My favorite design and architecture books of 2013

I am a bit late in getting this out, but here is the list of art/décor/architecture books that I have acquired in 2013 – it was a great year for books!   I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of these books, and think you will too.  It’s certainly not too late to purchase these for Christmas (as ideas for yourself or others) with Amazon’s speedy shipping.

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I have seen Brian McCarthy’s work in my favorite magazines (most recently, a beautiful project in Veranda), and knew he was a Parrish-Hadley alum.  But reading this book really opened my eyes to the extraordinary quality of his work, which is based on many years of study, travel, experience, and a deep understanding of design.  McCarthy was recently selected for the AD100; in his profile, AD says McCarthy “likens his process to that of a painter, adding one decorative layer upon another to create homes that are intimate portraits of his clients”.  The book is wonderful, and deserves its own blog post. Each of the nine projects has its own chapter; McCarthy gives the full story of each project and interweaves it with beautiful photos.  The design of the individual projects is totally unique and reflective of the lifestyle of McCarthy’s clients.   

I was particularly interested to see (for the first time) the interiors of a 10,000 square foot townhouse in Atlanta that was decorated in authentic 18th century French style.  I had heard about this residence through the years, and it won a Shutze award in 2012, but to see the interiors in this book was truly a privilege.  According to the detail about the project, the townhouse took 35 trips to Europe to furnish (over the course of 5 years) and was one of the most memorable projects of McCarthy's career.  I highly, highly recommend this book – all 256 pages kept me spellbound. Click here to see Luminous Interiors on Amazon.

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In the new book, Suzanne takes us through eight houses, each of which has unique character and style. Each project inspired Suzanne in different ways, reflecting the lifestyles and tastes of her clients and the environments in which the houses function. Some of the projects have never been published, and some have been published. However, 30-50 pages are devoted to each house, so many rooms and details are revealed that have never been seen before, with in depth perspectives on the process that went into the design, why certain items and colors were selected, and how the specific space relates to the whole.  When reading the book, I felt as if I was getting a personal tour of each house by Suzanne herself. I was also struck with the wide range of styles featured in the houses, which emphasizes how Suzanne truly makes the spaces so personal to each client and so reflective of their specific style and taste. Timeless Style can be seen on Amazon here.

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One of my favorite books of the year, it is full of beautiful images of interiors by the talented team at Circa Interiors.  This is a book I go to again and again for inspiration and to see how the authors and their design teams handled different situations. Click here to see The Welcoming House on Amazon.

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It is a wonderful book that is full of beautiful pictures of many of Mr. Schafer’s projects, and details the thought behind the design or restoration of the houses, the landscape, and their interiors.  The book is divided into two parts – the first part covering the philosophy of Mr. Schafer’s approach to architecture, landscape, and interiors, and the second part covering four specific houses (including their floor plans and a detailed story of each house).  Many of the houses are decorated by the top designers in the industry, as well as nationally recognized landscape architects. Click here to see The Great American House on Amazon.

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I have a sincere appreciation for the aesthetic and design of California based designers, and have admired Suzanne Tucker’s style for years. This is her second book, and the focus is on recent projects.  Fifteen projects are beautifully presented, overall more casual than the ones in her first book, but no less luxurious – perhaps reflecting the way people want to live in the 21st century.  Click here to see Suzanne Tucker Interiors on Amazon.

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I am a huge fan of Jan Showers work (her first book, Glamorous Rooms, is one of my all time favorites).  Her latest book invites us into the vacation retreats of her lucky client base, where she creates her signature mix of elegant, glamorous style in places as diverse as Nantucket, Bachelor Gulch, Flagstaff, Marin County, and the Bahamas (to name a few).  Twelve homes are profiled, with beautiful images from each one. Click here to see Glamorous Retreats on Amazon. 

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This wonderful book has been reviewed on many blogs, and the pictures from the book are remarkable (by Tria Giovan, one of my favorite photographers). The book documents the process to create and decorate designer Howard Slatkin’s magnificent, layered, opulent 5th Avenue Apartment; it is a place where “Mrs. Astor’s 400”  in the Gilded Age would feel very much at home.  But aside from the lush photography and layered design, what really pulled me into this book was the text – the story of the transformation of a dream to an apartment to a home, in total detail, from start to finish -  as described and documented by the designer who created it. Fifth Avenue Style can be seen on Amazon here.

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I reviewed Stephen Sills’ new book here; it is a beautiful, high quality book inside and out, with fourteen houses (one of which include the landscape design too) featured in great detail with superb photography. Each one is different, and is filled with nuances in both design and architecture that will make this a book that I return to again and again as reference. Decoration can be seen on Amazon here.

