Creating your dream house — a prospect as exciting as it is daunting. Michael Smith, a favorite among celebrity clientele, reveals the method of his design magic. Offering thoughtful ideas and practical advice, the designer walks the reader through his process, from the gathering of resource material (from magazines and iconic films to something as simple as a shell or a swatch of vintage fabric), expertly pairing simpler and grander elements (or inexpensive with more extravagant objects), perfecting the editing process, to knowing when a room is finished. Detailing the nearly encyclopedic range of styles he culls from to create his signature style, the designer describes recent examples of his work, beginning with a modest and quirkily designed house in Bel Air, Smith redid for himself. Razed, rebuilt, and decorated over the course of five years, the house allowed Smith to experiment and explore ideas freely and the result is a gracious home, as welcoming as it is stylish. In addition to his California residence, twenty other projects are featured, from a New England clapboard to a Malibu villa overlooking the Pacific to a city townhouse. In each, Smith deconstructs the elements which come together to make the ideal home.

«Ronda Carman, founder of the popular lifestyle blog «All the Best», takes readers on a guided tour through the houses of renowned designers, who share their thoughts on gracious living and how they bring their professional philosophies home. Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living presents the personal living spaces of today s design leaders, including Ashley Hicks, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Jan Showers, Rose Tarlow, and Bunny Williams. The dwellings range from chic apartments and luxurious estates to charming country homes. From Barry Dixon s Edwardian manor in Virginia s horse country and the glamorous Beverly Hills home of Hutton Wilkinson to the serene Sag Harbor retreat of Steven Gambrel, each page is filled with inspiring home design, ideas for entertaining, and glorious imagery that invites readers to explore the idiosyncrasies of design while infusing their own homes with individuality and flair. The book s conversational tone and practical tips from these experts provide a referential approach to creating a highly personal place. From favorite sheets and pillows, how to create impromptu dinner parties, to the decorative details that bring a room to life, each designer s unique talents will encourage the reader to fashion a wonderful sanctuary of their own.»

This lavish volume invites the reader into the glamorous fashions of the 1920s. To coincide with the release of the film The Great Gatsby, we are pleased to offer Jazz Age Fashion at a new lower price. This stunning volume highlights the best of the collection, scaling the heights of Jazz Age fashion with chapters on sequined dresses, cocktail wear, bridge coats, opera coats, evening jackets, and house coats. With sumptuous still-life photographs of rare and precious beaded dresses, feathered capes, and silky kimonos, highlighting the craftsmanship and ornamentation of each piece, this is a must-have book for collectors, connoisseurs, and those who believe in evening style.

«Celebrated Pop Surrealist artist Mark Ryden s newest body of work, presented in this book for the first time. Crowned «the high prince of Lowbrow,» Mark Ryden has become a fixture of the contemporary alternative art movement. In his newest work, Mark Ryden: The Gay 90 s, the artist casts his skewed perspective toward the turn of the nineteenth century with such creepy yet beautiful works as a portrait of Abraham Lincoln dressed in foppish 1890s fashion and surrounded with a heavenly nimbus, Jesus Christ playing a pink piano for an audience of kewpie triplet girls, and a Gibson girl in a tight corset constructed entirely of meat. With masterful painting technique and disquieting content, Ryden s newest paintings display his fascination with the earnest kitsch found in popular art of the end of the 1800s, yet reinforces how his paintings now more than ever are a skewering of both historical and current pop cultural touchstones. Ryden s visual cues range from cryptic to cute, balancing his compositions between nostalgic cliché and disturbing archetype. This book showcases his talent for creating paintings that marry accessibility and technique with visceral resonance and sociocultural relevance, making it easy to see why he garners the ardent attention of museums, critics, and serious collectors alike.»

The first monograph from the brilliant fashion photographer Miles Aldridge. With a cinematic approach to fashion photography, Miles Aldridge creates singular scenes with psychologically complex characters in surreal and fantastic settings. His brilliant, candy-colored images engage viewers with an appealing mix of overt sexuality and sweetness. No detail is left uncovered in his eye-popping, erotically charged fashion photographs, which transform slightly sordid scenarios into acid-hued glamour. Each photograph is a complex world unto itself, and these lush images invite viewers to linger, for there is always something else to see, some deeper layer of meaning to uncover. Including hand-drawn storyboards that Aldridge uses to fix the idea of a shoot in his mind, as well as previously unpublished material, this monograph is filled with intimate insight into the photographer s point of view and process. With deliciously naughty scenes and lushly evocative photography, this book lures readers into Aldridge s irresistible world.

