Design Books: “Interior Design Review Volume 15” Arrives at Andrew Martin

The eagerly anticipated annual Interior Design Review Volume 15 has arrived at Andrew Martin, and we can wait to get our hands on it and crack it open.

If you can't get into the showroom soon to pick up your copy, you may also place an order by calling 310-855-5003 or emailing infola@andrewmartin.us. Let us know what you think!

Guest Blogger: Quintessence Reviews 'Katie Ridder Rooms' (Part 2)

Quintessence Blog writer Stacey Bewkes tells us more about Katie Ridder's newest book Katie Ridder Rooms.


By Stacy Bewkes


Throughout Katie Ridder Rooms you notice that there’s something about Ridder’s unique design vision that is totally addictive. Perhaps it’s her combination of sophistication and practicality or her distinctive color combinations but Ridder’s rooms radiate an upbeat livable style that is appealing to a wide range of tastes. I practically gasped when I opened to the symphony of orange in this fabulous foyer in the same home.





Organized by rooms, her innovative ideas are laid out with easy accessibility. Two bedrooms show how color and pattern can be both lively and serene. In a NYC apartment, the boy’s bedroom above overlooks the East River, inspiring the theme. It’s so clever how the waves on the box spring (which also appear on the headboard) echo the sea faring pattern of the hand-stenciled walls.

In addition to the beautiful designs and principal photography by Eric Piasecki, the book is brimming with useful tidbits from "Anatomy of a Full-Length Curtain” to “The Ideal Dining Chair.” Featuring an extensive list of sources and a chapter on Ridder’s signature details, such as her use of embroidery shown above, this book is a must have for any design library.

You can read more from Quintessence Blog online, and check back with GoDesignGo for more Guest Blogging from Stacey Bewkes.

Event Spotlight: Edward Durell Stone's 'A Son's Untold Story of a Legendary Architect'

Hicks Stone, himself a practicing architect, will give a candid assessment of his father's career, and his professional and personal struggles at Potterton Books for the Fall Lecture Series. Among the iconic projects for which Edward Durell Stone is responsible are The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Hicks's intimate biography on his father, A Son's Untold Story of a Legendary Architect is a comprehensive and authoritative yet touching account that will inform and fascinate.

The event takes place Monday, November 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Grolier Club in New York City. Admission is $30 and the book is available for purchase for $85. RSVP by emailing potterton.books@verizon.net or call 212-644-2292.

DDB Book Club: Reflections on American Beauty with Jeffrey Bilhuber

Jeffrey Bilhuber needs no introduction—his innovative approach to contemporary design has earned him commissions from high profile clients in the worlds of the arts, media, and business that are regularly featured in the pages of leading national and international shelter magazines. Next week, Jeffrey will bring his newest book The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty with him to the DDB's next Book Club event.

In The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty, Jeffrey takes an intimate look at twelve recent projects that embrace tradition while seamlessly accommodating the way we live today. Jeffrey will take us through urban townhouses and lofts, to oceanfront cottages and country estates, sharing the glory in personal style, and celebrated comfort.

Jeffrey is one of a handful of preeminent American decorators who takes his design clues from understanding the importance of history while optimistically looking toward the future. His first book, Jeffrey Bilhuber’s: Design Basics, with a forward by Anna Wintour, is now in its fourth printing. Its follow up, Defining Luxury: The Qualities of Life at Home, continues a tradition of reaching a broad and diverse market.

The event will take place October 25 at 9:30 a.m. at Astra Café on the 14th floor of the DDB. A reception will follow at the Quadrille showroom. For reservations, please call 212-759-2969, or email RSVP@ddbuilding.com.

Design Books: Richard Gillette Knows the 'Art of the Interior'

New York–based interior designer Richard Gillette's first monograph, The Art of the Interior, will be on shelves this fall  featuring elegant interiors inspired by the works of the great artists of history.