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I have admired William Hefner’s work for years, and in fact two of his kitchen designs were great inspirations for my own kitchen design.  Hefner is based in Los Angeles, and the California aesthetic is an essential component of his work.  However, the beauty of his design and the architecture transcend location and are new American classics.  I was particularly excited that each of the nine projects detailed in his book (which include my two favorites, Hancock Park (Hefner’s own home), and Bristol Circle) contain floor plans, furniture plans, and 3D models, plus extensive commentary on the background and process involved with each project.  As Hefner writes, “I consider us fortunate to have participated in projects from traditional to contemporary, formal to rustic, and expansive to petite. These experiences have allowed a richness to evolve in our work in terms of details and materials”. Click here to see California Homes on Amazon.

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This book was unavailable on Amazon for quite awhile – I had it on my Christmas list a few years ago, and did not receive it, and was disappointed to see that it was no longer available soon after Christmas of that year. When I saw it was back in print, I immediately ordered it – and it’s a  gorgeous, wonderful quality book, with thick pages and extremely high quality photography. It displays an intimate view of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Alas, I did not make it to Versailles on my trip to Paris in June of 2013, but until then, I have this book. Click here to see the book on Amazon.

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Last, but certainly not least, the new (and first) book by Thomas Pheasant. This book deserves a post of its own, which I will try to do soon…but I have immensely enjoyed seeing his work first hand as he created the beautiful interiors in my sister’s newly renovated house. This book is full of insight into Pheasant’s process (it’s a wonderful read) and also full of glorious pictures of his work.  I highly recommend it. Click here to see Simply Serene on Amazon.

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Have you read any of these books?  Any others to recommend?  I hope these books make it under the Christmas tree for some of you, and bring you as much enjoyment as they have brought me!

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Come visit some of my recent blog posts!

Lamps in my house

Kitchen island storage and Christmas china

Wreaths and bows

2013 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/11/books-for-my-christmas-list-2013.html
2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html
2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

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To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.

Favorite cookbooks and recipes (updated)

To see full blog post, please visit 

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/cookbooks-pinterest-and-food-bloggers.html

(Sneak peek of my #1 pinterest found recipe)

Usually I buy a several cookbooks every year, but this year I have found that pinterest and blogs have provided me with quite a few great recipes, and I have not bought as many cookbooks.  In fact, I think I only purchased two over the past year.  One of them is my new favorite fall/winter cookbook, and the other I have not tested out yet.  

Without a doubt, Slow Cooker Revolution has been my favorite cookbook of the year!  I am a huge fan of slow cookers in the fall and winter – they enable me to put together recipes in the morning or at lunch time, and the meal cooks all day or afternoon and is ready when I get home from hours of driving the kids.  What I love about this slow cooker (or crock pot, as I call my beloved machine) cookbook is that the recipes are much fresher and healthier than so many of the old fashioned crock pot recipes.  I have made quite a few recipes from this book, and so far my favorite is the chicken gumbo.  Some of the recipes require a decent amount of prep as many of the ingredients are fresh, but the prep is done when I tend to have more time to devote to it.  However, other recipes are very easy prep and these are highlighted within the book.  Click here to see Slow Cooker Revolution on Amazon.

Update: many of you have emailed asking for a crock pot recommendation.  The author's of Slow Cooker Revolution tested many brands, and like the Crock Pot programmable touch screen model (seen above).  Amazon has an excellent price on it, click here for link.

My crock pot is made by the Crock Pot brand, but I bought it a long time ago so the model is not made any more.  The size seems to be the same as the one above, and it has the time set and high/low/warm function.  The ability to set the time to the half hour is key.  When the time is over, the crock pot goes to warm, preventing the food from being overcooked.

The second cookbook I bought this year is The Homesick Texan, written by a Texas raised food blogger living in NYC.  I have enjoyed flipping through the cookbook, but have yet to cook anything from it.  Does anyone have a recipe from this book that they could recommend as a starting point? Some of the Amazon reviews rave about the jalapeno mustard roast chicken, chipotle pimento cheese and the Tex-Mex meatloaf.  Click here to see on Amazon.

I checked out the top cookbook section of Amazon, and there are a few that look interesting.

Here is another one written by popular food blogger Deb Perelman (her blog is The Smitten Kitchen), and it has great reviews.  Click here to see on Amazon.

I have tried some of the Pioneer Woman recipes from her blog (crash hot potatoes are a wonderful side dish with steak), but don’t own any of her cookbooks.  Food From My Frontier is her newest one (click here to see on Amazon); her original is The Pioneer Woman Cooks .

There are several cookbooks by food writer Robb Walsh on the best seller list – his specialty is Texas cuisine, and his cookbooks get rave reviews.  Click here to see his Amazon page, which has all of his books listed.

I smiled when I saw this Downton Abbey Cookbook – the reviews are quite good, and supposedly it has many traditional English recipes updated for 21st century American cooks. This would be a fun gift for the Downton Abbey fan on your list!  Click here to see on Amazon.

