Design Books

Holland on Paper: In the Age of Art Nouveau, Ackley, Clifford S. ISBN: 9780878467990

From the chaotic world of music journalism comes this collection of unabridged, unexpurgated interviews with four of the brightest, most influential and complex pop and rock musicians alive: Gene Simmons of Kiss, Peter Hook of New Order, Jerry Casale of Devo, and Scott Thunes of Frank Zappa fame. They are all bass players and they are all plainspoken, profane, stressed out, caustic, antagonistic and on occasion so belligerent they are prepared to engage in psychological warfare with their interviewer. Each interview is illustrated with striking, often candid photographs, and includes an introduction and a postscript.

Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits, Hagan, Victoria ISBN: 9780847834891

Enter a world of interiors by Atelier AM, where classical proportions, varied finishes, and exquisite furnishings are masterfully combined, resulting in bold yet tranquil environments. A deft hand at creating interiors that mix materials, both rough-hewn and luxurious, antique and modern, marks the work of Alexandra and Michael Misczynski, the husband-and-wife team behind the Los Angeles-based firm Atelier AM. Only ten years after establishing their business, the couple has garnered a keen reputation for creating environments that are sensory experiences--visually sublime interiors enhanced with subtle, textural palettes. Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century furniture commingle with modernist pieces and ancient objects. Background colors and materials are muted and refined.Interiors Atelier AM showcases a selection of residences--each exhibiting the firm's skill at mixing furniture and objects with backgrounds such as antique flooring and Venetian plaster, with bold and modern results. Their high-profile clients include Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise and the Michael Eisners. The photography of Francois Halard beautifully documents each project, educating and inspiring a new generation of interior designers and connoisseurs.

The Joy of Decorating: Southern Style with Mrs. Howard, Howard, Phoebe ISBN: 9781584799610

Phoebe Howard, known affectionately as Mrs. Howard to her clients, has a penchant for creating stylish spaces, which has evolved into her own critically acclaimed brand of interior design. Mrs. Howard's first book features several of her largest design projects and addresses the most common decorating issues and questions her clients and customers ask. The book's design projects are organized by theme: Inviting, Inspiring, Timeless, Graceful, Tranquil, Casual, and Comfortable--all words that have been used to describe Mrs. Howard's work and ones that illustrate the many different ways she strives to make her houses look and feel.Cowritten with well-known Southern writer Susan Sully, this gorgeous book epitomizes the grace and elegance of Southern interior design. Praise for "The Joy of Decorating" "Mrs. Howard, as she's known to fans of her eponymous store, peppers the book with tips for achieving a romantic, delicate look without being twee or overly saccharine. It's the perfect title for those looking to design rooms that are soft and practical." --"Veranda "magazine"A handsome new book . . . due out next month. Howard, FYI, is one Phoebe Howard in real life, a self-made decorator known for elegantly traditional, genteel Southern rooms like this one." --Dallas Morning News "Guaranteed to inspire your own imagination." --"Atlanta" magazine

All-American Ads of the 40s, Heimann, Jim ISBN: 9783836551311

Out of the blackout, into the boom years: Tracing 1940s America through ads The aftermath of World War II brought unprecedented pride and prosperity to the American people. From Western Electric communication tools (for "the modern battle") to Seagram's whiskey (for "Men Who Plan Beyond Tomorrow") to the Hoover vacuum ("For every woman who is proud of her home"), the post-war era represented a flood of products and services for every occasion. Combining social, corporate and graphic history, this new hardcover edition of 40s ads follows America's development through the anxieties of war to the buying-frenzy of peace. These colorful signs of the times feature both blasts from the past and many brand names still going strong today. It's hard to believe that the company who made your ultra-compact mobile phone was once advertising portable radios with "Motorola: More radio pleasure for less money," or that Electrolux didn't have any qualms about using Mandy, the portly black maid, to promote their new silent refrigerators: "Lor-dy, it sure is quiet " Through motorcars, cigarettes, lipsticks and cans of Cambell's soup, this is an at once entertaining and eye-opening survey of the fears, fads and dreams that characterized a decisive decade.