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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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New Book: Peek Inside 10 Downing Street

October 4, 2016

New Book: Peek Inside 10 Downing Street – A fascinating and unprecedented tour behind the famous black door of the British government s headquarters and the Prime Minister s official residence. For more than three hundred years, “Number 10” has witnessed frantic diplomacy, tense cabinet meetings, the rise and fall of numerous heads of government, and decisions that have affected millions of people on every continent. And yet for much of the general public, it remains a mystery. This richly documented book charts the history of 10 Downing Street, examining the dramatic events and the personalities that have left their mark, from Robert Walpole in the eighteenth century to David Cameron in the twenty-first. Providing privileged insider access, specially commissioned photography reveals the majestic and sumptuous interiors of this stately monument. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… The walls of Number 10 have witnessed frantic diplomacy, tense cabinet meetings, the rise and fall of those at the dizzying heights of government, and decisions that have affected millions of people and every continent. And yet, for many people, the building remains a mystery. What really goes on behind that iconic black door? What does it…

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Lifestyle

New Book: The Irresistible Pearl Necklace

October 3, 2016

New Book: The Irresistible Pearl Necklace – The pearl necklace is an iconic classic, which has offered an irresistible invitation to subversive reinterpretation through the centuries. Renaissance queens, maharajas, First Ladies, and starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the present have all made the pearl necklace part of their wardrobes, each wearing it after the fashion of the times or their own fancy. In The Pearl Necklace, Assouline and Mikimoto explore the legacy of these lustrous strands through fine art and fashion in a luxurious volume that reminds us why the pearl necklace has long been the ultimate object of fascination and fantasy. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Jewelry historian Vivienne Becker is an award-winning journalist and author of several books on the history of jewelry design. Based in London, Becker is a contributing editor to Financial Times’s How to Spend It magazine, writes for newspapers and magazines around the world, and lectures and broadcasts on her subject. She organized and wrote the catalog for the first major exhibition of the jewelry of René Lalique, and curated Jewels of Fantasy, a traveling exhibition of twentieth-century costume jewelry. Becker’s previous books for Assouline include De Beers Jewellery…

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Book Reviews: Coloring Books for Design Lovers

September 30, 2016

Book Reviews: Coloring Books for Design Lovers – If you are a design lover you’ll want these amazing coloring books! Paris Coloring Book by Min Heo The first in our new city series of children’s titles celebrates everyone’s favorite city in the world: Paris, the city of lights. The hardcover story book, memory game, and coloring book are all illustrated in a hand-drawn, colorful, graphic, and vintage style by California-based illustrator Min Heo. All three titles highlight well-loved landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacré-Coeur, the Luxembourg Garden, the Louvre, and more. They also celebrate important cultural aspects of Paris such as art, architecture, fashion, ballet, and epicurean delights. This new series is both educational and visually appealing to little kids and design-savvy adults. All three titles together make a perfect gift for would-be travelers of all ages. See also: Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks Fantastic Cities: A Coloring Book of Amazing Places Real and Imagined Paperback by Steve McDonald This unique coloring book features immersive aerial views of real cities from around the world alongside gorgeously illustrated, Inception-like architectural mandalas. Artist Steve McDonald’s beautifully rendered and detailed line work offers bird’s-eye perspectives of visually…

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Stunning University Libraries Selected by Architectural Digest

September 29, 2016

Stunning University Libraries Slected by Architectural Digest – From the early-14th-century Reading Room Saint-Jacques in the Library of the Sorbonne to the 21st-century Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, AD surveys the most stunning university libraries around the world. The Richard J. Klarchek Library, Loyola University Chicago Built in 2007 by local firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the Richard J. Klarchek Library at Loyola University Chicago gives students unparalleled views of Lake Michigan. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University is arguably the most unique building on a campus of stunning structures. Completed in 1963 by American architect Gordon Bunshaft, the library is lined with marble on the inside to enhance the minimal lighting (which helps keep the rare books from being damaged). Bapst Library, Boston College, Boston Built in 1928 on the campus of Boston College, Bapst Library is a Gothic structure that features beautifully arched windows throughout, bringing in an abundance of natural light. See also: Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks Reading Room Saint-Jacques, Library of the Sorbonne, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris Originally opened in 1328, the Reading Room Saint-Jacques at…

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DOKK1 is the World’s Best Public Library

September 28, 2016

DOKK1 is the World’s Best Public Library – DOKK1 in Aarhus has won the international ‘Systematic – Public Library of the Year 2016’ award as the best new public library in the world. This is the first time a Danish library has received this honour. The prize was awarded at the annual meeting of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in Columbus, Ohio. The library was designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, and the selection was made by an international jury of professionals, including architects and library experts, from a total of four nominated libraries from Australia, the US, and Denmark. Minister for Culture Berfel Haarder: ”Dokk1 is an unusually successful encounter between two beautiful Danish traditions: On one hand, our cultural ambitions to open up all branches of knowledge to every generation and social class and, on the other hand, our sense of functional and beautiful design. Dokk1 is an excellent example of how you create visionary and modern architecture that takes into account the library’s many, diverse tasks and digital opportunities. I am very happy about the prize, which is a huge credit to Aarhus.” Alderman for the Municipality of Aarhus Rabih Azad-Ahmad: ”I am proud and happy that Aarhus’ new public library is garnering international recognition…

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Stylish Home Libraries by Architectural Digest

September 27, 2016

Stylish Home Libraries by Architectural Digest – A home library is the perfect respite from the high-tech world with shelves of books and a cozy, studious feel. From a modern space in New York City to an ornate study in Manhattan, Architectural Digest gathered some of their favorite home libraries. Floor-to-ceiling oak bookshelves distinguish the library of a New York City townhouse renovated by architect Annabelle Selldorf. See also: Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks A 1951 abstract painting by Charlotte Park and James Brooks hangs in the library of a Hamptons retreat decorated by Carrier and Co.; the vintage Italian marble-top cocktail table is from Sutter Antiques, the armchairs are clad in a Malabar cotton, and the rug is by Woodard & Greenstein. At a Manhattan townhouse transformed by William T Georgis, a Piotr Uklański resin painting provides a striking contrast to the library’s brass-trimmed millwork; the Regency armchairs are attributed to Morel and Hughes. At a Seattle home renovated by Jeffrey Bilhuber, a sofa and lounge chair by Bilhuber, a stone-top cocktail table by Lucca & Co., and antique wood panels from Todd Alexander Romano set an inviting scene in the library; the chandelier is by Bourgeois Bohème, and…

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New Release: François Catroux the Master of Interior Design

September 26, 2016

New Release: François Catroux the Master of Interior Designer – This first volume on François Catroux is a comprehensive consideration of the work and life of an international master of interior design. François Catroux is an innovator and explorer in interior design, who has always been a master of contemporary style. From his early days as a design prodigy, creating space-age boutiques for a house of couture and apartments that drew from Art Deco and modern design, to chic, mirror-studded interiors rich with glamour and elegant refinement in residences in Hong Kong, New York, and London, Catroux is at home in the vast world of design. His spaces may surprise with the introduction of irregular elements—a chandelier of elk horn or pink florescent lighting in a hallway—but Catroux’s hallmark sensibility combines the majesty and grandeur of high ceilings, elegant moldings, and gossamer draperies with elements that suggest comfort and tasteful, restrained opulence. See also: Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks Go-to accoutrements include sumptuous sofas, rich carpeting, gentle lighting, rooms lined with books, and ship staterooms in warm wood paneling with brass lamps, all measured according to a modern eye. This book looks at Catroux’s career chronologically, featuring his…

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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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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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