"Richard is a client’s dream," said writer Wendy Moonan "He highlights your particular work of art, a textile, a souvenir from a trip abroad or a 1930s Hollywood film. This kind of decorating, with such a vast range of references, cannot be duplicated, which is why this book is worth studying and is long overdue."

Richard is known internationally for his comprehensively conceived and exquisitely detailed rooms. A painter by training, his work draws inspiration from artists of the ancient world to luminaries such as Vermeer, Millais, Klimt, de Chirico and Braque.

"Each project is tailored to the clients’ tastes," Couture Decorating blog wrote. "Richard is influenced by a wide range of artistic references and artisan works to create spaces that are theatrical and eclectic."

The Art of the Interior presents 20 of the best examples of Richard's interiors accompanied by his essays offering perspective on the projects and the inspirations behind them. Although his style palette ranges widely, from Cubism to Minimalism, Pre-Raphaelite Deco to Rococo, all of the apartments and homes featured share a common element: each design was inspired by a central and unifying piece of art that informs the space.

The Art of the Interior is now available through Potterton Books on-line and in the DDB and PDC showrooms.

Design Books: View 'Tomorrow's Houses' with Alexander Gorlin

New York-based Architect Alexander Gorlin and his newest book will soon be at the DDB and we can't wait to see Alexander and browse Tomorrow's Houses.

Tomorrow's Houses is a photo-rich presentation of modernist houses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, built during the early twentieth century through the 1960s. Alexander places these beautiful houses in their proper historical context as examples of the best of early and mid-20th-century American modernist architecture.

"I really enjoy all of the research that goes into putting together a book," said Alexander this past DDB Spring Market, about his newest book. "There's nothing better than holding the published book in my hands once everything is finally finished."

Tomorrow's Houses is now available through Potterton Books online and in the DDB and PDC showrooms.

On September 27 at 9:30 a.m., Alexander will be at Astra Café on the 14th floor of the DDB to present Tomorrow's Houses. For reservations, please call 212-759-2969, or email RSVP@ddbuilding.com and stay tuned to GoDesignGo tomorrow for more on Alexander's upcoming event.

Save the Date: Donald Albrecht & Thomas Mellins on the American Style

New York has long been home to some of the great revivalist styles of architecture and design, which the Colonial Revival style perhaps more prominent than others. Potterton Books in the DDB hosts as authors of The American Style: Colonial Revival in the Modern Metropolis Donald Albrecht and Thomas Mellins explore this revival style as it is expressed in New York form the end of the 19th century through today.

Looking at the work of architects such as McKim, Mead & White and Delano & Aldrich, one instantly recognizes the style's characteristics, including red brick walls, limestone trim and multi-pane windows with shutters--to name a few.

The exhibition The American Style runs at the Museum for the City of New York through October 30th.

The event takes place June 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the gallery space at the New York School of Interior Design. Admission is $20. RSVP by emailing potterton.books@verizon.net or call 212-644-2292.

Save the Date: Annie Kelly Speaks on Historic Preservation from Litchfield County to the West Coast

Now’s your chance to check out the homes of historic Litchfield County and beyond without leaving the comfort of Manhattan. Potterton Books in the DDB hosts author Annie Kelly and photographer Tim Street-Porter for their latest book, Litchfield Style.

Using the book's look at the historic homes of Litchfield County, Annie will discuss the importance of historic preservation in Connecticut and across America. She will outline specific design choices to help guide interior designers when renovating interiors of historic value, such as the importance of keeping original windows.

Annie lives in an 18th-century Colonial house in Litchfield, CT and a historic cultural monument in Los Angeles, giving her a perspective from both coasts. She was also on the board of Historic Preservation Overlay Zone in Hollywood and won an award from the L.A. conservancy for her work on F. L. Wright's La Miniatura.

The event takes place June 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the gallery space at the New York School of Interior Design. Admission is $20. RSVP by emailing potterton.books@verizon.net or call 212-644-2292.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Alexander Gorlin’s Newest Book

New York-based Architect Alexander Gorlin joined the DDB's Spring Market festivities at an event with Moura Starr and Potterton Books for the release of his latest book Tomorrow's Houses.