The authoritative fashion history of the roots, growth, and offshoots of the quintessentially American preppy style. Preppy offers the first definitive and in-depth volume on preppy fashion, exploring its evolution from its pragmatic origins and presence on elite Eastern campuses in America to its profound influence internationally and metamorphosis on the runway. For the first time, the preppy story is told completely and beautifully with iconic and never-before-published archival and editorial photographs and personal snapshots from the original Ivy elites. Exploring all facets of men’s and women’s preppy fashion, this vibrant volume is replete with photographs and vintage ads illustrating the iconic elements of prep: from Oxford shirts, khakis, and Shetland sweaters to Peter Pan collars, madras pants, and Lilly Pulitzer tropical blooms. Authors Jeffrey Banks and Doria de La Chapelle also examine the fashion designers who played a major role in shaping the preppy look, from retail pioneers J.Press and Brooks Brothers to Ralph Lauren, who single-handedly marketed not just a look but a lifestyle. Also featured: a band of young twenty-first century Ivy stylists and fashion labels worldwide, who have infused preppy with high-octane design on and off the runway. Preppy is a stunning tribute to an American phenomenon.

The pristine interior design and residential architecture of the renowned firm Shelton, Mindel & Associates are celebrated in this first book on their work. Shelton, Mindel & Associates has been receiving international fame since its inception in 1978. Winners of over thirty AIA awards and recipients of the 2011 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design, founding partners Peter L. Shelton and Lee F. Mindel have had a remarkable career crafting intricate yet minimal spaces infused with serenity and intelligence. Whether designing Sting s London townhouse or residences for power brokers and social leaders in New York City, Palm Beach, or the Hamptons, Shelton and Mindel invoke their passion for constructing unified environments, where the elements of design and construction become more than the sum of their parts they become comprehensive works of art. Shelton and Mindel s luminous aesthetic is the centerpiece of this monograph. With stunning photography of their most important residential projects, each project delves deep into the modernist roots and philosophy of this exceptional design duo, and in turn the pinnacle of architecture and design today.

An inspiring showcase of masterpieces of the Shingle Style. A richly photographed presentation of some of the most important Shingle Style houses built in America, this book gives readers a privileged view into the splendid interiors of these late-nineteenth — and early-twentieth-century masterpieces of domestic design. Shingle Style traces the path of shingle-clad residential architecture from its Romantic beginnings to the current dizzying variety of architectural ideas — from modern to historicist, green to organic — expressed in the Shingle Style. David Duncan Livingston's full-color photographs exquisitely capture these architectural masterpieces, complete with delightful original interior details, and authors Lucia Howard and David Weingarten place these houses in their proper historical context as examples of the best American Shingle Style design.

This volume celebrates the warmth and easy elegance of traditional Southern architecture and interior design, featuring houses of unpretentious and old-fashioned grace that showcase the talents of the South's finest design professionals. Comfort and hospitality are words that express the spirit of simple Southern style. Featured in tantalizing photographs is a discerning selection of residences decorated by Bobby McAlpine, Ken Tate, Ryan Gainey, Jackye Lanham, Amelia Handegan, and others. Located in old Southern cities such as Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans, as well as seaside and mountain retreats, these intimate dwellings are steeped in architectural tradition. The residences profiled illustrate fresh design interpretations of romantic Southern style, such as a New Orleans double-shotgun with a modern all-white palette, a nineteenth-century summer cottage with updated coastal decor, and a Louisiana plantation house with handsome Creole antiques. Two sections, Pure and Simple and Simply Elegant, explore the varied ways that Southerners express their love of comfort and gracious living. Dating from the eighteenth century to the present, the houses featured exemplify historic styles that evolved in response to their natural settings, inviting families to live in harmony with their surroundings. Integrating time-honored lessons of the past, these cozy dwellings also incorporate contemporary design sensibilities, making them especially appealing for today's lifestyle.

The newest book from acclaimed designer Michael S Smith is an in-depth look at how to create the perfect American house. Michael S Smith: House and Home is a rare opportunity to experience in great detail the work of this renowned designer. Michael S Smith transformed an ordinary house and its outbuildings into an extraordinary suite of rooms that display the best of this design superstar s work. As he walks the reader through its myriad rooms and gardens, explaining each decision made, Smith provides a complete, invaluable up-to-date design vocabulary that every homeowner and design aficionado is keen to know, from the initial renovation plans to the finishing details, indoors and out. Interviews with the architect, Oscar Shamamian, the landscape designer, and various craftsmen help Smith guide the reader through the process of creating a house, and in so doing provides a blueprint for anyone building or renovating their dream home. Richly informative, this is a visually stunning, indispensable guide to designing an unforgettable house, one decision at a time.

