You Can Judge A Book By Its Cover

I have to admit it. There are times when I buy a book strictly based on its cover. Personally, I'm drawn to covers that are whimsical and artistic as well as those that incorporate decorative motifs. And many times, to my surprise, the books themselves prove to be interesting and entertaining. Here are some striking covers of books that have caught my eye. I can't attest to the quality of the books themselves, but if the "inside" isn't worth it, then at least you'll have an attractive book to display.


"The Savoy Cocktail Book", 1930. I'm a sucker for an Art Deco cover, and I find this one especially intriguing. Makes me pine for the cocktail hour of yesteryear.


"The Blue Danube" by Ludwig Bemelmans (1945). How can one not be charmed by Bemelmans' iconic covers (illustrated by none other than the author himself!)?


"Costumes from the Forbidden City" by Alan Priest (1945). Yes, this book has a beautiful cover, but its subject matter- the imperial robes of the Ch'ing dynasty- appears to be quite interesting too!


"How to Do It, or the Lively Art of Entertaining" (1957) by Elsa Maxwell. How terrible is this cover? So bad in fact that this book is cherished by book collectors alike. I have the recently rereleased edition, and I can attest to the fact that this book is a fun read (I can't remember if a recipe for doughnuts is included, though).


Book at top: "Interior Decoration" by Margaret Lord. A bit reminiscent of a David Hicks cover, this book was published in 1944. Margaret was ahead of her time!

"Books Serve as Decoration"

How best to display books? This question seems to ignite passionate discussion. The first issue one should decide is whether to display books with the dust jackets on or off (I'm quite a fan of dust jacket art, so I choose to leave them on. This, however, is strictly a personal preference). Many designers who dislike the "randomness" of a sea of dust jackets choose to cover books in white muslin or paper, thereby creating a visually cohesive look. I would suggest this only for prop books; if you use your library for reference, you might be driven crazy by this design trick.

Once this thorny issue has been solved, then one must figure out how to incorporate their books into their decor. Do you display only books in your bookshelves, or do you incorporate a few decorative accessories as well (no tchotchkes please!). Do you organize them by color? By subject? By size? Or, do you forgo bookshelves altogether for stacks of books on tables and the floor?

Believe it or not, this topic of discussion was on the minds of designers and design devotees alike over seventy years ago. I found a brief article in a January 1936 issue of House & Garden titled "Books Serve as Decoration". Here is what the editors had to say:

So colorful are book bindings that, when used in large groups, they play a definite part in the color scheme of a room. They should be treated as a decoration. Two examples show practical application of this principle. In the room above, the depth of the wall made it possible to mass books as a colorful surrounding to a door between rooms. In the Chicago apartment of David B. Stern (below), they form a wide panel background to the desk and enhance the interest of the wall (Samuel A. Marx, architect in both instances).

OK, so this article didn't shed any light on the dust jacket issue, but it is interesting to see this acknowledgment of the importance of books in decor.

(Noted New York 20th c. furniture dealer Liz O'Brien has written a book on architect and designer Samuel Marx which will be published this fall: UltraModern: Samuel Marx Architect, Designer, Art Collector. You can also see some of his furniture designs on 1st dibs.)

WASP Style

For those who want an inside glimpse of the WASP lifestyle, you should read "A Privileged Life: Celebrating WASP Style"by Susanna Salk. Salk, who grew up in Essex, Massachusetts and attended Milton Academy, is obviously quite qualified to write about this unique and iconic strata of society. There are photos galore of everyone's favorite WASP icons: C.Z. Guest, Babe Paley, Katharine Hepburn, and Brooke Astor. In addition, there are photos and commentary regarding WASP fashion, WASP lifestyle, WASP food and drink (including a recipe for a Bloody Bull), and WASP homes. The "Homes" section features a photo of Paley's Round Hill, Jamaica home as well references to Sister Parish and Mario Buatta.

In the spirit of this charming book, I thought I would post a few photos that to me capture this lifestyle.



Living room decorated by "Prince of Chintz" Mario Buatta


Living Room of decorator Libby Cameron


Home of Palm Beach decorator/doyenne Pauline Pitt. The dog-motif paintings and floral print fabric are quintessential WASP.


Library in home of McMillen Inc. designer Betty Sherrill (photo courtesy of New York Social Diary)


Home of the ultimate WASP- C.Z. Guest

Hot Off The Presses- "Rooms To Inspire"

I just picked up my copy of Annie Kelly's "Rooms to Inspire: Decorating with America's Best Designers" and it's truly fantastic. If you're on the fence about getting it, I encourage you to go out and buy it! Although I have not yet had the chance to read the text, I can say that the photographs by Kelly's husband Tim Street-Porter are beautiful. There are a lot of big names in the book: Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, Muriel Brandolini, and Jonathan Adler. While many of the chapters focus on these decorators' homes (some of which we have already seen before), there are also chapters on colors, kitchens, and outdoor spaces, with examples from other decorators as well. I thought I would include just a few pictures because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. That said, there are so many gorgeous photographs that it was really hard to choose just three. If you've already gotten your copy, let me know what you think.