Barefoot Contessa has a new cookbook out – I have all of her cookbooks, and really enjoy them.  I love the title – Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust.  Click here to see on Amazon.

I like to read cookbooks almost like some people read magazines, so this is making me want to order some cookbooks and get some inspiration!

Last year, I posted about one of my favorite reference cook books, The New Best Recipe  in this post (click here for link).  I use this cookbook frequently as a reference and for recipes, and I highly recommend it. Click here to see on Amazon.

I mentioned pinterest recipes as a great source of inspiration this  year.  Here is my favorite pinterest found recipe – Cilantro lime chicken made in the crock pot – it is so, so good, and extremely easy. I make it with low sodium taco seasoning and Pace regular salsa.  Image and recipe via Pip and Ebby. Click here for the recipe.

I would love to hear about any pinterest found recipes, food blogger recipes, or good cookbooks that you could recommend!  I might be asking for the Barefoot Contessa and The Smitten Kitchen cookbook for Christmas, but would love to know about any others whether new or old.

There are still some wonderful Jennifer Ferris paintings available for immediate shipment!

http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/artist/jennifer-ferris

Yesterday's blog post on Jennifer: 

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/introducing-paintings-of-jennifer-ferris.html

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts!http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store  (newly updated!).
 
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The Scottish Country House

For full blog post with large scale pictures, please visit:
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/the-scottish-country-house.html


I am sure it is abundantly clear that I have a love for beautiful books, especially ones that are about houses.  I particularly like books on privately owned houses (especially ones in Europe), as they provide a portrait of the architecture, interiors, landscape, and inhabitants that would normally not be revealed to the public.

I have recently read a book (and yes, I read it cover to cover!) that now has a prominent place on my library coffee table  - The Scottish Country House, by James Knox.   Weighing in at 4.1 pounds, with 208 pages, it is a beautiful focal point on my table.  Inside, it is full of page after page of gorgeous pictures by James Fennell.

The book is a fascinating read too.  Each chapter delves into a single house, its history, the architectural background and features, the contents of the house (the furniture and collections that create the layers of personality unique to each house), the landscape, and the story of its inhabitants. In the author’s words, “the Scots are known for their hardiness, and this tale of ten houses is one of remarkable longevity played out against the background of Scottish history. With one exception, all of the houses are still lived in either by the families who built them or by those who have owned them for generations”. This is fascinating stuff coming from a place (Atlanta) where a house from the 1920s is considered very old.

It is particularly interesting to learn how the generations who inhabited the houses made their own marks on the houses through the years, from renovations to decorations. 

The photography in the book is incredible; James Fennell took the pictures that illustrate the 10 Scottish Country houses profiled in the book (I spent hours poring over the pictures – each picture has dozens of interesting details). 

In the words of the author: “The Scots engaged with their sublime landscape long before the cult of the picturesque awoke the rest of Britain to the pleasures of a good view”.

One of my favorite pictures from the book. 

The coats of arms of many of the original builders of the houses are often incorporated into the architecture of the exterior and the interior.

There are many casual and informal rooms that are featured in the book, which provides a more complete view of each house.

I particularly liked seeing some of the kitchen pictures – it is almost as if this kitchen has been frozen in time!

The architecture of this room in the House of the Binns caught my eye. It was originally two rooms, combined into one, with the original Jacobean fireplace preserved (dated 1622).

A tapestry lined bedroom in Drumlanrig.

Gallery walls abound in many of the houses, reflecting the generations of inhabitants.  Even the runner in this picture reflects the tread of the generations.

I love how the portraits are hung to reflect the lines of the architectural details.

A formal paneled room with a breathtaking ceiling.  There are often French elements in these homes, both in the architecture and the interiors, reflecting the historical alliance of Scotland and France.

Many of the houses have the coats of arms from the family who built the house carved right into the architecture. I was particularly taken with the Queensberry coat of arms from the castle of Drumlanrig – note the winged heart, which appears in the house both inside and out.  This image is not from the book (I could not find a digital image of the winged heart from the book, although there are several lovely examples in the book itself).

One of the houses profiled in the The Scottish Country House is Dumfries house, designed by Robert and John Adams.  In 2007 the house was rescued from sale and disassembly of the original furniture collection ; the negotiations came down to the wire – apparently the original Chippendale furniture had already been crated by an auction house and was en route to London when the final negotiations to save the house and its contents were finalized.  The Prince of Wales and a group of preservationists organized the effort and fund raising, and Prince Charles gave Architectural Digest a tour in a recent article  (http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2012-02/prince-charles-dumfries-house-scotland-article.

To purchase The Scottish Country House on Amazon, please click here.

Images (except as noted) and courtesy copy of The Scottish Country House provided by The Vendome Press.