A comprehensive overview of Southern California's most experimental architecture, showcasing the highly expressive work of famed architects such as Frank Gehry and Thom Mayne, as well as the best of the new guard. This is the first critical examination and history of what was first identified as the L.A. School in the 1990s, which has influenced much of American architecture in the last twenty-five years. This expansive new book examines contemporary Southern California architecture from 1987 to the present, exploring its experimental nature, sculptural tendency, and exciting evolution. This volume complements a major exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and is part of the Getty Research Institute exhibition initiative Los Angeles Architecture, 1940-1990. Contributions by leading architectural historians coupled with a stunning collection of images present recent works in terms of sculpturalism and urbanism, and consider the impact of the history and environment of Los Angeles, as well as the creative and working processes.

A major survey of Pop Art from private collections. Published on the occasion of an exhibition of the same title, The Pop Object is the most comprehensive survey of Pop Art to be organized by theme and historical precedents, with such classic works as Andy Warhol's Brillo Soap Pads, Robert Arneson's Oreo Cookie Jar, Claes Oldenburg's Pie a la Mode, Roy Lichtenstein's Black Flowers, and Wayne Thiebaud's Gumball Machine. With more than ninety color illustrations, this large-format book brings together the most important examples of works by artists Jasper Johns, Jim Dine, Marisol, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and many others, from the 1960s to the present. The still life has often been the stepchild to landscape, history, and figurative painting. By examining themes like food and drink, household objects, flowers, and body parts, noted art historian John Wilmerding emphasizes Pop's playfulness and brings the history of the movement right up to date.

A smaller-sized follow-up to Isms: Understanding Art traces the history and development of modern art since the Impressionist era and combines concise introductions to modern art with reproductions of key pieces, a glossary of terms and an index of names.

«A gorgeous tribute to the legendary shoe and accessories designs of Roger Vivier. Master designer Roger Vivier elevated both the form and decoration of ladies shoes during his sixty-year career. His innate Parisian style embodied a sense of perfection and craftsmanship, and his work was coveted by style icons from Elsa Schiaparelli to Jackie Onassis. Described by Yves St. Laurent as bringing to his work a «level of charm, delicacy, refinement and poetry unsurpassed» he created the first stiletto heel for a ready-to-wear shoe line with the house of Dior in 1955. His shoes are legendary, and the tradition of his innovative spirit continues with the revival of the house by current designer Bruno Frisoni, who has updated Vivier s concepts, bringing his own touch to signature shapes and embellishments (including the buckle pump made famous by Catherine Deneuve in Belle du Jour). This lavish volume celebrates the history of the venerated house and charts the current evolution of the fantastic haute-couture designs that keep Roger Vivier at the top of every well-dressed woman s list. With gorgeous new photography of the house s collection of vintage shoes, beautifully rendered sketches, and details of the amazing accessories coming out of Roger Vivier today, this book is as chic as the shoes that fill its pages.»

«Julius Shulman, one of the great master of architectural photography, is the preeminent recoreder of early California modernism. By 1927, when he was sixteen, Shulman was already using the family Brownie box camera to document his Southern Californis surroundings and experiences; in 1936, his professional career was launched when he sent Richard Neutra some uncommissioned photographs of the architect's Kun House. Shulman went on to document the famous Case Study House Program (architects included Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, and Eero Saarinen) and also the architecure of the 1930s through the 1980s, especially that of Southern California, but also country and worldwide. His subjects included the buildings of R.M. Schindler, John Lautner, Raphael Soriano, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Oscar Niemeyer, among many others. Through his work, Shulman defined the image of Los Angeles and framed the architecture of the time for a global audience. In addition to an overview of Shulman's career and photographic oevre, this book emphasizes Shulman's method of «constructing» photographic views. These contructions, which complemented his innate ability to compose striking photographs, often transcends reality to capture the spirit, time and place of a work of architecture. An analysis of architecture's visual presentation examines not only the media of the era--John Entenza's Arts & Architecture, for instance-but also the work of Shulman's photographic contemporaries.»