Home of Marian McEvoy


Suzanne Rheinstein's Los Angeles shop Hollyhock


Room by decorator Kerry Joyce

(All photos from "Rooms to Inspire")

Upcoming Book Releases

It seems that my wish list on Amazon just keeps getting longer and longer, especially since there are so many exciting book releases in 2007. I'm anxious to get my hands on these books, but alas, it looks like I'll have to wait a little while! Here are a few that I'm looking forward to:



"Privileged Life: Celebrating Wasp Style" by Susanna Salk. I know that I already mentioned this book a while back, but I think this is going to be a good one. Alyssa at Petite Tresor was kind enough to alert me to an update on the book over on the Fashionista website. Jackie O, Grace Kelly, C.Z. Guest- what more do I need to say?

"Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives" by Helen O'Neill. A biography on the tragic life of Broadhurst, an Australian designer. Her wallpaper designs have a cult following to this day.

"Decorating Is Fun! How To Be Your Own Decorator" by Dorothy Draper (my idol!). I have a first edition copy of this 1939 classic, and I truly treasure it. Draper writes in such a light-hearted manner, and her decorating tips are certainly applicable today.

WASP Chic: C.Z. Guest

I have found an upcoming book release that has piqued my interest: Privileged Life: Celebrating Wasp Style by Susanna Salk (Assouline; February 28, 2007). Although I can find very little on the Internet about this book, I am hoping that it will focus on the colorful, traditional, and comfortable style of certain privileged Americans. Perhaps there will be photos of rooms by Sister Parish and McMillen?

In the spirit of WASP chic, I thought I would post some photos of the home of the ultimate WASP style icon- C.Z. Guest. Guest's estate on Long Island, Templeton, was designed by famed architects Carrere & Hastings. After a short time living in the manor house, the Guests moved to a "smaller" home on the property. This house, along with the manor house, were both decorated by Stephane Boudin of Maison Jansen. Guest, like so many other stylish individuals, did not continuously redecorate her home. She stuck with Boudin's work, only refreshing it over the years. The home was certainly stylish, but it was also quite warm and inviting. (Of course, if you were C.Z. Guest, you too could get away with thread-bare carpet and orchids sitting around in green plastic pots.)















(Photos from House & Garden, June 2004)

Jeremiah Goodman: A Romantic Vision

Living Room of Elsa Schiaparelli, Paris, 2002

A while back I posted on Jeremiah Goodman who is one of the premier interior illustrators of our time (see my post from Dec. 12). I have been anxiously anticipating the new anthology of his work Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision, and I'm happy to report that it has finally been released. Although I am still waiting for my copy, I was able to find some images of Goodman's work on his book publisher's website, powerHouse books. Enjoy!

Apartment foyer of Baron Jay de Leval, Mexico City, 1978

Living Room of Betsy Bloomingdale, Bel-Air, 2000

Living Room of Cecil Beaton, Redditch House, Broadchalice, Wiltshire, England, 2005

Living Room of Ivor Novello, 1949

(All photos courtesy of powerHouse Books)

Rooms

For those of you looking for another book to add to your design library, you may want to consider "Rooms". With minimal text by Carl Skoggard, the book is a compilation of interior photographs by famed Irish photographer Derry Moore. Moore has had a thirty year career photographing prominent interiors for publications like Architectural Digest. To me, his photos have a rather faded and ethereal look to them.

Below are some of my favorite rooms from the book; in fact, there were so many that it was hard to choose.


The private bath of Madeleine Castaing at her shop on the Rue Jacob

Chatsworth- home of the Duchess of Devonshire

London home of Lady Diane Cooper

Portrait of Lady Diana Cooper (I included this photo not just because of Cooper's peculiar choice of hats, but also because of the trompe l'oeil panels behind her that were painted by Rex Whistler).

Bedroom of Nancy Lancaster, located in her private quarters at Colefax and Fowler in Mayfair


Villa Trianon, home of Elsie de Wolfe

2007 Book Releases

As we are approaching the New Year, I thought I would share some upcoming book releases that I am looking forward to (and that I've added to my Amazon wish list!). I guess I need to start saving my pennies!

Jansen Furniture by James Archer Abbott. This Acanthus Press publication is a follow up to this year's release Jansen. From what I've read, it is supposed to be a comprehensive look at the furniture that was designed by this venerable firm. Set to be released in Spring 2007.

The L.A. House by Ruthie Sommers. I am eagerly anticipating this one. I have been a fan of Sommers for sometime, and I am hopeful that this book will include a lot of photos of her work. March 2007. Wish I could find out more information on this one.


Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision. This was supposed to be released at the end of 2006, but now it looks like it will be early 2007. The definitive work about painter Jeremiah Goodman, best known for his paintings of interiors. See my post from a few weeks ago.










The Decoration of Houses byEdith Wharton and Ogden Codman. Although this is obviously a reprint of this 1897 work, it is still the "must-have" work for all design libraries. I don't yet own a copy, so I'll be sure to purchase this edition. Spring 2007.