Tomorrow's Houses is a photo-rich presentation of modernist houses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, built during the early twentieth century through the 1960s. Alexander places these beautiful houses in their proper historical context as examples of the best of early and mid-20th-century American modernist architecture.

We asked Alexander about his writing process for Tomorrow's Houses.

"I write for the parties!" Alexander said. "Honestly, though, I really enjoy the research that goes into putting together a book. There's also nothing better than holding the published book in my hands once everything is finally finished."

Alexander told us he thought Eliot Noyes' house in New Canaan, CT, was one of the projects in the book that best defined the theme of the book. “His house is modern and earthy, so it really combined the best of shelter as well as nature," he said.

Tomorrow's Houses is now available through Potterton Books online and in the DDB and PDC showrooms.

WESTWEEK Buzz: Juan Montoya Tailors Spaces for Client's Needs

Juan Montoya gave an informative presentation followed by a preview of his furniture collection and a book signing at the PDC’s Century Furniture showroom last week.

He showed several images from his recent work, all of which can be found in his newest book, Juan Montoya. Projects ranged from a 5th Avenue apartment  and California home with a pool to a Miami mansions with an ocean views and a Mexican pied à terre.

"When I am working with a client, I love when it is a shared opinion that eating in a home is the most important thing to design around," Juan said. "My recent work has also really gone towards what my clients really need. This has especially been a place for entertaining and homes that allow for relaxation.”

Juan’s furniture collection with Century Furniture reflects these values. The collection features a mixture of upholstery, occasional, dining and bedroom furniture in a range of mediums from steel to parchment to exotic woods.

“I don't want to just fill spaces, but instead, celebrate rooms by leaving spaces less full and giving my clients a place to rest their eyes. Simple pieces of art can go a long way to make a room feel complete without making it feel full."

Juan Montoya the book is now available through Potterton Books online and in the DDB and PDC showrooms.

Made to Order

Architect, interior designer and furniture and textile designer Campion Platt has taken no breaks in 2010, and is planning to go full force in 2011 as well with his newly released book "Made to Order."

"Made to Order" is a snapshot of his firm's highly specialized approach to interior design. Projects featured in the book range from a beautiful Hudson Valley estate, a Jewel Box apartment, a Murray Hill Townhouse, a historic tropical bungalow in Palm Beach and a beautiful Country Manor in Southampton, NY. The book's forword is written by his friend, novelist Jay McInerney.

Best known as an architect and interior designer, Campion has been included in Architectural Digest's Top 100 Architects and Designers in the world. He has designed two furniture collections, the Campaign and the Crystalline, as well the Metro Cloth textile collection for Jim Thompson. 

Pick up a copy of Campion's book in Potterton Books at their first floor location at both the DDB and PDC.

Join Bobby McApline at the Book Signing for his New Book,"The Home Within Us"

Jerry Pair with Potterton Books
Invites you to a Special Book Signing of
Bobby McApline's Book
"The Home Within Us"
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 - 5 o'clock pm
The D&D Building
979 Third Avenue
Jerry Pair - Suite 502
(rsvp 212.546.9001)

The Great American Decorator

Billy Baldwin
The Great American Decorator
By Adam Lewis
Forward By Albert Hadley

The definitive book on the legendary decorator Billy Baldwin, known as the “Dean of American Decorating”, famous for his classical taste, streamlined modernism and brilliant use of color.  With a forward by Baldwin’s former student, Albert Hadley, and enriched by never-before-published transcripts of four 1974 lectures that Baldwin gave at the Cooper-Hewitt, this is an important book for anyone interested in interior design.

Documenting A Legend

Finally, Mark Hampton's legendary work is celebrated in a book. Duane Hampton recently launched her new book, Mark Hamton: An American Decorator, where she chronicles the life and work of her late husband. From designing houses for the Bushes to the Burdens and the White House, Hampton's traditional style made its mark on the design world. His sense of humor and elan made his the "gentleman decorator" of our times. This book is an essential for documenting the history of American interior design. Available through Potterton Books.