With energy and glamour, iconic photographer Craig McDean captures the celebrated evolution of fashion s biggest muses: Kate Moss, Guinevere van Seenus, and Amber Valletta. With their waiflike frames and unique features that contrasted with the supermodels of the 80s, Amber, Guinevere, and Kate became the anti-supermodels that, alongside grunge, signified a global shift in culture. And Craig McDean, an artist with a talented eye for the striking and unusual, photographed them from their beginnings. McDean, whose works are praised for their conceptual and sophisticated edge, is well respected in both the photography and fashion worlds. Shot on film from 1992 through 2002, this roughly chronological volume of 150 color and black-and-white images includes never-before-published photographs, outtakes from famous shoots, and contact sheets. Texts by Mathias Augustyniak of M/M (Paris) and author Glenn O Brien add depth and perspective to the works. The photographs within this volume capture the essence of an era that changed fashion forever and will be treasured by fashion, style, and photography lovers from all generations.

When the golden age of high fashion and high society converged, and glamour was born. A debutante's dress is anything but a minor detail, and this sumptuous volume delights in one stunning look after another: lace bodices and silver sequins by Chanel; Vionnet's luxurious silk brocades; the signature white satin gloves and ubiquitous feathers of the '30s; fluid frocks by Schiaparelli; the heiress-worthy designs of Claire McCardell and Valentina, especially popular with the ladies of the Whitney and Vanderbilt families; tulle and chiffon gowns by Dior and Mainbocher; sleek, one-shoulder styles by Norman Norell; and the one-of-a-kind, custom-made gowns donned by countless celebutantes, such as Jackie Kennedy and Brenda Frazier (whose custom frock earned her the cover of Life magazine). Debutantes celebrates the timeless tradition with gorgeous photography from high-society and fashion documenters such as Cecil Beaton, Toni Frissell, and Slim Aarons as well as never-before-published pictures culled from personal collections. Traversing winter cotillions at the Waldorf, summer coming-out soirees in Newport, and bourgeois banquets in Paris, Debutantes marries high fashion and society with an eternal allure to be coveted by all ages.

Design expert Joan Osofsky of Hammertown Barn, a popular lifestyle store, shares her in-depth knowledge on stylish modern country living with a collection of creative ideas and real-life tips for making your home warm and welcoming. Joan Osofsky's liberating philosophy about cozy and comfortable living in rural settings and ideas about how to achieve a modern country look are exemplified in the charming and inviting houses from across the Hudson Valley and New England that are profiled in Love Where You Live. Full of practical decorating tips and easy and casual hosting ideas, this book features a range of traditional and contemporary house styles that are truly inspiring for today's informal country lifestyle--airy, minimalist living rooms look out onto the lush countryside; a rustic tiled floor shines through a sleek glass-topped table of a dining room; a welcoming, roaring log fire warms a great room with rough-hewn beams. Each embodies a shared aesthetic that is all about good design, a relaxed lifestyle, and an authentic sense of place and personality. This beautiful book shows us how to make our homes reflect the passion, the unique vision, and the soul of the people who reside there.

«In the late '70s, spirited young designer, Perry Ellis introduced a fresh, witty and relaxed new sensibility to American sportswear, initially for women and a few years later, for men. The clothes were easy, oversized, slouchy, but classic at heart and they caused a sensation. Ellis, who once told the «New York Times» that he always made a determined effort to do something different, did just that, creating a series of signature looks such as his «dimple» sleeves and single-cabled sweaters that set his clothes apart from everyone else's. Nearly three decades after his untimely death, the legacy of the designer Ellis is still very much felt: PERRY ELLIS: An American Original is the first complete monograph to celebrate his exceptional career. The beautifully illustrated book showcases Ellis's designs through a combination of photography and sketches, providing an insightful look at each season of his career, from 1976 to 1986, offering readers unique access to editorial and ad campaign photographs from the archives of brilliant photographer Erica Lennard, with whom Ellis worked almost exclusively. Included here are ephemera, a treasure trove of drawings, and never-before-published photos from the personal collections of the designer's friends and family, adding insight to Ellis's unique aesthetic while solidifying his place as one of the key contemporary designers of American fashion.»

«The first book to focus on the solo residential work of the visionary interior decorator Stephen Sills. Simultaneously classical and modern, Stephen Sills's design work is a dialogue between past and present. Filled with luxurious fabrics, furnishings from across centuries, and unusual finishes, his work is polished, seemingly effortless, and quietly rich, with a muted color palette that serves as a brilliant foil for modern art. In this striking, meditative volume, the follow-up to his best-selling book Dwellings, Sills presents sixteen breathtaking homes, gorgeously photographed by the legendary Francois Halard, in locations as varied as a penthouse on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, a modern Aspen retreat, an estate on the North Shore of Long Island, and his own country house in Bedford, New York (dubbed the «chicest house in America» by Karl Lagerfeld). Common to them all is a sense of atmosphere, point of view, and soul--the sense of a master craftsman at work.»