Raleigh, North Carolina.  Developing Your Home Style And Interior Preferences Can Be Fun.  Yesterday I listed a number of magazines you can look at to start this process.  Today I would like to suggest some architecture books and interior design books that will help you go into the kind of depth that will make what you see make sense.  As with magazines the number of books available to select from cover a tremendous amount of shelf space. I think that working with decoring first will be of considerable help in determining the kind of homes styles you like best. 

A coffee table book that I would recommend to you is - Bunny Williams Point of View - Three Decades of Decorating Elegance and Comfortable Homes.  Another along this line is - Decorating Ideas That Work published by Tauton Press.  If you live in a ranch style home of the 50s, 60s and 70s, and would like to re-work it try Updating Classic American Ranches  by Connolly and Wasserman.  If you would like to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the styles of American homes look for Great American Houses and Their Architectural Styles by Virginia and Lee McAlester. 

On a broad brush basis try The House Book by Phaidon Publishers, New Rooms For Old Houses by Frank Shirley, American Houses by Mary Miers, Private Views - Inside The World’s Greatest Homes, put out by Architectural Digest, Homes & Courtyards - Bassenian/Lagoni Architecture, 30 Luxury Estate Homes by Dan F. Slater II, Japanese Detail by Sadao Hibi, Updating Classic American Colonials by Schoenherr, European Classics by Dan F. Sater II, Tuscan & Andalusian Reflections by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects, The Best of American Dream Homes - Hanley Wood LLC, Dream Home Carolinas, American Country Homes of the Gilded Age - Arnold Lewis, Houses of the Founding Fathers by Hugh Howard, Pure California by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects and Inspiration from France & Italy by Betty Lou Phillips.

Why do so many of these books concern European architecture, styles and decorating?  Because they were at it long before we were and because so much of what is done in American homes now is inspired by what was done in Europe long ago and what is being done in Europe now.  Why are so many of these books about very expensive homes most people can’t afford?  Because the finest in style and decoration is quite often created for and used by those who can afford the best.  Designers and manufacturers borrow from these styles and decorations to produce furniture, rugs, wall decorations, lighting and everything that goes into a home that can be afforded by the masses.  If you think about it the wealthiest people in the world 200, 100, 50 and even 25 years ago could not purchase most of the building materials, appliances, fixtures, flooring, etc. that go into very modest homes today.  Thus, it is the creativity that matters as much, if not moreso, than “big bucks” in what becomes your home and reflects your style and taste.

If I may digress for a moment I would also like to recommend two other books to you.  They are certainly related to a development of style and taste but not as related to homes and interior decoration.  Tony Bennett is not only a great singer of popular songs but a painter of note as well.  His book In The Studio is well worth reading.  The photographic genius of one of the worlds greatest photographers, Ansel Adams, is captured in a book called 400 Photographs (of Ansel Adams).  The color of black and white is truly remarkable.

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John Fish (919) 696-3474   Email: Marvmax@mindspring.com   Website: www.JohnFish.com

Raleigh, North Carolina - Romantic Homes For Zoro And You.   The book I am going to recommend to you is, in effect reviewed in the December issue of Veranda magazine.  I say in effect because it is as much an interview with its author as is is a review of the book.  The author, by the way, is actress Diane Keaton.

Admittedly I am hooked on the Spanish Colonial and Tuscan styles of architecture and their derivations.  Diane is as well.  In fact, she has restored three such homes.  Her love for this style of architecture has caused to put together a book called California Romantica.  In it she showcases nineteen Spanish Colonial Revival and related style homes.  A description of the style is best taken directly the magazine article: “The often sculptural dwellings are known for their red tiled roofs, stucco walls, carved wood doors, wrought-iron window grills, shady balconies, colorful decorative tiles, courtyards, aarches and splashing fountains.”  That, indeed, is what the style is all about.  If you are a romantic (in theory or in practice) it doesn’t get any better than this.

The book carries a hefty price tag but if you love architecture and marvelous photography I think you will find it throughly enjoyable and well worth the price. 

I am still having some problems getting the photos I put on these posts to open to full size when you click on them.  I will get it right.  As I understand it the problem is with my computer - - - - - - the one between my ears!  I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving.  God Bless.

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John Fish (919) 696-3474   Email:  Marvmax@mindspring.com    Website:  www.JohnFish.com