Interior design books

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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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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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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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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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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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: 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: 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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Interior Design: Northern Delights – Scandinavian Homes

September 6, 2016

Interior Design: Northern Delights – Scandinavian Homes – Northern Delights reveals why hardly any other interior or product design is so timeless, so functional, so aesthetic, and of such high quality as that of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. The book’s stunning selection of Scandinavian design ranges from individual products to skillfully staged living spaces. Although it also presents iconic designs, the book focuses on the work of young talents who are consciously building upon local sustainable design traditions and further developing them in a way that is consistent, intelligent, and reflects an unerring sense of style. Northern Delights showcases classic, minimal, rustic, and pop styles that are united by their simplicity, functionality, and love of light. The included examples show how the grains of different woods, the clarity of colored glass, the cheery colors of fabrics and patterns, and the overall quality of craftsmanship contribute to creating simple, inviting, and very comfortable spaces. Whether the featured work was created for residences, offices, or any other rooms, in a Scandinavian interior, everyone feels at home. See also: Book Review: Radical Renaissance 60 Northern Delights reveals why hardly any other interior or product design is so timeless, so functional, so aesthetic, and of…

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Book Review: Once Upon a Chair…

September 5, 2016

Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… – A global up-to-the-minute survey on contemporary furniture design – a reference to the best designers today. Once Upon a Chair is an international up-to-the minute survey of contemporary furniture design. The book captures the zeitgeist of this rigorous industry by examining current trends and presenting pioneering examples by the world’s most influential designers and emerging talents. The collected works indicate a recognisable shift towards progressive responsible designs that make a social impact and the revival of artisanal craft. It further explores how designers are focusing more on process-driven and storytelling concepts as well as the continuing flirtation with material and technological experimentation. See also: Book Review: New Bar and Club Design by Bethan Ryder Design Beyond the Icon A global up-to-the-minute survey on contemporary furniture design – a reference to the best designers today. Editors: Gestalten, Andrej Kupetz, Gabriel Moreno Release Date: September 2009 Format: 22,7 x 28,1 cm Features: 272 Pages, full colour, hardcover Language: English ISBN: 978-3-89955-256-0 Shop Price: €44.00 See also: Book Review: Radical Renaissance 60 Keep following Best Design Books for the latest book reviews and the most amazing interior design books and magazines! Don’t forget to leave a comment bellow! Get social and follow Best Design…

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