CLASSICAL CHINESE FURNITURE

For those of you who appreciate Oriental design and Chinoiserie, you'd enjoy checking out this new book from Vendome that catalogues rare and beautiful pieces of Chinese furniture from the 16th-18th centuries.

The background information is fascinating - author Marcus Flacks covers details like joinery, types of wood (many of which I'd never heard of before), lacquers and Chinese aesthetics.

This sloped cabinet is about 400 years old! It's amazing how these pieces are so "modern" in their style.

Classics are never dated and great bones never lose their appeal to the eye.

The caning and joinery alone on some of these pieces is astounding. To think these were made by skilled craftsmen so long ago with such quality and attention to detail that they have stood the test of time and influenced current Western design so heavily is quite impressive.

Apart from the subject matter alone, I love the clean design of the book and how its' uncluttered and concise format allows you to absorb both the informative text and the artistic delight without the distraction of visual "busyness".

You can find Classical Chinese Furniture here.

MIGHTY MAHARAJAS

Vendome Press has a fascinating new book out this Fall for those interested in the architectural legacy of the Indian continent. 

With over 319 color illustrations showcasing ancient forts and palaces, you could lose yourself for hours.

Informative narratives offering glimpses of these amazing edifices and their dramatic history as well as photographs illustrating their grandeur and opulence will keep you turning the pages.

read more about it find it for purchase here 

SISTA

Have you read the newest biography on legendary American decorator Sister Parish?  

I have not finished it just yet, but I am certainly enjoying learning more about this creative powerhouse from a fascinating family and a truly unique background. I received a review copy from the publisher, Vendome Press, just in time to accompany me to a stint with jury duty. As I sat waiting for hours, tales told straight from Sister's daughter and grandaughter provided me with a unique perspective on this decorating doyenne's life and times and transported me from the crowded, fluorescent-lit room I was camped out in. 

Who better to fill you in on what truly made a person who they were than members of their own family?

I am a total sucker for family photos - as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and this book is chock-full of photographs that draw you in and visually illustrate the text and all the "characters" within. 

Although Sister decorated many grand spaces - including the Kennedy White House - it is rooms like these in her own Maine cottage that exemplify her trademark look and the homey and colorful flair she was known for. If you love design, history and a good biography, you are sure to enjoy this book!

Find it here

AT HOME IN ITALY

For all you Italophiles, there's a brand-new Vendome Press title out this Fall - At Home in Italy.

This lushly illustrated book showcases the quintessential traditional Italian style in many different settings - country houses, ski chalets, seaside homes and castles. Having recently discovered that I have a lot of ancestral links in Lucca, Italy, (thanks, Mom!) I looked at this in a whole new light.

With over 200 photographs, this is a visual tour of residential Italy at its best, capturing the charm and essence of authentic Italian design.

read more and purchase it here

RETAIL THERAPY

I have to admit that, from an early age, I have had more than a slight interest in the retail world and shopping in general.  I used to have a fantasy of being accidentally locked in a department store overnight, free to roam with the place all to myself. I am not sure, but perhaps that dream was fueled by the children's book,"Corduroy" (ever read it?)  

I grew up mostly in Detroit, famous for some pretty phenomenally large and varied department stores at one time, before the town hit the skids and turned into not such a pretty place. Those stores moved into the burbs and so did I and some very happy times were spent on trips to department stores for things like school clothes and general entertainment. The good old department store, replete with multiple restaurants and extensive home furnishing departments is an endangered, if not extinct, specie. Nowadays, "proper" department stores are a dying breed and so the long-lived and celebrated ones remain cultural icons.

This new release by Vendome covers this amazing world and catalogs its history with fascinating historical photos and text, accompanied by up-to-date looks at both the interiors and exteriors of these amazing places. Author Jan Whitaker has done a masterful job of drawing you in while she presents an educational and enthralling look into this wonder of the urban culture.  

the men's shop at Bergdorf Goodman in New York

Harrod's butcher shop in 1920's London (not exactly understocked!)

My all-time favorite store, Printemps, Paris in earlier days

The famous facades of Harrods, London and Galeries LaFayette, Paris

The book department at Bon Marche, Paris

Obika Bar in Selfridges, London

You can find more on World of Department Stores here.

ROOMS BY KATIE RIDDER

The name Katie Ridder is synonymous in the design world for color and style.  She has a gift for blending the tried and true with the hip and unexpected. Vendome has recently released a wonderfully book illustrated with 240 full color photos highlighting some of her best work.  If you think the cover is attractive, just wait until you get the chance to peruse the pages........

This living room is just a sample of her style - love the variety of surfaces, texture and color

I thought this kitchen in Virginia was absolutely stunning.

and again, a prime example of her versatility in this pink, sans-the-fluff bedroom she created for her own daughter.  Just another winner in the Vendome library that would also make a lovely gift during the upcoming Holidays (hint, hint). More detailed information and availability can be found here.

EXOTIC TASTE - ORIENTALIST INTERIORS

Vendome Press recently sent me new release"Exotic Taste - Orientalist Interiors". I had to set aside some quality time to look over and visually digest the lush photos and fascinating text. It was a bit like sitting down to a 6 course meal. Most definitely not the kind of experience you want to rush through, as you couldn't possibly appreciate all the details in the photos and the wealth of information contained in the pages.

For those interested in Chinoiserie, you will especially enjoy this book as author Emmanuelle Gaillard provides a rich and educational background on design influences from not only the Far East and China, but India and the Islamic world also. The above photo of the porcelain cabinet at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin gives a mere glimpse into just how amazing and sumptuous most of these interiors are (and I thought my mom was into her blue and white china!)  You will thoroughly relish feasting on the wonderful photos by Marc Walter and adding this to your personal design library for ongoing reference and enjoyment. Ask for it at your local bookstore or find it for sale online here.