: Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats – This stunning book presents the intriguing stories and celebrated histories of some of the leading families of Great Britain and Ireland and the opulent residences that have defined their heritages. The history of England is inextricably linked with the stories of its leading aristocratic dynasties and the great seats they have occupied for centuries. As the current owners speak of the critical roles their ancestors have played in the nation, they bring history alive. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… All of these houses have survived great wars, economic upheavals, and, at times, scandal. Filled with stunning photography, this book is a remarkably intimate and lively look inside some of Britain’s stateliest houses, with the modern-day aristocrats who live in them and keep them going in high style. This book presents a tour of some of England’s finest residences, with many of the interiors shown here for the first time. It includes Blenheim Palace—seven acres under one roof, eclipsing the splendor of any of the British royal family’s residences—property of the Dukes of Marlborough; the exquisite Old Vicarage in Derbyshire, last residence of the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire (née Deborah Mitford);…

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Interior Design

Book Review: My Stylish French Girlfriends

October 10, 2016

Book Review: My Stylish French Girlfriends – Meet 20 beautiful, creative French women who live with passion; work every day; and love to take care ot their homes and families. Visit them in their grand chateaux or charming little country cottages or Parisian apartments. Learn where they shop, where they work, where they play, how they dress and, how they entertain. Absorb each girlfriend’s style and joie de vivre. Santoni’s affectionate writing, along with gorgeous photography, tells each woman’s story with an intimacy usually reserved for the closest of girlfriends. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Reading this book, you’ll find different perspectives of how to decorate your home. A clear vision for the interiors, choosing a muted palette and favourite hotel decor as inspiration, may be one of the options. “These portraits of women and homes show a side of France that visitors don’t normally get to see,” writes Santoni. The book showcases some of their chic, stylish homes and explains how it tends to seem so effortless for them. You may also find a château turned into a canvas; full of flowers and paints in every room of the house. You’ll definitely learn the secrets of decorating like…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Sunday Sketching for Design Lovers

October 5, 2016

Book Review: Sunday Sketching for Design Lovers – From award-winning artist and author Christoph Niemann comes a collection of witty illustrations and whimsical views on working creatively. Taking its cue from his New York Times column Abstract Sunday, this book covers Niemann’s entire career and showcases brilliant observations of contemporary life through sketches, travel journals, and popular newspaper features. The narrative guides readers through Christoph’s creative process, how he built his career, and how he overcomes the internal and external obstacles that creative people face—all presented with disarming wit and intellect. Enhanced with nearly 350 original images, this book is a tremendous inspirational and aspirational resource. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Christoph Niemann is an illustrator, artist, and author. His work has appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, WIRED and The New York Times Magazine and has won awards from AIGA, the Art Directors Club and The Lead Awards. His corporate clients include Google, St. Moritz, Herman Miller and The Museum of Modern Art. He is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale. He has drawn live from the Venice Art Biennale, the Olympic Games in London, and he has sketched the New York City Marathon — while actually…

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Interior Design

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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