2012 books on my Christmas list:
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html
2011 books on my Christmas list:
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html
Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts!
http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store  (newly updated!).

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog Instagram: http://followgram.me/ttiblog/modal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

My book list - Christmas 2011

For more inspirational finds, please visit www.quatrefoildesign.com

I have quite a few books on my Christmas wish list this year - despite the fact that I have been collecting design, architecture, and art books for years, I still have a lot of bookshelves to fill in the new house!  Although the ideal is to have a book whose cover is beautiful, with both inspiring pictures and text on the inside, truthfully I find merit in just about any architecture, art, or design book and get great joy in receiving them for Christmas. 

Here are some of the books that are on my 'wish list' this year - let me know if you have read them, or have any other suggestions.

Decorating in the French Style, by Jacques Garcia.  This book looks intriguing.  Click here to see on Amazon.

I absolutely love the cover of this book - has anyone read it? The Amazon reviews are not encouraging, but wouldn't this book look beautiful on a coffee table?  Click here to purchase on Amazon.

The English House: Architecture and Interiors. This book has excellent reviews on Amazon, and the cover is charming. Has anyone read it?  I might go ahead and order this as a gift for myself! Click here to see on Amazon.

English Hideaways has no reviews yet on Amazon, but the cover absolutely intrigues me - so beautiful! Has anyone read it?  Click here to view on Amazon.

Gertrude Jekyll and the Country House Garden has no reviews yet on Amazon, but is one of the first new books on this influential 20th century garden designer in over two decades.  She worked with famed architect Edwin Lutyens on over 100 projects.  Click here to view on Amazon.

This book is very high up on my wish list - The British Ambassador's Residence in Paris.  Click here to see on Amazon.

Historic Houses of Paris: Residences of the Ambassadors. This book looks promising - the Amazon reviews are strong.  Has anyone read it?  Click here to see on Amazon.

This book looks intriguing - Versailles, a Private Introduction. I love the cover - a beautiful pattern of sunlight shining across the grand floor creates a whole new perspective on such a famous landmark.  Has anyone read this book?  Click here to see on Amazon.

Katie Ridder is the talent behind many of my favorite rooms from my inspiration files.  I love her beautiful and sophisticated but playful use of color in her spaces.  She has a new book out - Katie Ridder Rooms - and I am looking forward to reading it! Click here to see on Amazon.

At Home, by Suzanne Rheinstein. Click here to view on Amazon.

The new Charles Faudree book Details. Click here to view on Amazon.

Some favorites from the past year, which have a place of honor in my library:

The English Country House (From the Archives of Country Life).  The house on the cover of this book is simply beautiful - and there are many equally beautiful examples of the finest in English Country architecture. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Patina Style - a wonderful new book by Brooke and Steve Giannetti, authors of the blog Velvet & Linen - full of beauty and inspiration. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Author Vicki Archer writes magnificent books on all that is French - see her blog French Essence here, and purchase her book on Amazon here.

Royal Jewels: From Charlemagne to the Romanovs The book is a unique addition to any book collection, and is both engaging and easy to flip through. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

I received this book for Christmas last year, and it is one of my current favorites. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Style, by John Saladino.  This is one of my designer's ‘go-to’ books for inspiration. Purchase on Amazon here.

Axel Vervoordt, Timeless Interiors – purchase on Amazon here.

Michael S. Smith – Elements of Style.  One of the all time great books of interior design.  Purchase on Amazon here.

The Private House, by Rose Tarlow. One of my favorites - a great read as well as an inspiration for design.  Purchase on Amazon here.

Suzanne's book is definitely one that I actually reference again and again - I highly recommend.   Purchase on Amazon here.

Blog readers often ask me about my favorite architecture and design books.  I love books; in recent years, they have become my favorite Christmas gift to give and receive, and I enjoy spending the afternoon of Christmas day looking through and reading books.  I have gathered together all of my favorite architecture, design, and art books in one place – the Things That Inspire Amazon store.  Click here to visit it, or go to http://astore.amazon.com/thithains-20.  I have also posted about my favorite architecture books here. 

There are some wonderful new additions to the Penguin Classics series this year.  I often give this book as a hostess gift during the holiday season. Available from Amazon here.

I have gathered all of the special Penguin Classics in my Amazon bookstore.  They are little treasures!  Click here to see the whole collection: http://astore.amazon.com/thithains-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4

I have also recently discovered that Puffin Classic has come out with a line of classic books with decorative covers.  


I am always looking for new suggestions - so please send me a message or leave a comment if you have any favorite architecture, art, or design books to recommend!


Also, I am now on Pinterest - a virtual inspiration board that has become an limitless source of inspiration - come visit me there: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
Twitter: @TTIBlog
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/

Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store  (newly updated!).