Scott Sanders Picture Perfect

How do thoughts of home and family resonate for you? In “Picture Perfect: Designing the New American Family Home,” interior designer Scott Sanders will discuss “Creating a Man Room” from his new book from Pointed Leaf Press. He will then sign copies of the book, which will be available for  purchase. Join him on May 12th at 4pm  for traditional afternoon tea at The Ralph Lauren Trade Showroom, Suite 404.

Are You Restoring A House In The City?

Taking on a major gut renovation is not for the faint of heart. When Ingrid Abramovitch spoke about her new book, Restoring a House in the City, she shared behind the scenes experiences with architects and designers  Kathryn Scott, Ellen Hamilton, and Stephan Jaklitsch, all featured in the book. Ingrid organized the book showing period restorations first, then old meets new with modern conveniences, and finally, modern restorations. Jaklitsch spoke about his longstanding working relationship with Mark Jacobs, having done hundreds of retail projects together. He also renovated Robert Duffy's Federal West Village townhouse, keeping authentic original details and adding modern conveniences, such as air conditioning. Scott shared her gradual process of purchasing and renovating various floors of an 1865 Brooklyn brownstone. The kitchen she created looked like it would have been there, down to the recreated moldings. Hamilton shared a Greek Revival project also in Brooklyn, for an avid art collector family. The five floor home was transformed by vivid color. Their museum quality modern art collection was hung salon style on the walls, making it appear less precious and more livable.

Overall, hearing the personal tales of trials and tribulations of  renovations left the audience excited and provided a heavy dose of what really is involved when choosing to go that route.

Pictured: Kathryn Scott's kitchen with rolling ladder and fitted cabinetry

three designers and architects that have projects in the book.

Here's to Hue

When talking with Kelly Wearstler this fall about her latest book, Hue, she shared her insights on why this book now. She has three vastly different and inspired tomes. The book solidifies a chapter in her design evolution. "Every day you fall in love with new things," she says, and Hue is a study in color and texture through photography. With an introduction to start the book off, the book is filled with images that tell the design story. A button on a dress, modern art, and color inspires her work. Art strongly affects her work, especially Ettore Sottsass, Victor Vasarely, and De Kooning, for their graphic capabilities and color sense.  As a constant traveler, she is enriched by her trips to Japan, Morocco and India, and they inspires her textiles and patterns. Her favorite materials tend towards marble, onyx and stone, for their natural variations.  All these colorful and directional aspects converge in her collections, from her fabrics with Groundworks at Lee Jofa to rugs and bedding.

Kelly Wearstler Hits New York to Launch "Hue"

With the launch of Kelly Wearstler's latest book "Hue," she explores a variety of fresh color combinations.  More to come on her new book soon.  In her most recent collection for Lee Jofa's Groundworks, Edo Linen in Opal shows the current trend of mixing tones of purple.  We are seeing purple everywhere and love every hue.

Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Jan Showers Chat Books

The Pacific Design Center welcomed the best design talent to their fall market. We caught up with Jan Showers and Orlando Diaz- Azcuy at Potterton Books,where they filled us in on their signature styles. Both interior designers have recently launched new titles, and they spoke to us about them. Diane Dorrans Saeks takes an in- depth look at Azcuy, the famed San Francisco architect and designer, while Dallas-based Jan Showers shows her talent for mixing Venitian glass, mirrored antiques and serene color palettes with Glamorous Rooms.

Event: Meet Jan Shower at the David Sutherland showroom in the Pacific Design
Center, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Substance and Style: Over 20 Years of Elle Decor

Elle Decor Magazine launched in 1985, and their newest book, Style and Substance: The Best of ELLE DECOR, from Margaret Russell shows the fabulous yet functional interiors that have stood the test of time. She believes timeless interiors are "personal, pragmatic and authentic." After pouring over 120 past issues, the collection of work celebrates the convergence of fashion, art and culture.